2006年VOA标准英语-Pope Benedict Leads Thousands Of Catholics

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
14 April 2006

Pope Benedict in Good Friday procession in Rome   
  
For the first time, Pope Benedict led the traditional Way of the Cross procession in Rome's ancient Coliseum. Thousands took part in the solemn ceremony. Many thought back to Pope John Paul II who was unable to take part in the event last year.

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Thousands of pilgrims carrying candles took part in the Good Friday procession, led for the first time by Pope Benedict. Many thought back to last year when a dying Pope John Paul II was unable to participate in the torch-lit procession.

John Paul watched the Way of the Cross procession, which commemorates¹ the crucifixion of Jesus, from his apartment at the Vatican. He listened to the meditations² that had been written by German Cardinal³ Joseph Ratzinger.

Less than a month later that cardinal was elected pope taking the name Benedict. This year, the German pope carried the cross for the first and last stations. Lay people from other nations also carried the cross during the procession.

In his opening prayer he said the Passion of Jesus is the whole of human history, a history, he added, where the good are humiliated⁴, the meek⁵ assaulted, the honest crushed and the pure of heart roundly mocked.

"Lord Jesus, tonight we walk once more the way of your cross, knowing that it is also our way. One certainty lights up our path: the way does not end at the cross, but continues beyond, to the Kingdom of Life," he said.

During the procession, one of the fourteen meditations lamented⁶ a diabolical⁷ pride aimed at eliminating the family, an apparent reference to gay marriage and abortion⁸.

Earlier Friday, the pope celebrated⁹ the Passion of the Lord service in Saint Peter's Basilica. During that service the papal preacher blasted the Da Vinci Code.

Without naming the book, he said people today are fascinated with every theory according to which Jesus was not crucified and did not die but ran off with Mary Magdalene.

On Saturday evening Pope Benedict will celebrate an Easter vigil mass and on Sunday he will deliver his Urbi et Orbi - to the city and the world - blessing¹⁰ and message. That day, Pope Benedict will also be celebrating his 79th birthday.

1 commemorates   

n.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的名词复数 )v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A tombstone is erected in memory of whoever it commemorates. 墓碑是为纪念它所纪念的人而建的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A tablet commemorates his patriotic activities. 碑文铭记他的爱国行动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 meditations   

默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想

参考例句：

• Each sentence seems a quarry of rich meditations. 每一句话似乎都给人以许多冥思默想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditations. 我很抱歉，打断你思考问题了。

3 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

4 humiliated   

感到羞愧的

参考例句：

• Parents are humiliated if their children behave badly when guests are present. 子女在客人面前举止失当，父母也失体面。
• He was ashamed and bitterly humiliated. 他感到羞耻，丢尽了面子。

5 meek   

adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的

参考例句：

• He expects his wife to be meek and submissive.他期望妻子温顺而且听他摆布。
• The little girl is as meek as a lamb.那个小姑娘像羔羊一般温顺。

6 lamented   

adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• her late lamented husband 她那令人怀念的已故的丈夫
• We lamented over our bad luck. 我们为自己的不幸而悲伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 diabolical   

adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的

参考例句：

• This maneuver of his is a diabolical conspiracy.他这一手是一个居心叵测的大阴谋。
• One speaker today called the plan diabolical and sinister.今天一名发言人称该计划阴险恶毒。

8 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

9 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

10 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。