愛與溫暖:我所瞥見的白冷會(九)|Love and Warmth: A Glimpse into Societas Missionaria de Bethlehem (IX)
來到會院的大廳,歐修士仍為我們一一講解牆上照片中的人物為何,但可以感覺得出來歐修士有些疲倦。應該說,從在會院門口我和小ㄒ就有這樣的感覺。雖然歐修士很開心歡迎我們的到來,不知是因為年齡關係,體力雖尚可應付,但當有人問歐修士問題時,總記不起來,無法回答,只能說:「歹勢,年紀大了,這個(用手指指著腦袋)記不住」,隱約可以感受得到歐修士對此失落的情緒。約莫下午4點,張校長也可能發現這樣的情況,於是提議歐修士先休息。雖然歐修士好像還想繼續說,但可能心有餘而力不足,只好作罷,與老師們一同到會客室聊天休息。助教葛格則帶我們學生群到一處休息室,變成自由參觀白冷會或是在此處休息。趁此機會,我和小ㄒ與陳迦勒學長和學姊到隔壁的臺東聖母醫院療養中心看看。打開小門,穿越花圃,不到2分鐘,就到療養中心。學長向我們介紹聖母醫院與白冷會的歷史,其中有棟建築是當時聖十字架仁愛修女的宿舍,還有彌撒的禮拜堂,並告訴我們這些椰子樹為何面朝東南方向,是因為白冷會以前的大門並非現今位置,而是靠後門附近,與聖母醫院相鄰。
Upon entering the hall of the monastery, Br. Augustin continued to explain the people in the photos on the wall to us, but it was evident that he was feeling a little bit tired. In fact, both Xiao Si and I had sensed this from the moment we arrived at the monastery entrance. Although Br. Augustin was happy to welcome us, perhaps due to his age, he seemed to struggle with his energy. When someone asked him a question, he often couldn’t remember the answer and would say, “Sorry, I’m old, and I can’t remember this (pointing to his head),” and we could sense his disappointment. Around 4 p.m., Principal Zhang seemed to notice this as well and suggested that Br. Augustin take a rest. Although Br. Augustin seemed to want to continue, he probably felt he couldn’t, so he joined the teachers in the reception room to chat and rest. The teaching assistant then led us students to a lounge, where we could either freely explore the SMB or rest here. Taking this opportunity, Xiao Si and I, along with the senior student Jia-lai Chen and another senior, went to visit the nursing center of St. Mary’s Hospital Taitung next door. We opened a small gate, walked through a garden, and reached the nursing center in less than two minutes. Chen introduced us to the history of St. Mary’s Hospital and the SMB. One of the buildings used to be the dormitory for the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, and there was also a chapel for Mass. He explained that the coconut trees faced southeast because the original main entrance of the SMB was not in its current location but near the back gate, adjacent to the St. Mary’s Hospital.
之後,我們回到白冷院的聖堂參觀。一進聖堂,有種彌撒時神聖莊嚴的感覺,會堂前方中央有幅畫像,上面畫著耶穌和六個圓圈,圓圈裡面有相對應的人物和情境,似西元6、7世紀的繪畫風格,上面寫著看不懂的拉丁文,但卻深深吸引我。我們走出聖堂,一直走,經過準備室、祈禱室、懺悔室等,討論這些地方的功用與意義為何。接著我們走到老師們與歐修士所處的會客休息室,看見耶穌傳福音的可愛布畫插圖,畫風像歐洲中世紀藝術,反寫實主義風格,但人物眼睛更加突出,類似現今動漫中的Q版人物形象;還有一幅橫掛在會客室前方的抽象藝術畫作,運用多種幾何圖形,象徵耶穌基督為牧者,信徒是羊群,神用祂的仗保護羊群,顯現光芒和星星,抵禦混色區塊的魔鬼勢力。
Afterwards, we returned to the chapel of the SMB for a visit. Upon entering the chapel, there was a sense of sacred solemnity, reminiscent of a Mass. At the front center of the hall, there was a painting depicting Jesus and six circles, each containing corresponding figures and scenes, resembling the art style of the 6th or 7th century. Although the Latin inscriptions were incomprehensible to me, they deeply captivated me. We walked out of the chapel, passing through the preparation room, prayer room, and confessional. Along the way, we discussed the functions and significance of these places. Next, we went to the reception lounge where the teachers and Br. Augustin were. There, we saw charming fabric illustrations of Jesus spreading the gospel, with an art style similar to European medieval art, anti-realism, but with more prominent eyes, resembling the chibi-style of modern anime characters. There was also an abstract art painting hanging at the front of the reception room, using various geometric shapes to symbolize Jesus Christ as the shepherd, believers as the flock of sheep, and God using His staff to protect the flock, showing light and stars to fend off the devil’s forces, represented by mixed color blocks.
註解
Notes
註五:詳細圖畫故事請參考由馬蘭聖若瑟天主堂魏主安神父(Fr. Gottfried Vonwyl)口述,洪崢(Peter Hong)記錄、攝影(2020年3月25日)。衣索比亞神秘畫家11幅四旬期靈修聖畫(上)、(中)、(下),ETtoday東森新聞雲。取自https://forum.ettoday.net/news/665713?redirect=1。
及由洪崢攝影,魏主安神父為大家一一講解,衣索比亞四旬期靈修聖畫各自的聖經出處之幕後花絮影片,網址:https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=472594612945440。
[5] For detailed stories on the paintings, please refer to the narration by Fr. Gottfried Vonwyl of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Malan, recorded and photographed by Peter Hong, “The 11 Lenten Devotional Paintings by the Mysterious Ethiopian Painter (Parts I, II, and III).” ETtoday, 25 Mar. 2020,
https://forum.ettoday.net/news/665713?redirect=1.
Additionally, a behind-the-scenes video featuring Father Gottfried Vonwyl explaining the biblical origins of each Ethiopian Lenten Devotional Paintings, filmed by Peter Hong, can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=472594612945440, uploaded by Societas Missionaria de Bethlehem, 19 Mar. 2016.
原文刊登於《人社東華》,第37期(2023)。經授權後翻譯轉載。|
The article was initially published in Dong Hwa Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 37, 2023, and has been translated and reprinted on DUET with permission.
作者|Author:華文文學系 陳嬿亘|Yan-Xuan Chen, Department of Sinophone Literatures
譯者|Translator:英美語文學系 吳伃雯|Stella Wu, Department of English