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87.1
First Point
It is said of Saint Stephen in the Acts of the Apostles that he was
filled with faith.[i]
He certainly showed this, for he always guided himself and always acted by
the spirit of faith.
Was he not, in fact, animated by this spirit when he spoke with
such great zeal to the Jews, and when several of them who disputed with
him could not resist the Holy Spirit who was in him and animating his
Zeal?[ii] Because, after he
recounted for them all the benefits with which God had honored their
fathers, and the little gratitude that most of them had shown,[iii]
he reproached them for being just like their fathers, and for not
observing any better than they the Law which they had received through the
ministry of angels.[iv]
Was he not filled with faith when, following the recommendation
given by Jesus Christ, he pardoned his enemies and begged God not to
impute to them the sin they were committing by putting him to death,[v]
and when, in the fervor of his prayer he saw the heavens opened and the
Son of God made man at the right hand of God his Father?[vi]
This is how faith should make you act, and how you should make
known by your conduct, as he did, that you are true disciples of Jesus
Christ, having only god in view in all your actions, and announcing with
as much boldness and intrepidity, as he did, the maxims of the holy
Gospel. In all this what should strengthen your zeal as well as your faith
is the fact that you announce the truths in your position as ministers of
God.[vii]
87.2
Second Point
This saint was not satisfied to be filled with faith; he wanted to
share the fullness of his faith with those of his nation by preaching to
them the new religion which had just been established, and by making known
to them, with the testimony of Holy Scripture, Jesus Christ, whom they did
not know, and who had come to give them the means of salvation and to die
for them. He also wanted to make them realize that they were the ones who,
moved by hatred and envy of the good he had done, had him condemned to
death[viii] But these Jews with
their hard and uncircumcised hearts, [ix]as
Saint Stephen told them, showed indeed the truth of what Saint Paul says,
that all do not obey the Gospel,[x]
and what Isaiah says, Who are those who have believed what you have
preached to them?[xi]
You have been chosen by God to make Jesus Christ known and to
proclaim him. Therefore, admire the goodness of God to you, as the same
apostle says, provided, however, that you remain firm in the state where
his goodness has placed you.[xii]
Following the example of Saint Stephen, then, make Jesus Christ known to
those whom you have to instruct; teach them the rules of the Christian
life and the means they must use to be saved. It is for this purpose that
God entrusted to you the ministry in which you are employed. Do not make
yourself unworthy of it by negligence.[xiii]
87.3
Third Point
After teaching the faith, Saint Stephen also died for the faith.
The Jews could not endure the reproaches and explanations he leveled at
them about their ingratitude to God and their hardness of heart. They
threw him out of the city and stoned him[xiv]
as a blasphemer. That is how they treated all the prophets,[xv]
Our Lord says. This saint considered himself fortunate to be treated like
those who had preceded him, and Saint Augustine says he welcomed with
gratitude this shower of stones which fell upon him. It was the faith that
filled his being and made him feel truly honored at being persecuted in
this way, as Jesus Christ, his Master, had been.[xvi]
All he did during this time was to look to heaven to show God his
gratitude for so great a favor.
Enter into these dispositions from today on; willingly endure all
the trials you are given, and do not be troubled by any of them or
complain of anything. After the example of Saint Stephen, you must be
faith consider all you have to suffer from you neighbor as gifts and
benefits coming from God. Only pure faith can inspire such sentiments.
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De
La Salle presents Saint Stephen as a model for the Brothers of the spirit
of faith, which they had chosen under his guidance as the spirit of their
Institute, not only for their own lives but as the purpose for their work
with their students. This feast is of very early origin in the Church, at
least as early as the 4th century.
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