|
Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On St. Stephen the Martyr
"Loving the Poor Is One of the Privileged Ways to Live the
Gospel"
H.H. Benedict XVI
December 26, 2009
www.zenit.org
Dear
Brothers and Sisters,
Today, our minds still filled with wonder and bathed in the light
that shines from the Grotto of Bethlehem where with Mary, Joseph and
the shepherds we adored our Saviour, we are commemorating the Deacon
St Stephen, the first Christian martyr. His example helps us to
penetrate more deeply into the mystery of Christmas and testifies to
the great marvel of the Birth of that Child in whom is expressed the
grace of God which brought salvation to all mankind (cf. Tit 2: 11).
The One stirring in the manger is in fact the Son of God made man
who asks us to witness courageously to his Gospel as did St Stephen,
who, full of the Holy Spirit, did not hesitate to lay down his life
for love of his Lord. He, like his Master, died forgiving his
persecutors and thus makes us realize that the entry into the world
of the Son of God gives rise to a new civilization, the civilization
of love that does not yield to evil and violence and pulls down the
barriers between men and women, making them brothers and sisters in
the great family of God's children.
Stephen is also the Church's first deacon. In becoming a servant of
the poor for love of Christ, he gradually enters into full harmony
with him and follows Christ to the point of making the supreme gift
of himself. The witness borne by Stephen, like that of the Christian
martyrs, shows our contemporaries, who are often distracted and
uncertain, in whom they should place their trust in order to give
meaning to their lives. The martyr, in fact, is one who dies knowing
with certainty that he is loved by God, who puts nothing before love
of Christ, knowing that he has chosen the better part. The martyr is
configured fully to the death of Christ, aware of being a fertile
seed of life and of opening up paths of peace and hope in the world.
Today, in presenting the Deacon St Stephen to us as our model the
Church likewise points out to us that welcoming and loving the poor
is one of the privileged ways to live the Gospel and to witness
credibly to human beings to the Kingdom of God that comes.
The Feast of St Stephen reminds us also of the many believers in
various parts of the world who, because of their faith, are
subjected to trials and suffering. While we entrust them to his
heavenly protection, let us strive to sustain them with prayer and
never to fall short of our Christian vocation, always placing at the
centre of our life Jesus Christ, whom in these days we contemplate
in the simplicity and humility of the manger. Let us invoke for this
the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer and Queen of
Martyrs, with the prayer of the Angelus.
After the Angelus:
As we continue our celebration of this joyful Christmas Season, I
warmly greet all the English-speaking visitors and pilgrims gathered
here in St Peter's Square. Together with Christians across the
globe, we rejoice at the Birth of our Saviour, Prince of Peace and
Light of the world. Today we honour the Church's first Martyr, St
Stephen, who was fearless in bearing witness to Christ and shed his
blood for love of him. We pray for those Christians who suffer
persecution today. And we commend to the intercession of their
heavenly Patron, St Stephen, all deacons and altar servers.
May God bless all of you!
© Copyright 2010 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Look
at the One they Pierced!
This page is the work of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and
Mary
