St. Stephen, THE FIRST MARTYR.
by VP
Posted on Thursday December 26, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was the first of the deacons chosen by the apostles; and the Scripture says that he was full of faith and the Holy Ghost. Pray that all those who are chosen to any ministry in the Church may be men of this character, and blessed with these gifts, for on this depends the good of the Church, and of innumerable souls.
A supernatural wisdom, and the Spirit of God, directed St. Stephen in all his disputes with the enemies of his faith. Pray for the same heavenly assistance, both for yourself and all others, as often as charity to your neighbour and duty to truth shall oblige to the like engagements: and remember that patience and moderation best become the advocates of truth.
He bore with the malice of his adversaries with a wonderful courage: pray that this may be a pattern to you and all others, when called to any part of these trials.
St. Stephen prayed for his enemies who stoned him. Pray and endeavour that the like charity may ever accompany you, and all others, under the most severe provocations. Be constant in practicing it in ordinary trials; this is the surest way of not failing in greater.
St. Stephen having been chosen by the apostles one of the first deacons, his diligence and fidelity to his charge were edifying to the faithful. His power in working great wonders and miracles rendered him eminent to all people, so that he became the instrument of great conversions; the number of disciples multiplying very considerably in Jerusalem, and a great number of the Jewish priests becoming obedient to the faith. This zeal of his, thus happy in so plentiful a harvest of souls, gave disturbance to the enemies of his faith; and exciting their envy, led them to unwarrantable resolutions of obliging him to silence by their false reasoning; and if this should prove ineffectual, of accomplishing their designs by false accusations and malice. Here is a consoling example of a disciple's zeal, and one as terrible of blind and obstinate passion.
Whoever undertakes to be Christ's disciple, must expect opposition. Happy they, who by their zealous labours, or edifying regularity in themselves and their families, give occasion to adversaries to be jealous of them, and put them upon malicious contrivances to lessen their fame to the world, to prevent the fruit of their good example. Such as these are the sweet odour of Christ. Their piety, labours, and justice ascend like incense before him. They are blessed in what they do, and more blessed still in what they suffer; being in both true followers of their Master, whose character is comprised in these few words, of doing good to all, and suffering evil from all with patience.
St. Stephen being brought by false accusations before the tribunal, with great courage and liberty of spirit, gave an account of his faith: but neither the evidence of miracles nor reason could satisfy those, who thirsted not for truth, but for his blood. Therefore seeing themselves disappointed, they hurry him with violence out of Jerusalem, and there discharge their malice against him, by stoning him to death. And as, a little before his execution, he had the comfort of seeing Heaven open before him, and Jesus standing at the right hand of his Father; so now he gives proof of being his disciple, by praying for those who stoned him. They had malice in their hearts; and he, perfect charity in his: they threw stones and death at him; he sent up prayers to heaven for them: he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge, and so expired.
This was the wonderful charity of this first martyr. It is this, for which the Church prays on this festival, and it ought to be the subject of every one's prayer in particular. Bow down, therefore, before your God this day: acknowledge all your past transgressions in the breach of charity;
and leave not your prayers, till you have obtained a new spirit, by
which you may ever live in peace with all, forgiving all injuries, as
you desire to be forgiven. Beg this spirit of Jesus, and beseech this martyr to join with you, for obtaining what you ask on this day, on which he set you so great an example." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
