留学英语口语-去教堂

RYAN: I am kind of nervous.
SARAH: Nervous? Why?
RYAN: I don't know. I never went to a church before.I was not raised as a Christian¹, so I don't know what to do.
SARAH: Don't worry. You don't have to do anything.All you have to do is listen. You will enjoy it.
RYAN: Maybe. I know I agreed to go with you, but now I don't feel right about it.
SARAH: Listen, Ryan.Catholics welcome people who aren't Catholics to visit the church.You don't have to pretend to be Catholic². It's okay if you just come to listen.
RYAN: Really?
SARAH: Yes. We are kind and welcoming people.It is not a secret society or something like that.
RYAN: Alright. But will we sing?
SARAH: Yes, but you don't even have to sing. If you want to sing along, you can.
RYAN: I don't know the words.
SARAH: There is a songbook. All the words are in the songbook.Many people have to read the words.
RYAN: And will I go up to the front to have the bread and wine?
SARAH: No. That is something only true Catholics do.So if you come to the church as a visitor, you only listen to the service.But you shouldn't go up to the altar for the bread and wine.Only after someone joins the church, then they go up for the Eucharist.
RYAN: Eu-char-ist? What is that?
SARAH: That is the special word for the ritual³ of the bread and wine.The Catholics call it the Eucharist.
RYAN: It doesn't sound like an English word.
SARAH: It's not. It's an ancient Greek word. It means "gratitude⁴."
RYAN: Alright. Well, I feel more comfortable now.Now I understand I am welcome as a visitor.
SARAH: Of course you are. I wouldn't ask you otherwise.
雷恩：我有点紧张。
莎拉：紧张？为什么？
雷恩：我不知道。我从来没有去过教堂。我并不是在基督教的教导下成长的，所以我不知道该如何做。
莎拉：别担心。你不必做任何事情。你只需要聆听就可以了。你一定会喜爱的。
雷恩：或许吧。我知道我同意跟你一起去，但现在我感觉有些不对。
莎拉：听着，雷恩。天主教欢迎不是基督徒的人来参观教堂。你不需要装作是天主教徒。你来聆听是没有问题的。
雷恩：真的吗？
莎拉：是的。我们是很亲切而且欢迎民众的。不是一个秘密社会或着其他的组织。
雷恩：好吧。但是我们会唱歌吗？
莎拉：是的，但你不一定要唱。如果你想要一起唱的话，你也可以。
雷恩：我不知道歌词。
莎拉：是有歌本的。所有的歌词都在歌本里。很多人都是要看歌词的。
雷恩：我要到前面去领面饼及酒吗？
莎拉：不用。那是真正的天主教徒做的。如果你到教堂是一个参观者的身份，你只需要聆听弥撒就可以了。但是你不可以到祭台前去领面饼及酒。只有加入教会的人，他们才可以去领圣体。
雷恩：圣--体？那是什么？
莎拉：那是一个特殊的字用来称呼在仪式上的面饼及酒。天主教称为圣体。
雷恩：听起来不像是英文。
莎拉：不是。它是一个古老的希腊文。意思是“感恩”。
雷恩：好的。嗯，我现在感觉舒缓多了。我现在知道我是受欢迎的参观者。
莎拉：你当然是呀。要不然我怎么会邀请你。

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 catholic   

adj.天主教的；n.天主教徒

参考例句：

• The Pope is the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church.教皇是罗马天主教的最高领袖。
• She was a devoutly Catholic.她是一个虔诚地天主教徒。

3 ritual   

adj.例行的，老规矩的，惯常的

参考例句：

• This was the monthly ritual.这是每月一次的例规。
• I realized that here the conventions required me to make the ritual noises.我意识到此时按照惯例我应该说些客套话。

4 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。