Narracio optima beati Pauli ad sponsam, qualiter precibus beati Stephani fuerit a Deo vocatus et de lupo agnus effectus; et qualiter est bonum orare pro omnibus.
From Wolf to Lamb
Paul recounts his miraculous transformation from a ravenous wolf to a lamb through divine grace and the prayers of Saint Stephen.
Blessed Paul speaks to the bride of Christ, saying: "Daughter, you have compared me to a lion, one raised among wolves, but miraculously snatched away from them." Truly, daughter, I was a ravenous wolf, but God made me a lamb out of that wolf; and this happened for two reasons. First, because of His great love, for He makes His own vessels out of the unworthy and turns sinners into His friends. Second, because of the prayers of blessed Stephen, the first martyr.
The Witness of Stephen
Paul reflects on his internal state during Stephen's martyrdom, noting his own blindness and the compassion he felt for the saint's suffering.
For I want to show you what my mindset was back when Stephen was being stoned, and why I deserved his prayers.✦ I certainly didn't take pleasure in or enjoy the suffering of blessed Stephen, nor did I envy his glory; yet I still wanted him to die because, by my own way of thinking, I didn't see him as having true faith. And when I saw him so intensely fervent and patient in enduring his suffering, I was deeply grieved that I thought him an unbeliever, when in truth he was most faithful, and I was the one who was entirely blind and faithless. Feeling for him, I prayed with all my heart that his bitter suffering might lead to his glory and crown.
The Power of Intercession
Paul explains how Stephen's prayer secured his conversion and encourages the practice of praying for others.
That is why his prayer was so effective for me; through his intercession, I was snatched from many wolves and turned into a gentle lamb. It's good, therefore, to pray for everyone, because the prayer of a righteous person is effective for those who are closer and more ready to receive grace.1
A Lament for Neglect
Paul laments the modern neglect of holy examples and warns those who offer empty vessels to God of their coming shame.
But now I lament that this man, so eloquent among teachers and so patient among those who stoned him, is so forgotten and neglected by the hearts of many—especially by those who are bound to attend to him night and day. For these people bring Him their vessels broken and empty, muddy and abominable. Therefore, just as it is written, they will be clothed in 'double confusion and shame' and cast out from the houses of pleasure.
Read the original Latin
Loquitur beatus Paulus sponse Christe dicens: "Tu, filia, comparasti me leoni, qui inter lupos nutritus fuerat, sed de lupis mirabiliter ereptus est. Vere, filia, lupus rapax ego eram, sed de lupo fecit me Deus agnum; et hoc propter duo.
Primo propter magnam suam caritatem, qui de indignis facit vasa sua et de peccatoribus amicos suos. Secundo propter preces beati Stephani protomartiris.
Nam ostendere tibi volo, quomodo et in qua intencione tunc fui, quando lapidatus fuit Stephanus, et quare merui preces eius.
Ego quippe non gaudebam nec delectabar de pena beati Stephani nec inuidebam glorie eius, sed tamen cupiebam eum mori, eo quod iuxta intencionem meam non videbam ipsum habere fidem veram.
Cumque viderem eum ultra modum feruentem et pacientem ad passionem ferendam, vehementer dolui ipsum esse infidelem, cum reuera ipse esset fidelissimus et ego totus cecus et infidelis.
Et compaciendo ei rogaui orando ex toto corde, quod pena sua amara proficeret ei ad gloriam et coronam.
Propterea cumprimis profecit michi oracio eius, quia per oracionem ipsius de multis lupis ereptus sum et factus mansuetus agnus. Ideo bonum est orare pro omnibus, quia illis proficit oracio iusti, qui propinquiores et apciores sunt ad recipiendum graciam.
Sed nunc conqueror, quod vir iste tam eloquens inter doctores et tam paciens inter lapidantes nimis oblitus et neglectus est a cordibus multorum et maxime ab hiis, qui ei nocte ac die tenerentur assistere.
Hii enim portant ei vasa sua confracta et vacua, lutosa et abhominabilia. Ideo sicut scriptum est, induentur 'confusione duplici et rubore' et eicientur a domibus voluptatis."
Scripture echoes
- ↩Acts.7.58-Acts.7.60 — And they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid aside their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. Acts.7.59 — And they were stoning Stephen, who was calling upon the name of the Lord, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Acts.7.60 — Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' And having said this, he fell asleep.
Notes
- 1 ↩The Latin 'apciores' is likely a variant of 'aptiores' (more apt/ready).
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