Slideshow image
Save to your Calendar

Today, and the other Holy Days following Christmas Day, all involve combinations of Martyrs of Deed and Martyrs of Will. Stephen, our parish's Patron Saint, is both a Martyr of Deed and Will, and is sometimes called the Proto-martyr.

Acts 6 records that Stephen was among the first seven who were chosen to serve as Deacons, whose duties it was to serve the poor and the widows. Acts 6 and 7 states that Stephen was arrested by the Sanhedrin, put on trial, convicted, and stoned to death.

While it might seem bizarre that a Martyr's feast is celebrated the day after Christmas, it is important that Stephen was the Church's first recorded Martyr, who at his trial declared the truth of Christ being Saviour, as well that his duties were one of charity, which is a theme of the Christmas season.

 

At the Mass

The following is taken from:

The Introit

Antiphon: Psalm 119 Princes, moreover, did sit, and did witness falsely against me, and the ungodly pressed sore upon me: O Lord, my God, stand up to help me, for thy servant is occupied continually in thy commandments.

Verse: Ibid Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way: and walk in the law of the Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Repeat the Antiphon Princes, moreover, did sit, ...

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 17-19

The Collects

Collect for St. Stephen

Grant, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth, for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Spirit, may learn to love and bless our persecutors, by the example of thy first Martyr Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those that suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

Collect for Christmas

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 108-109 and 104

The Lesson
Acts 7. 55.

Stephen, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 7.55-60 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 109

Gradual and Alleluia

Psalm 119 Princes also did sit and speak against me: and wicked men have persecuted me. Help me, O Lord my God: save me for thy mercy's sake.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Acts 7 I see the heavens opened: and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Alleluia.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 17-19

The Gospel
St. Matthew 23. 34.

Jesus spake unto the Scribes and Pharisees, saying, Behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city; that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zachariah the son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.

Matthew 23.34- NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 109-110

The Offertory

Acts 6 & 7 The Apostles chose Stephen the Levite, a man full of faith and of the Holy ghost: whom the Jews had stoned calling upon God and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 17-19

The Preface

Upon Christmas Day, and during the Octave thereof, and upon the Feast of the Annunciation.

Because thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be born as at this time for us; who, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with Angels, etc.

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 79

The Communion

Acts 7 Lo, see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing on the right hand of the power of God: O Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, and lay not this sin to their charge for they know not what they do.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 17-19

At the Offices

Morning Prayer

Psalm(s): 15, 16
First Lesson: Genesis 4:1-10
Second Lesson: Acts 6
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

Evening Prayer

Psalm(s): 31
First Lesson: 2 Chronicles 24:15-22
Second Lesson: Acts 7:59-8:8
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV