This morning's General Audience began at 9:10am in Saint Peter's Square where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from every corner of the world.
In his speech, the Pope continued the cycle of catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles, adding his meditation on the theme: Stephen, 'filled with the Holy Spirit' (Acts 7:55) both deacon and martyr (Biblical passage: Acts 6:8-10, 15).
After summarizing His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Throughout the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, we continue to follow a journey: the journey of the Gospel to the world. With great realism, Saint Luke shows both the fruitfulness of this journey and the emergence of some problems within the Christian community. From the beginning there have always been problems, including how to harmonize the differences that exist within the community without contrasts and splits happening?
The community welcomed not only Jews, but also Greeks, that is to say people from the diaspora, non-Jews, with their own culture and sensitivity and with another religion. Today we would say pagans. And these were welcomed. This coexistence determines fragile and precarious balance; and in the face of difficulties the weeds appear, and what is the worst darnel that destroys a community? The weeds of murmuring, the weeds of chattering: the Greeks murmured because of the community's inattention to their widows.
The Apostles began a process of discernment which consisted in considering the difficulties well and seeking solutions together. They found a way out in dividing up the various tasks for a serene growth of the whole ecclesial body and to avoid neglecting both the race of the Gospel and caring for the poorest members.
The Apostles were increasingly aware that their main vocation was prayer and the preaching of the Word of God: praying and proclaiming the Gospel; and they resolved the question by establishing a nucleus of seven men of good reputation, full of Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6: 3), who, after receiving the imposition of hands, took care of the service needed at tables. These were the deacons who were created for this, for service. The deacon in the Church is not a second class priest, he is something else; he is not for the altar, but for service. He is the custodian of service in the Church. When a deacon likes to go to the altar too much, he is wrong. This is not his way. This harmony between service to the Word and service to charity represents the leaven that makes the ecclesial body grow.
The Apostles created seven deacons, and among the seven deacons, Stephen and Philip were particularly distinguished. Stephen evangelized with strength and parresia, but his words met the most stubborn resistance. Finding no other way to stop him, what did his opponents do? They chose the most petty solution to annihilate a human being: that is, slander or false testimony. And we know that slander always kills. This diabolical cancer, which arises from the desire to destroy a person's reputation, also attacks the rest of the ecclesial body and seriously damages it when, for petty interests or to cover up its own defaults, there is a coalition to smear someone.
Led to the Sanhedrin and accused by false witnesses - the same as they had done with Jesus and the same as they would do with all the martyrs through false witnesses and slanders - Stephen proclaimed a re-reading of sacred history centred in Christ, in order to defend himself.
And the Resurrection of Jesus who died and rose again is the key to the whole history of the covenant. Faced with this overabundance of divine gifts, Stephen bravely denounced the hypocrisy with which the prophets and Christ himself had been treated. And reminded them of the story by saying: Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you have now become traitors and murderers (Acts 7.52). He didn't use half words, but he spoke clearly, he told the truth.
This caused the violent reaction of the listeners, and Stephen was sentenced to death, sentenced to stoning. But he manifested the true strength of the disciple of Christ. He did not look for loopholes, he did not appeal to personalities who could save him but he put his life back into the Lord's hands and Stephen's prayer was beautiful at that moment: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (Acts 7:59) - and he died as a son of God, forgiving: Lord, do not hold this sin against them (Acts 7:60).
Stephen's words teach us that it is not good speeches that reveal our identity as children of God, but only the abandonment of one's life into the hands of the Father and forgiveness for those who offend us that is capable of revealing to us the true quality of our faith.
Today there are more martyrs than there were at the beginning of the life of the Church, and martyrs are everywhere. The Church of today is rich in martyrs; it is irrigated by their blood which is the seed of new Christians (Tertullian, Apologetic, 50, 13) and ensures growth and fruitfulness to the People of God. Martyrs are not saints, but men and women in flesh and blood who - as the Book of Revelation says - have washed their garments, making them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7,14). They are the real winners.
We also ask the Lord to help us, so that looking at the martyrs of yesterday and today, we can learn to live a full life, welcoming the martyrdom of daily fidelity to the Gospel and of conformity to Christ.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and His Holiness offered particular greetings to each group of pilgrims in attendance. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially the groups from England, Scotland, Denmark, Malta, Norway, Kenya, Australia, Mariana Islands, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the United States of America. In a particular way my greeting goes to the new seminarians of the Venerable English College as they begin their priestly formation here in Rome. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless you!
