He was named pastor of the church of Saint Mary of Good Counsel at the age of 57. He would occupy this office until his death. Many of the responsibilities of pastors of our day were also a natural part of the ministry of Blessed Stephen. His days were regularly taken up with preaching, celebrating Eucharist and hearing confessions, teaching children, visiting the sick, tending to the poor and needy, as well as sharing fully in the life of his community through common prayer, meals and recreation. It was thus a full life in which Stephen was completely and happily engaged. Given the desperate situation of many of his poor parishioners, he also carried on an intense correspondence with those whom he believed were in a position to assist him in caring for them, including his own brothers in Trent, the friars who belonged to the papal household, bishops, wealthy past visitors to the shrine, and even the pope himself. He had no hesitation whatsoever in putting his hand out on behalf of the needy of his parish and even those who were not his parishioners, but poor nonetheless. “He would write me letters almost every week begging me to find the means to help his poor,” said his confrere, Fr. Agostino Proja, a good friend and member of the papal sacristy community. His warm and affectionate rapport with the youth of the town was evident and observed by the superior of the Sisters of Charity who once remarked, “there were also some insolent youth who took advantage of his affability, tugging at him like a toy. I saw this from my window opposite the monastery and I felt sorry for him, and while I admired his patience and good-nature, I said to myself, ‘this is a new Saint Philip Neri!’, so much did his love take me by surprise.”
Perhaps the dimension of Stephen’s ministry as pastor which stands out in particular relief, is his compassion and care for the sick and the poor. Many are the testimonies offered by those who were the personal recipients of his attention and generosity, many too, - especially the friars of his own community - who were witnesses of his special concern for the most needy.
“In assisting the sick, he wasn’t satisfied to offer only spiritual works of mercy, but in the homes of the poor he performed also those corporal works which his charity was able to provide. This happened with the sick of his own parish, but I think he did the same with those who were not his parishioners. He even provided their medicine, paying the pharmacist with the money that the monastery had given him or which he received from people of means to whom he continually had recourse.” It would be this solicitude for the sick poor during a typhus epidemic that would finally bring his ministry on earth to a close.
While at prayer with his community on January 23, 1840, he was called to minister to a man who had fallen ill. Stephen rose from his seat, and on stepping out from his choir stall, fell, causing a gash on his leg. He had to be put to bed with a high fever, and though the fever had left him the following morning, allowing him to visit the sick man, three days later he was in bed again. On February 2, 1840 this faithful and faith-filled Augustinian and priest died.
The late Archbishop, Joseph Raya, once described a saint as “a brother or sister who leaves behind a trail of light on which we can walk.” In the life of our brother, Stephen, we have been given such light, to guide and inspire us as Augustinians and as priests.
-Michael DiGregorio, OSA
Posted by Carlos J. Medina, Novice
No comments:
Post a Comment