The Holy Father delivered an Angelus address on December 26th to commemorate the proto-martyr and deacon, St. Stephen. He had much to say to all of us — but in a special way, I think, to deacons:

Dear brothers and sisters, happy feast day! Happy feast day to everyone.

Today, immediately after Christmas, the liturgy celebrates Saint Stephen, the first martyr. The account of his stoning is found in the Acts of the Apostles (cf. 6:8-12; 7:54-60) and presents it to us while, dying, he prays for his killers. And this gives us pause for thought: in fact, even though at first sight Stephen seems to be helplessly suffering violence, in reality, as a truly free man, he continues to love even his killers and to offer his life for them, like Jesus (cf. Jn 10:17-18; Lk 23:34); he offers his life so that they may repent and, having been forgiven, be given eternal life.

In this way, the deacon Stephen appears to us as a witness of that God who has one great desire: that “that all men be saved” (1 Tim 2:4) – this is the desire of God’s heart – that no-one be lost (cf. Jn 6:39; 17:1-26). Stephen is a witness to the Father – our Father – who wants good and only good for each of His children, and always; the Father who excludes no one, the Father who never tires of seeking them out (cf. Lk 15:3-7) and of welcoming them back when, after having strayed, they return to Him in repentance (cf. Lk 15:11-32) and the Father who does not tire of forgiving. Remember this: God always forgives, and God forgives everything.

Let us return to Stephen. Unfortunately, even today there are, in various parts of the world, many men and women who are persecuted, at times up to death, because of the Gospel. What we have said about Stephen applies to them too. They do not allow themselves to be killed out of weakness, nor to defend an ideology, but to make everyone participants in the gift of salvation. And they do so first and foremost for the good of their killers: for the killers … and they pray for them.

A beautiful example of this is left to us by Blessed Christian de Chergé, who called his future killer a “last minute friend.”

Let us ask ourselves, then, each one of us: do I feel the desire for all to know God and for everyone to be saved? Do I also want the good of those who make me suffer? Do I take an interest in and pray for the many brothers and sisters who are persecuted for their faith?

May Mary, Queen of Martyrs, help us to be courageous witnesses of the Gospel for the salvation of the world.