Pope Francis: St Stephen's Day Angelus
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday called on
Christians to “overcome evil with good and hatred with love.” In a tweet
marking the Feast of Saint Stephen, the Church’s first martyr, the Pope said,
“let us remember the martyrs of today and yesterday.” It was a theme the Holy
Father picked up in his Angelus address to the thousands of pilgrims who had
gathered in St. Peter’s Square on this, the day after Christmas.
Here is Vatican Radio's translation of the Pope’s remarks
at the Angelus 26 December 2016:
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The joy of Christmas also fills our hearts today, as the
liturgy has us celebrate the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, the first martyr,
inviting us to receive the witness that through his sacrifice he has left us.
It is the testimony with which his sacrifice became glorious, precisely the
glory of Christian martyrdom, suffered for love of Jesus Christ; martyrdom
which continues to be present in the history of the Church, since Stephen up to
this day.
Of this witness we are told in today’s Gospel (cf. Mt
10:17-22). Jesus forewarns his disciples of the rejection and persecution that
they will encounter and he says this: “and you will be hated by all for my
name's sake” (v. 22). But why does the world persecute Christians? The world
hates Christians for the same reason it hated Jesus because He brought the
light of God and the world prefers the darkness to hide its wicked works. We
remember that Jesus himself, at the Last Supper, prayed to the Father to defend
him from the spirit of worldly wickedness. There is conflict between the
mentality of the Gospel and that of the world. To follow Jesus means to follow
his light, which was lit on that Bethlehem night, and to abandon the darkness
of the world.
The first martyr Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, was stoned
because he confessed his faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The only Son
who comes into the world invites every believer to choose the path of
light and life. This is the meaning of his coming among us. Loving the Lord and
obeying his voice, the deacon Stephen chose Christ, Life and Light for every
man. By choosing the truth, he became at the same time, the victim of the
mystery of evil present in the world. But in Christ, Stephen triumphed!
Today too the Church, to bear witness to light and truth,
experiences harsh persecution in different places, [to the point of] the
supreme test of martyrdom. How many of our brothers and sisters in faith suffer
abuse, violence, and are hated for Jesus’ sake! I’ll tell you something.
The martyrs of today are greater in number than those of the first centuries.
When we read the history of the early centuries, here in Rome, we read about so
much cruelty towards Christians. I tell you, there is this same cruelty
today, and in greater numbers with Christians. Today we want to think
about them and to be close to them with our affection, our prayer and our
tears. Yesterday, Christmas Day, the persecuted Christians in Iraq celebrated
Christmas in their destroyed Cathedral. [Theirs] is an example of fidelity to
the Gospel. Despite the trials and the dangers, they bear witness with courage
to their belonging to Christ and they live the Gospel committing themselves on
behalf of the least, the most overlooked, doing good to all without
distinction; they bear witness in this way to charity in truth.
In making space within our heart for the Son of God who
gives himself to us at Christmas, we renew the joyous and courageous
willingness to follow him faithfully as our only guide, persevering in living
in accordance with the Gospel mentality and refusing the mentality of those who
dominate this world.
To the Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Martyrs, we
raise our prayer, so that she may guide us and always sustain us in our journey
of following Jesus Christ, whom we contemplate in the manger crib and that who
is the faithful Witness of God the Father.
POST ANGELUS
After the Angelus, Pope Francis expressed his condolences to
the Russian people and the families of victims of the Christmas day plane crash
that took the lives of 92 people near Sochi.
I express my sincere condolences for the sad news of the
Russian plane that crashed into the Black Sea. May the Lord console the
dear Russian people and the families of the passengers who were on board:
journalists, crew and the excellent choir and orchestra of the armed
forces. May the blessed Virgin Mary sustain the search operations
underway. In 2004, the choir performed in the Vatican for the 26th year
of the pontificate of Saint John Paul II. Let us pray for them
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
in the climate of Christian joy that emanates from the Birth
of Jesus, I greet you and thank you for your presence.
To all of you who have come from Italy and from different
Nations, I renew my good wishes for peace and serenity: may these, for you and
for your family, be days of joy and brotherhood. Greetings and I send best
wishes to all of the people named Stephen or Stefanie!
In recent weeks I have received many well-wishing messages
from around the world. Not being possible for me to answer each one, I express
my heartfelt thanks to all today, especially for the gift of prayer. Thank you
so much! May the Lord reward you with his generosity!
Have a happy feast day! Please do not forget to pray for me.
Enjoy your lunch and goodbye.
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