聖歐爾發（主教）
聖歐爾發 (St. Alfred) 公元八百年左右生於德國薩克遜 (Saxon) 一個新奉教的貴族家庭。
公元851年歐爾發成為希德海城 (Hildesheim) 主教，修建了城內第一座主教座堂，歷時二十年，於公元872年11月1日由聖人親自祝聖，奉聖母瑪利亞、聖葛斯默及達彌盎、聖女則濟里亞，華肋廉及諦步爵 (Valerian and Tiburtius) 為主保。同時開辦了主教座堂學校。這座學校就成了希德海城教育制度的根源。
聖歐爾發創立許多修道院和會院，其中最重要的是他在厄森城 (Essen) 創立的女修院 (Canonesses Convent)。這座女修院奉天主聖三、天主聖母、聖葛斯默及達彌盎為主保。
當時主教在王國內佔極重要地位，君王隨時委派主教執行公職。聖歐爾發奉派出使，執行外交任務，由於他辦事公正不阿，又具政治智慧，遂使他的任務，多次都獲得成功，獲得眾人的稱許。
公元874年8月15日聖母升天節，適逢主日，歐爾發與世長辭。他的遺體葬於厄森主教座堂。
對歐爾發的敬禮起源於何時記錄不詳，唯十二世紀編著的厄森主教年鑑上，有如此記載 ：「歐爾發年老逝世，加入了諸聖的行列，葬於他創建及祝聖的厄森聖堂內。自當時直到今日，發生了許多奇妙的療癒，由其地而來的朝聖者，莫不證實此事屬實。」
1965年，教宗保祿六世核准將聖歐爾發的紀念日定於8月15日，即聖母升天節。而在希德海城和厄森城兩地，聖人的瞻禮日則會於翌日8月16日舉行。
厄森教區與香港教區是姊妹教區。厄森教區捐助了沙田文禮路聖堂的興建，奉聖歐爾發為主保，稱為聖歐爾發堂。
集禱經
天主，你為引導軟弱的人走上得救的道路，將你的諸聖賜給我們當作模範及護衛。今天我們既歡欣慶祝聖歐爾發在天上的誕生，求你幫助我們也能效法他的榜樣，忠實地跟隨基督。他是道路、真理和生命。他和你及聖神，是唯一天主，永生永王。亞孟。
Saint Alfred, Bishop
St. Alfred was born into an aristocratic family in Saxony, Germany at around 800 AD, but the time and place of birth remained unknown. Not long before he was born, King Charlemagne of the Franconian Empire conquered the Saxons after some long and bitter battles. The Saxons were converted to Christianity. St. Alfred was born to a family of new converts and was educated at a convent.
St. Alfred became Bishop of Hildesheim in 851 AD, and initiated the construction of the first cathedral of the city. On 1 November 872, the cathedral was consecrated by the saint himself and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, St. Cosmas and St. Damian, St. Cecilia, St. Valerian and St. Tiburtius as patron saints. A cathedral school was also opened, which became the foundation of the educational system in Hildesheim.
The saint had founded many convents and seminaries. The most important one was the Canonesses Convent in Essen. The church there was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the Holy Mother of God, St. Cosmas and St. Damian.
Bishops at that time were greatly revered in the kingdom and were often given duties by the kings. While St. Alfred was a good friend and adviser to Ludwig der Deutsche, king of East Fraconia, he was often given diplomatic duties to negotiate with the king’s brothers and nephews. His adherence to justice and his political wisdom had brought successes to his diplomatic missions and earned him the reputation of a genius.
On 15 August 874, which was the day of the Assumption, St. Alfred passed away after some two decades as Bishop of Hildesheim. He was buried at the Essen Cathedral.
We do not know when devotion to St. Alfred began. The almanac of bishops of Essen in the 12th century has a record that says: “Alfred passed away at an advanced age and joined rank with the saints. He was buried at the Essen Cathedral which he built and consecrated. Ever since then, there have been many miraculous healings. Pilgrims from other places bear witness to these matters.”
In 1965, Pope Paul VI approved a feast day for St. Alfred. His feast day is celebrated on 15 August, the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, but also in Essen and Hildesheim on 16 August.
Prayer
St. Alfred, pray for us.
資料來源 References
中文內容：香港聖歐爾發堂網頁 (https://stalfred.catholic.org.hk/zh/index.php)
聖歐爾發堂區主保瞻禮感恩聖祭 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzvF8i5nu1Y)
English text:
Website of St. Alfred’s Church, Hong Kong (https://stalfred.catholic.org.hk/en/)