Saint Stephen

Lives of the Saints

by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. edition

[1894]

December 26.—ST. STEPHEN, First Martyr.

There is good reason to believe that St. Stephen was one of the seventy-two disciples of our blessed Lord. After the Ascension he was chosen one of the seven deacons. The ministry of the seven was very fruitful; but Stephen especially, “full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people.” Many adversaries rose up to dispute with him, but “they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the spirit that spoke.”

At length he was brought before the Sanhedrim, charged, like his divine Master, with blasphemy against Moses and against God. He boldly upbraided the chief priests with their hard-hearted resistance to the Holy Ghost and with the murder of the “Just One.”

They were stung with anger, and gnashed their teeth against him. But when, “filled with the Holy Ghost and looking up to heaven, he cried out, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God,’ they rushed upon him, and dragging him forth without the city, they stoned him to death”

Reflection.—If ever you are tempted to resentment, pray from your heart for him who has offended you.

Saint Stephen The First Martyr Feast Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Mt 10:17-22 (696) Pss Prop.

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/stephen-771
CATHOLICISM SAINTS ST. STEPHEN

*St. Stephen’s Martyrdom – Cortona.

This artwork by P. Cortona shows the stoning of the deacon Saint Stephen, the First Martyr of the Church, with the Blessed Trinity looking on.

**Saint Stephen (Greek: Στέφανος Stéphanos, meaning “wreath, crown” and by extension “reward, honor, renown, fame”, often given as a title rather than as a name; Hebrew: סטפנוס הקדוש, Stephanos HaQadosh; c. 5 – c. 34 AD), traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first martyr of Christianity, was, according to the Acts of the Apostles, a deacon in the early Church at Jerusalem who angered members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy at his trial, he made a speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him and was then stoned to death. Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul, a Pharisee and Roman citizen who would later become a Christian apostle, participated in Stephen’s martyrdom.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Jn 3:16