Dec 26 - “St. Stephen” © artwork by Br. Mickey McGrath, OSFS. Happy Feast Day St. Stephen!
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Saint Stephen was the first Christian martyr and one of the first deacons of the Christian Church. He was one of seven men selected and ordained by the Apostles to provide aid to the poor, elderly, and widows within the church community. St. Stephen was a gifted evangelist, respected for his preaching abilities.
The early life of St. Stephan is virtually unknown but his Greek name, Stephanos, suggests that he was a Hellinistic Jew. He ministered mostly to the Hellinistic converts, with whom the Apostles had difficulty speaking.
Stephen was forced to stand before the Sanhedrin and endure false accusations. When he spoke, he recited the mercies of God towards Israel and of Israel’s ungratefulness. The Jewish people were enraged by his words and their fury was incensed when he accused them of murdering the Just One as the Prophets had foretold.
St. Stephen looked to heaven and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” At this, the enraged crowd ran violently upon him and cast him out of the city. Stephen was stoned to death but had cried out to the Lord to not condemn his enemies.
His feast day is December 26.
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