Pope offers St. Stephen as model for Christans, evangelizers

December 26, 2012 - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday held out St. Stephen as a model of Christians and an evangelizer saying his life was completely conformed to Christ. The Pope said this in a midday reflection before praying the midday “Angelus” with a large crowd in St. Peter’s Square on the Dec. 26 feast of St. Stephen, a deacon and the first Christian martyr. It is a holiday both in the Vatican and in Italy, and so the Pope did not hold his weekly audience of Wednesday. On December 26, the day after Christmas, the Catholic Church observes the feast of St. Stephen, on which the Pope briefly reflected. He cited the Acts of the Apostles that presents St. Stephen as a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. The Pope said in him was fully fulfilled the promise of Jesus in today’s Gospel - that believers who are called to bear witness in difficult and dangerous circumstances will not be abandoned and left defenceless. The Spirit of God will speak through them. In fact, Pope Benedict said, the deacon Stephen worked, talked and died animated by the Holy Spirit, bearing witness to the love of Christ to the extreme sacrifice. The first martyr is described, in his suffering, as the perfect imitation of Christ, whose passion was repeated in all details. The life of Saint Stephen was entirely shaped by God and conformed to Christ. In the final moments of death, on his knees, he made his own the prayer of Jesus on the cross, trusting in the Lord and forgiving his enemies: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Filled with the Holy Spirit, and his eyes about to close, he fixed his gaze on "Jesus standing at the right hand of God", the Lord of all who draws all to Himself.
Drawing from the life of St. Stephen, Pope Benedict called on Christians to fix their gaze on the Son of God whom we contemplate in the mystery of his Incarnation in the joyful season of Christmas. With Baptism and Confirmation, the Pope explained, with the precious gift of faith nourished by the Sacraments of the Church, specially the Eucharist, Jesus Christ has bound us to Himself and wishes to continue in us, through the action of the Holy Spirit, his work of salvation that redeems, enhances, uplifts and leads all to fulfilment. Allowing oneself to be drawn to Christ, like St. Stephen, means opening one’s life to the light that beckons, orientates and helps to take on the path of goodness, the path of humanity according to God’s plan of love.
Pope Benedict also held out St. Stephen as a model of all who want to engage in the service of the new evangelization. The martyr shows that the novelty of proclamation does not consist primarily in using original methods and techniques, which certainly have their own utility, but rather in being filled with the Holy Spirit and being led by him. The newness of proclamation lies in being profoundly immersed in Christ, assimilating His Word and His presence in the Eucharist, such that he Himself, the living Jesus, can talk and act in his representative. Essentially, the Pope pointed out, the evangelizer becomes capable of carrying Christ to other is an effective way when he lives in Christ, when the newness of the Gospel manifests in his very life. In conclusion, the Pope urged all to pray to the Virgin Mary, so that the Church, during the current Year of Faith, may be able to see a growing number of men and women, who like St. Stephen, know how to give a convincing and courageous witness to the Lord Jesus. The Holy Father then imparted his blessing on all.

Receive the Pope’s Blessing:

After his blessing, the Pope spoke in several languages including in English.

Listen:
I am pleased to welcome all those present for this Angelus prayer. Today, immediately after Christmas Day, by tradition we celebrate the feast of the first martyr, Saint Stephen the Deacon. Like him, may we be blessed by God’s grace to have the courage to speak up and to defend the truth of our faith in public, with charity and constancy. God bless all of you and your loved ones!