BL. STEPHEN NEHME - 30 AUGUST

BLESSED STEPHEN NEHME, RELIGIOUS

Blessed Stephen Nehme was born Yusuf Nehme in 1889 in the town of Lehfed, Lebanon.

He was the youngest of seven children and was educated at Our Lady of Grace School, which was run by the Lebanese Maronite Order. (The Maronites are one of the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See of Rome).

It is said that one day Blessed Stephen was out in the fields watching over the animals on his father’s farm, when he saw a badger enter an underground cave. After noting the presence of traces of water, he began to dig and saw water spring from inside the cave until it became a fountain.

HE ENTERED THE NOVITIATE

In 1905, two years after his father’s death, Blessed Stephen entered the novitiate of the Order of Maronites in the Monastery of SS. Cyprian and Justine in Kfifan. In 1907 he made his monastic vows, taking the name of Stephen, after the patron saint of his birthplace.

CARPENTRY AND CONSTRUCTION JOBS

As a friar, Blessed Stephen worked in the fields and gardens, and dedicated himself to carpentry and construction jobs. Always and everywhere Blessed Stephen was known for his ability to transmit the Good News of Jesus to his brothers. He lived an intense life of prayer, faithful to the Order’s spirituality. Blessed Stephen’s generous spirit, prudent judgement and compassion for the difficulties of others won him the respect and love of those around him. Blessed Stephen’s spirituality was marked by his awareness of the Lord’s constant presence in every instance of life, which he himself summarised by often repeating: “God sees me”.

"GOD SEES ME"

Blessed Stephen lived through the adversities of the First World War, carrying his cross, denying himself and following the Lord with courage. Blessed Stephen died of natural causes in 1938, at the age of 49. He was buried in the Monastery at Kfifan, where his body remains intact.

At the Beatification Mass in 2010, Pope Benedict said: “I heartily rejoice with my Lebanese brothers and sisters and I entrust them with great affection to the protection of this new Blessed.”

Source: Spiritual Thought from Father Chris

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed Stephen may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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