Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr
St. Stephen, deacon and protomartyr. Described in the Acts of the Apostles as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit (6:5),” he was among the first seven deacons to be elected by the disciples. He was put to death by stoning by those who “could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke (6:10).”
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 (R.6)
R. Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for Your name’s sake You will lead and guide me. R.
Into Your hands I commend my spirit;
You will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of Your mercy. R.
Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
Let Your face shine upon Your servant;
save me in Your kindness. R.
Gospel – Mt 10:17-22
Jesus said to His disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for My sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
Featured Saints
St. Dionysius, Pope (†268). Rising to the pontifical throne after the persecution of Emperor Valerian, he sought to console the afflicted Christians, free captives and lead those who had gone astray back to the fold.
St. Euthymius, bishop and martyr (†824). Condemned to exile by the Byzantine emperor Michael II for defending the cult of sacred images, he was scourged to death in Sardis, present-day Turkey.
St. Vincentia Maria López y Vicuña, virgin (†1890). Foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate in Madrid, Spain, for the formation of girls whose parents were separated.
Blessed Secondo Pollo, priest (†1941). A military chaplain during the Second World War, he died in Montenegro when struck by a bullet while ministering to a wounded soldier. He was holding a Rosary and holy oils.
Blessed Agnes Phila, Lucy Khambang and companions, martyrs (†1940). They were shot to death in the cemetery of SongKhon, Thailand, for refusing to renounce the Catholic Faith.
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