Pope Francis: 'persecution is the Church's daily
bread'
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis
said on Tuesday that "persecution is the Church’s daily bread”.
Speaking during morning Mass
at the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope recalled the first Christian martyr – Stephen
– and said that “still today so many Christians are killed or persecuted for
their faith in Christ”.
Pope Francis said “there are
bloody persecutions, like being torn to pieces by wild beasts to the delight of
the audience in the stands or being blown up by a bomb at the end of Mass” and
there are “velvet-gloved” persecutions that are “cloaked in politeness":
the ones that marginalize you, take your job away if you fail to adapt to laws
that "go against God the Creator."
The story of the martyrdom of
Stephen, described in the Acts of the Apostles in the liturgy of the day, led
the Pope to remark on how persecution is a reality that has been part of the
history of Christian faith for 2000 years.
"Persecution, I would say, is the daily bread of the Church. Jesus said so himself” he said.
"Persecution, I would say, is the daily bread of the Church. Jesus said so himself” he said.
He pointed out that there are
tourist sites in Rome like the Colosseum which remind us of the martyrs who
were killed there by lions. But – he said – they are not the only ones. There
are ordinary men and women of today:
“Today, on Easter Sunday,
just three weeks ago… Those Christians who were celebrating Easter in Pakistan
were martyred because they were celebrating the Risen Christ. Thus, the history
of the Church goes ahead with its martyrs” he said.
Pope Francis pointed out that
the martyrdom of Stephen sparked a cruel anti-Christian persecution in
Jerusalem similar to the persecution suffered by those who are not free to
profess their faith in Jesus today.
“But – he noted - there is another
persecution which is not much spoken about," a persecution
"camouflaged by culture, by modernity, by progress in
disguise":
"It is a persecution I
would 'ironically describe as polite” he said.
It’s when someone is
persecuted – he explained - for wanting to manifest the values of the Gospel:
“It’s persecution against God the Creator in the person of his children!”
And the Pope said that every
day the powers that be promulgate laws that oblige one to take certain routes
and that nations that do not follow these indications or do not want them to be
part of their legislation, are accused and politely persecuted. It’s the kind
of the persecution that deprives one of freedom, and of the possibility of
conscientious objection.
“This – Pope Francis said - is
the persecution of the world" that "takes away freedom" whilst
“God made us free" to bear witness to "the Father who created us and
to Christ who saved us.”
This persecution he said is
perpetrated by the prince of this world.
Referring to the “great apostasy”
the Pope said that the life of Christians goes ahead notwithstanding these two
persecutions.
Urging the faithful to
"be careful,” to not fall into the spirit of the world, Pope Francis
assured us of his closeness: “I will be with you” he said.
(Linda Bordoni)
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