This is the Liturgy of the Hours for December 26. Your local date is .
December 26
Feast
St. Stephen lived in first century Jerusalem and is noteworthy as the first Christian martyr. He was a deacon appointed by the Apostles to serve in Jerusalem among the Hellenistic Jews. Acts 7:54-60 tells of his martyrdom. St. Stephen’s preaching and performing of miracles incited hostility and he was stoned. He died, as Jesus did, asking that God forgive those who murdered him. His feast day has been celebrated since the 4th century.
Today, as we reflect on St. Stephen, let us follow his example of being a committed, fearless, forgiving disciple of Jesus and bear witness to our Lord, just as St. Stephen.[1][2][3]
Written by Sarah Ciotti
Reviewed by Fr. Hugh Feiss, OSB, STD
[1] Catholicpedia: The Original Catholic Encyclopedia (1917) for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. s.v. “St. Stephen.”
[2] F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone, The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (London: Oxford University Press, 1974), 1308.
[3] Fr. Hugh Feiss, OSB, The Martyrology of the Monastery of the Ascension, 2008.