St. Stephen the First Martyr

Ps 118:23, 86, 23

v. Princes met and talked against me, and the wicked persecuted me wrongfully; help me, O Lord my God, for Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

Ps 118:1

Happy are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. v. Princes met and talked against me, and the wicked persecuted me wrongfully; help me, O Lord my God, for Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord, so to imitate what we revere, that we may learn to love even our enemies; for we celebrate the heavenly birthday of him who knew how to pray for his very persecutors to our Lord Jesus Christ: r. Who livest and reignest with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui primítias Mártyrum in beati Levítæ Stephani sánguine dedicásti: tríbue, quǽsumus; ut pro nobis intercéssor exsístat, qui pro suis étiam persecutóribus exorávit Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum: r. Who livest and reignest with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen

For the Octave of the Nativity.

Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that the new birth, in the flesh, of Your only-begotten Son may deliver us whom the bondage of old keeps under the yoke of sin. r. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

Lesson from the Acts of Apostles

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59

In those days, Stephen, full of grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. But there arose some from the synagogue which is called that of the Freedmen, and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and the province of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit Who spoke. Now as they heard these things, they were cut to the heart and gnashed their teeth at him. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed upon him all together. And they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And while they were stoning Stephen he prayed and said, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, saying, Lord, do not lay this sin against them. And with these words he fell asleep.

Ps 118:23, 86

Princes met and talked against me, and the wicked persecuted me wrongfully.

Ps 6:5

V. Help me, O Lord my God: rescue me because of Your kindness. Alleluia, alleluia.

Acts 7:56

I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing on the right hand of the power of God. Alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia. V. Acts 7:56 I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Alleluia.

Ps 20:4

V. O Lord, You placed on his head a crown of precious stones. Alleluia.

Ps 20:3-4

You have granted him his heart’s desire: You refused not the wish of his lips. V. For You welcomed him with goodly blessings. V. You placed on his head a crown of precious stones.

Continuation + of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Matt 23:34-39

At that time, Jesus said to the Scribes and Pharisees, Therefore, behold, I send you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them you will put to death and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from town to town; that upon you may come all the just blood that has been shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the just unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. Amen I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem! you who kill the prophets, and stone those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you would not! Behold, your house is left to you desolate. For I say to you, you shall not see Me henceforth until you shall say, Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!

Acts 6:5; 7:59

The Apostles chose Stephen to be a levite, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit: whom the Jews stoned, praying and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Alleluia.

Receive our offerings, O Lord, in memory of Your saints, that, as their passion has given them eternal glory, so may this sacrificial act free us from guilt. Through our Lord. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

For the Octave of the Nativity.

Make holy the sacrificial gifts we offer, O Lord, and by the new birth of Your only-begotten Son cleanse us from the stains of our sins. r. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

Acts 7:56, 59-60

I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing on the right hand of the power of God: Lord Jesus receive my spirit, and do not lay this sin against them.

May the sacrament we have received aid us, O Lord; and by the intercession of blessed Stephen, Your Martyr, may it sustain us under Your everlasting protection. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

For the Octave of the Nativity.

Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that the Saviour of the world, born this day, Who is the author of our birth in godliness, may bestow on us immortal life. r. Who livest and reignest with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen