Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Pope Benedict XVI chose St Stephen the first martyr as the subject of his teaching at the Wednesday General Audience on January 10. “Saint Stephen is the most representative of a group of seven companions - the Pope said - Tradition sees in this group of men the seed of the future ministry of ‘deacons’ although it must be said that the word is not mentioned in the Book of the Acts. The importance of Stephen is clear from the fact that Luke dedicates two whole chapters to him in this important book.”
Following St Luke’s narration the Pope recalled that the Apostles, wishing to reserve for themselves the work of “prayer and the ministry of the Word as their main task”, chose “seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom” to serve the poor and the needy, after had praying and the laying on of hands. “The gesture of laying on of hands can have different meanings” the Pope explained. “The fact that it was an important action to be undertaken after discernment, is clear from what we read in the First Letter to Timothy: ‘Do not be too quick to lay hands on anyone, and never make yourself an accomplice in anybody else's sin;’ (5,22). So we see that the gesture of laying on of hands develops along the line of a sacramental sign. In the case of Stephan and his companions this was certainly official transmission on the part of the Apostles of a duty as well as the imploration of the grace to carry it out.”
“The most important thing to note - the Holy Father continued - is that besides charitable service Stephen also had the task of evangelisation towards his countrymen and women, the so-called "Hellenists"… In fact Luke stresses the fact that, ‘full of grace and strength’ (Acts 6,8), Stephen presents in the name of Jesus a new interpretation of Moses and God’s Law, he rereads the Old Testament in the light of the announcement of the death and resurrection of Jesus. This rereading of the Old Testament, a Christological rereading, provokes reaction from the Jews who see his words as blasphemy. This is why he is condemned to death by stoning”.
The life of St Stephen “teaches us that social work must never be separated from courageous proclamation of the faith”. The first martyr “with charity, announces Christ crucified to the point of accepting martyrdom”. In fact “the Cross is always central in the life of the Church and in our own personal life” the Pope said. “In the history of the Church passion and persecution are never lacking. And precisely persecution becomes, according to the famous words of Tertullian, source of mission for new Christians”.
“In our own lives too, the cross, which will never be lacking, becomes a blessing," he concluded. "And accepting the cross, knowing that is it is and becomes a blessing, we learn the joy of being Christian, even in moments of difficulty. The value of witness is irreplaceable because it leads the Gospel and it nourishes the Church. Saint Stephen teaches us to remember this lesson, he teaches us to love the Cross because it is the path on which Christ comes to us”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/1/2006 - righe 37, parole 531)Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Pope Benedict XVI chose St Stephen the first martyr as the subject of his teaching at the Wednesday General Audience on January 10. “Saint Stephen is the most representative of a group of seven companions - the Pope said - Tradition sees in this group of men the seed of the future ministry of ‘deacons’ although it must be said that the word is not mentioned in the Book of the Acts. The importance of Stephen is clear from the fact that Luke dedicates two whole chapters to him in this important book.”
Following St Luke’s narration the Pope recalled that the Apostles, wishing to reserve for themselves the work of “prayer and the ministry of the Word as their main task”, chose “seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom” to serve the poor and the needy, after had praying and the laying on of hands. “The gesture of laying on of hands can have different meanings” the Pope explained. “The fact that it was an important action to be undertaken after discernment, is clear from what we read in the First Letter to Timothy: ‘Do not be too quick to lay hands on anyone, and never make yourself an accomplice in anybody else's sin;’ (5,22). So we see that the gesture of laying on of hands develops along the line of a sacramental sign. In the case of Stephan and his companions this was certainly official transmission on the part of the Apostles of a duty as well as the imploration of the grace to carry it out.”
“The most important thing to note - the Holy Father continued - is that besides charitable service Stephen also had the task of evangelisation towards his countrymen and women, the so-called "Hellenists"… In fact Luke stresses the fact that, ‘full of grace and strength’ (Acts 6,8), Stephen presents in the name of Jesus a new interpretation of Moses and God’s Law, he rereads the Old Testament in the light of the announcement of the death and resurrection of Jesus. This rereading of the Old Testament, a Christological rereading, provokes reaction from the Jews who see his words as blasphemy. This is why he is condemned to death by stoning”.
The life of St Stephen “teaches us that social work must never be separated from courageous proclamation of the faith”. The first martyr “with charity, announces Christ crucified to the point of accepting martyrdom”. In fact “the Cross is always central in the life of the Church and in our own personal life” the Pope said. “In the history of the Church passion and persecution are never lacking. And precisely persecution becomes, according to the famous words of Tertullian, source of mission for new Christians”.
“In our own lives too, the cross, which will never be lacking, becomes a blessing," he concluded. "And accepting the cross, knowing that is it is and becomes a blessing, we learn the joy of being Christian, even in moments of difficulty. The value of witness is irreplaceable because it leads the Gospel and it nourishes the Church. Saint Stephen teaches us to remember this lesson, he teaches us to love the Cross because it is the path on which Christ comes to us”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/1/2006 - righe 37, parole 531)
