
“Hard work without prayer is aimless, prayer without hard work is fruitless.”
Each morning that we are given by God is not merely a beginning of everyday life, but also a symbol of new hope. To reflect on our own experience from yesterday and strengthen our faith in tomorrow, it is right, good, and just for us to thank our Creator for the many blessings He has been bestowing and continues to bestow on each and every one of us.
We are also reminded that what brings us together as one, in solidarity, is prayer. And because of God, we have the blessing to pray together as a family in this Catholic school, Shung Tak, as a family of Shungtakians.
We therefore hope that the thoughts and sharing from teachers and students on this website can resonate with the readers as they take these messages for their daily reflection in life.
May God continue to bless each and every Shungtakian.
In Lord,
RME Committee
如果你有一千萬,你會全數捐出嗎?近代教育傳奇馬相伯
早晨!在開始分享今天既主題前,我想問大家一個問題,如果你有一千萬,你會願意捐出多少錢做善事呢?50萬?100萬?而中國近代史上,便有一位人物,如果他有一千萬,他會捐出一千萬。他是誰?他就是馬相伯。
今天,我想跟大家分享馬相伯先生的故事。他是復旦大學的創辦人,一生毀家興學,把自己所有的家產都捐給了教育。
馬相伯生於晚清年間一個信奉天主教的家庭,早期晉升為耶穌會神父,及後見到國難當前,憤而還俗,積極投身洋務運動。在甲午戰爭後,又對清廷失望,退出政壇改為投入教學。
1900年,他將自己3000畝田產全部捐給教會,作為辦學基金,讓那些有天賦、有志向卻讀不起書的貧苦青年,能夠免費或獲得資助接受高等教育,為國家保留知識的火種。之後他創辦了震旦學院、復旦大學,更促成了輔仁大學的誕生。
在九一八事變後,他以90多歲的高齡積極投入救國運動,發表文章同演講,因此被人尊為「愛國老人」。其後戰亂四起,他又過著顛沛流離的生活。最終在1939年病逝。
馬相伯是一位近代的教育家、政治家、愛國人士。他捐盡家財的行為,讓我們看到甚麼是「心靈富足」,亦都印證本月主題:「察覺恩寵、知足常樂」。他的知足,是因為他不是只著重個人的物質生活,而是希望用自身之力放在國家發展,作育英才,這種付出為他帶來更大的滿足感。
大家如果想多了解這位人物,在四樓會看到馬相伯的畫像。最後希望同學在物質富裕的社會中,嘗試尋找獨屬於你的心靈富足。
Ms Chan KY
