At noon today in Rome, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who had gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, the liturgy recalls the testimony of Saint Stephen. Chosen by the Apostles, along with six others, for the service of charity, to assist the poor, the orphaned and the widows of the community of Jerusalem, he became the first martyr of the Church. With his martyrdom, Stephen honours the coming into the world of the King of kings, bears witness to Him and offers his own life as a gift, as he did in service to those in need. In this way, he shows us how to live the fullness of the mystery of Christmas.
The gospel for today's feast speaks of a part of the conversation Jesus had with his disciples at the moment when he sent them out with a mission. He said to them: You will be hated by all because of my name, but those who persevere to the end will be saved (Mt 10:22). These words of Jesus do not disturb the celebrations of Christmas, but they strip away the false sense of sweetness that does not belong. They help us to understand that faced with the challenges that we must face because of our faith, violence is defeated by love, death is overcome by life. And in order to truly welcome Jesus in our lives and to promulgate the joy of Christmas night, the path that is pointed out by this gospel passage, that is to say that we must bear witness to Jesus in humility and in silent service, without fear of going against the current and even by paying the price with our lives. And even if not all of us are called, like Saint Stephen, to spill our own blood, every Christian is however asked to act in every circumstance in a manner coherent with the faith that he or she professes. Christian coherence is a grace that we should all ask for from the Lord. To be coherent, to live as Christians does not mean that I can say: I am a Christian, and then that I can live like a pagan. Coherence is a grace that we can ask for today.
Following the gospel is certainly a trying road, but it is also a beautiful one, beautiful, and those who follow it faithfully and courageously receive the gift promised by the Lord to men and women of good will. As the angels sang on Christmas Day: Peace! Peace! This peace, given by the Lord is capable of soothing the consciences of those who, through the trials of life, learn how to welcome the Word of God and strive to observe it with perseverance, even to the ultimate end (cf Mt 10:22).
Today, brothers and sisters, pray in a particular way for those who are discriminated against, persecuted and put to death because of the witness they give to Christ. I want to say to every one of them: if you bear this cross with love, you will enter into the mystery of Christmas, you will be in the heart of Christ and of the Church.
Let us also pray that thanks also to the sacrifice of these martyrs today - there are so many, so very many! - the commitment to recognize and concretely secure religious freedom will be supported throughout the world, and that this right will be seen as inalienable to every human person.
Dear brothers and sisters, I hope that you will spend these days of Christmas in serenity. May Saint Stephen, a deacon and the first martyr, sustain us on our daily journey, a journey which we hope will be crowned at last in the festive assembly of the Saints in paradise.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you with the joy of Christmas and I repeat to all of you my wishes for peace: peace in your families, peace in your parish and religious communities, peace in your movements and associations. I greet all those who are named Stephen or Sephanie: congratulations to you on the day of your patron saint!
In these weeks, I have received many messages and greetings from Rome and from other parts of the world. It would never be possible for me to respond personally to each one of them, but I want to thank you all today for your greetings, especially for the gift of your prayers. Heartfelt thanks! May the Lord reward you for your generosity!
Don't forget: coherent Christians, who think, feel and live as Christians, and don't think like Christians while you live like pagans: this is a no no! Today, let us ask Saint Stephen for the grace of Christian coherence. Please, continue to pray for me; don't forget.
Enjoy the feast day, and enjoy your lunch. Good bye!
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
before the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, the liturgy recalls the testimony of Saint Stephen. Chosen by the Apostles, along with six others, for the service of charity, to assist the poor, the orphaned and the widows of the community of Jerusalem, he became the first martyr of the Church. With his martyrdom, Stephen honours the coming into the world of the King of kings, bears witness to Him and offers his own life as a gift, as he did in service to those in need. In this way, he shows us how to live the fullness of the mystery of Christmas.
The gospel for today's feast speaks of a part of the conversation Jesus had with his disciples at the moment when he sent them out with a mission. He said to them: You will be hated by all because of my name, but those who persevere to the end will be saved (Mt 10:22). These words of Jesus do not disturb the celebrations of Christmas, but they strip away the false sense of sweetness that does not belong. They help us to understand that faced with the challenges that we must face because of our faith, violence is defeated by love, death is overcome by life. And in order to truly welcome Jesus in our lives and to promulgate the joy of Christmas night, the path that is pointed out by this gospel passage, that is to say that we must bear witness to Jesus in humility and in silent service, without fear of going against the current and even by paying the price with our lives. And even if not all of us are called, like Saint Stephen, to spill our own blood, every Christian is however asked to act in every circumstance in a manner coherent with the faith that he or she professes. Christian coherence is a grace that we should all ask for from the Lord. To be coherent, to live as Christians does not mean that I can say: I am a Christian, and then that I can live like a pagan. Coherence is a grace that we can ask for today.
Following the gospel is certainly a trying road, but it is also a beautiful one, beautiful, and those who follow it faithfully and courageously receive the gift promised by the Lord to men and women of good will. As the angels sang on Christmas Day: Peace! Peace! This peace, given by the Lord is capable of soothing the consciences of those who, through the trials of life, learn how to welcome the Word of God and strive to observe it with perseverance, even to the ultimate end (cf Mt 10:22).
Today, brothers and sisters, pray in a particular way for those who are discriminated against, persecuted and put to death because of the witness they give to Christ. I want to say to every one of them: if you bear this cross with love, you will enter into the mystery of Christmas, you will be in the heart of Christ and of the Church.
Let us also pray that thanks also to the sacrifice of these martyrs today - there are so many, so very many! - the commitment to recognize and concretely secure religious freedom will be supported throughout the world, and that this right will be seen as inalienable to every human person.
Dear brothers and sisters, I hope that you will spend these days of Christmas in serenity. May Saint Stephen, a deacon and the first martyr, sustain us on our daily journey, a journey which we hope will be crowned at last in the festive assembly of the Saints in paradise.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you with the joy of Christmas and I repeat to all of you my wishes for peace: peace in your families, peace in your parish and religious communities, peace in your movements and associations. I greet all those who are named Stephen or Sephanie: congratulations to you on the day of your patron saint!
In these weeks, I have received many messages and greetings from Rome and from other parts of the world. It would never be possible for me to respond personally to each one of them, but I want to thank you all today for your greetings, especially for the gift of your prayers. Heartfelt thanks! May the Lord reward you for your generosity!
Don't forget: coherent Christians, who think, feel and live as Christians, and don't think like Christians while you live like pagans: this is a no no! Today, let us ask Saint Stephen for the grace of Christian coherence. Please, continue to pray for me; don't forget.
Enjoy the feast day, and enjoy your lunch. Good bye!
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