In his speech, the Pope continued the cycle of catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles, adding his meditation on the theme: Stephen, 'filled with the Holy Spirit' (Acts 7:55) both deacon and martyr (Biblical passage: Acts 6:8-10, 15).
After summarizing His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Throughout the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, we continue to follow a journey: the journey of the Gospel to the world. With great realism, Saint Luke shows both the fruitfulness of this journey and the emergence of some problems within the Christian community. From the beginning there have always been problems, including how to harmonize the differences that exist within the community without contrasts and splits happening?
The community welcomed not only Jews, but also Greeks, that is to say people from the diaspora, non-Jews, with their own culture and sensitivity and with another religion. Today we would say pagans. And these were welcomed. This coexistence determines fragile and precarious balance; and in the face of difficulties the weeds appear, and what is the worst darnel that destroys a community? The weeds of murmuring, the weeds of chattering: the Greeks murmured because of the community's inattention to their widows.
The Apostles began a process of discernment which consisted in considering the difficulties well and seeking solutions together. They found a way out in dividing up the various tasks for a serene growth of the whole ecclesial body and to avoid neglecting both the race of the Gospel and caring for the poorest members.
The Apostles were increasingly aware that their main vocation was prayer and the preaching of the Word of God: praying and proclaiming the Gospel; and they resolved the question by establishing a nucleus of seven men of good reputation, full of Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6: 3), who, after receiving the imposition of hands, took care of the service needed at tables. These were the deacons who were created for this, for service. The deacon in the Church is not a second class priest, he is something else; he is not for the altar, but for service. He is the custodian of service in the Church. When a deacon likes to go to the altar too much, he is wrong. This is not his way. This harmony between service to the Word and service to charity represents the leaven that makes the ecclesial body grow.
The Apostles created seven deacons, and among the seven deacons, Stephen and Philip were particularly distinguished. Stephen evangelized with strength and parresia, but his words met the most stubborn resistance. Finding no other way to stop him, what did his opponents do? They chose the most petty solution to annihilate a human being: that is, slander or false testimony. And we know that slander always kills. This diabolical cancer, which arises from the desire to destroy a person's reputation, also attacks the rest of the ecclesial body and seriously damages it when, for petty interests or to cover up its own defaults, there is a coalition to smear someone.
Led to the Sanhedrin and accused by false witnesses - the same as they had done with Jesus and the same as they would do with all the martyrs through false witnesses and slanders - Stephen proclaimed a re-reading of sacred history centred in Christ, in order to defend himself.
And the Resurrection of Jesus who died and rose again is the key to the whole history of the covenant. Faced with this overabundance of divine gifts, Stephen bravely denounced the hypocrisy with which the prophets and Christ himself had been treated. And reminded them of the story by saying: Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you have now become traitors and murderers (Acts 7.52). He didn't use half words, but he spoke clearly, he told the truth.
This caused the violent reaction of the listeners, and Stephen was sentenced to death, sentenced to stoning. But he manifested the true strength of the disciple of Christ. He did not look for loopholes, he did not appeal to personalities who could save him but he put his life back into the Lord's hands and Stephen's prayer was beautiful at that moment: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (Acts 7:59) - and he died as a son of God, forgiving: Lord, do not hold this sin against them (Acts 7:60).
Stephen's words teach us that it is not good speeches that reveal our identity as children of God, but only the abandonment of one's life into the hands of the Father and forgiveness for those who offend us that is capable of revealing to us the true quality of our faith.
Today there are more martyrs than there were at the beginning of the life of the Church, and martyrs are everywhere. The Church of today is rich in martyrs; it is irrigated by their blood which is the seed of new Christians (Tertullian, Apologetic, 50, 13) and ensures growth and fruitfulness to the People of God. Martyrs are not saints, but men and women in flesh and blood who - as the Book of Revelation says - have washed their garments, making them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7,14). They are the real winners.
We also ask the Lord to help us, so that looking at the martyrs of yesterday and today, we can learn to live a full life, welcoming the martyrdom of daily fidelity to the Gospel and of conformity to Christ.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and His Holiness offered particular greetings to each group of pilgrims in attendance. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially the groups from England, Scotland, Denmark, Malta, Norway, Kenya, Australia, Mariana Islands, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the United States of America. In a particular way my greeting goes to the new seminarians of the Venerable English College as they begin their priestly formation here in Rome. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless you!
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