杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

杏MAP导航 Francis began his address by saying that the celebration of St Stephen, who died, stoned, as he stood to defend his Christian faith, may appear 鈥渙ut of place鈥� in the midst of the joys of Christmas. In reality, he said, 鈥渟pecifically in the perspective of faith, today鈥檚 celebration is in harmony with the true meaning of Christmas鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 went on to explain that in Stephen鈥檚 martyrdom, 鈥渧iolence is defeated by love, and death by life鈥�. In the hour of supreme witness, he continued, Stephen 鈥渙ffers pardon to his persecutors鈥�.

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to say that this 鈥測oung servant of the Gospel鈥� knew how to speak about Jesus in word, and above all with his life鈥�.

In the school of St Stephen, continued the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渨e too fix our gaze on Jesus, the faithful witness of the Father鈥�, and through it we learn that the gaze of heaven is 鈥渕ade of love and the offering of oneself鈥�.

Stephen鈥檚 witness is 鈥渁 source of inspiration鈥�, for us Christians, for whom 鈥淗eaven is no longer far away鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. Our Christian communities, he continues, are called to become 鈥渁lways more missionary鈥�, to strive to evangelise, 鈥渄etermined to reach the men and women living in the existential and geographic margins where there is a stronger thirst for hope and salvation鈥�.

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his address by reminding the faithful gathered in St Peter鈥檚 Square that this feast day invites us to 鈥渞emember all the martyrs of yesterday and today to feel united in communion with them and to ask of them the grace to live and die with Jesus鈥� name in our hearts and on our lips鈥�.

Finally, he prayed to Mary Mother, that we may 鈥渓ive this Christmas season, with our gaze fixed on Jesus鈥�, so as to become more similar to him, each day.