From: trudie.Miller@cox.net   
      
   December 26th - Stephen the Deacon, Protomartyr (RM)   
      
   Died in Jerusalem, c. 35; feast day in the East is December 27; other feast   
   days on August 3 to commemorate the rediscovery of Stephen's relics, and on   
   May 7 their translation to Rome.   
      
   Stephen was the first martyr of the Catholic Church. The story of his   
   election as one of the first seven deacons to serve the Greek-speaking   
   Christians and his martyrdom is found in Acts 6:1-8:3. He was stoned to   
   death by the Jews at the instigation of the Sanhedrin. The gist of his   
   argument in support of Christianity was that God does not depend upon the   
   Temple, because it, like the Mosaic Law, was a temporary institution   
   destined to be fulfilled and superseded by Christ, who was the prophet   
   designated by Moses and the Messiah the Jews had long awaited. His dying   
   prayer obtained the conversion of St. Paul, who was actively engaged in   
   Stephen's martyrdom. This is all that is known of him, but from these   
   details certain things can be deduced: Stephen was probably a Greek-speaking   
   Jew, perhaps educated in Alexandria, and a zealous preacher.   
      
   Stephen's feast was kept in both the East and West at least from the 4th   
   century. His cultus was given further popularity by the discovery of his   
   remains.   
      
   His relics were discovered in a remarkable way, some centuries after his   
   martyrdom. In the year 415 a certain holy priest named Lucian was awakened   
   one night by a venerable man appearing to him clothed in white. He called   
   him by his name and bade him go to Jerusalem and tell the bishop to come and   
   open the tombs, in which lay the remains of several servants of God,   
   together with his own. Through their means, he said, God would open to many   
   the gates of his clemency.   
      
   Lucian asked who it was who spoke to him. It is Gamaliel, the figure   
   replied, the one who instructed Paul the apostle in the law. He told the   
   priest that the body of St. Stephen, who was stoned to death by the Jews,   
   would be found without the city beyond the northern gate. His body had been   
   left exposed a day and a night, he said, without being touched, but he had   
   exhorted the faithful to carry it away secretly at night to his home in the   
   country. The bodies of Nicodemus who sought Jesus by night, together with   
   others, would also be found.   
      
   Lucian fearing that he might be deceived and if he made known these things   
   be looked upon as an impostor, gave himself to prayer, asking that if this   
   message was from God, it would be made known to him a second and a third   
   time.   
      
   Some days afterward Gamaliel appeared to him again as before and commanded   
   him to obey. Still he delayed until a third message had been given him, then   
   terrified lest some punishment should come upon him for his long delay, he   
   went to Jerusalem. He laid the whole matter before the bishop who bade him   
   go at once and search for the relics.   
      
   The bodies were found at Kafr Gamala, though not immediately, contained in   
   three coffins, engraved with Greek characters, the names of Stephen,   
   Nicodemus, and Abibas. The bishop hurried to the scene with a multitude of   
   people. When the coffin of Stephen was opened a sweet fragrance pervaded the   
   air, and many miracles took place at the tomb. Stephen's relics were taken   
   to Jerusalem, the others left at Kafr Gamala, which is about 20 miles from   
   the northern gate of Jerusalem.   
      
   His alleged relics, together with the stones reputedly used at his   
   martyrdom, were translated first to Constantinople and then to Rome. The day   
   on which they were translated, the Church now celebrates the principal feast   
   of the saint. Many of the early Fathers of the Church testify to the   
   authenticity of this wonderful discovery.   
      
   In 444 the Empress Eudocia built a stately Church over the spot where   
   Stephen had been stoned to death and in which the relics were enshrined.   
      
   Saint Augustine, in the last book of The City of God, speaking of the   
   miracles which followed the discovery says: "Let us so desire to obtain   
   temporal blessings by St. Stephen's intercession that we may merit in   
   imitating him those which are eternal."   
      
   How many countless thousands of holy men and women were to follow the first   
   martyr St. Stephen, who persevered in death, proclaiming that the faith that   
   they had professed in life and thus entering with him into their eternal   
   reward (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Coleridge, Delaney, Encyclopedia,   
   Murray, White).   
      
   In art he is shown vested as a deacon, holding a book or a palm; or carrying   
   stones; or with stones resting on his book of the Gospels; or with stones   
   gathered in the folds of his dalmatic. In several unusual pieces, he is   
   shown (1) in a coffin with Abibas, Gamaliel, and Nicodemus around him; (2)   
   his body guarded by animals; (3) preaching to the Jews 14th- Century French   
   Illumination (Roeder).   
      
   He is the patron saint of bricklayers (due to his death by stoning)   
   (Roeder), those in the building trades (White) and deacons (Farmer). Stephen   
   is also the patron of several French cathedrals including those at Sens,   
   Bourges, and Toulouse (Farmer). He is invoked against headaches (Roeder).   
      
      
   Saint Quote   
   But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw   
   the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said:   
   Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right   
   hand of God.   
   -St. Stephen from Acts 7:55   
      
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit you   
   out of My mouth. Apoc 3:16   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus   
      
   Divine Jesus, You have said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall   
   find; knock and it shall be opened to you." Behold me kneeling at Your feet,   
   filled with a lively faith and confidence in the promises dictated by Your   
   Sacred Heart to Saint Margaret Mary. I come to ask this favor:   
      
   Mention your request).   
      
   To whom can I turn if not to You, Whose Heart is the source of all graces   
   and merits? Where should I seek if not in the treasure which contains all   
   the riches of Your kindness and mercy? Where should I knock if not at the   
   door through which God gives Himself to us and through which we go to God? I   
   have recourse to You, Heart of Jesus. In You I find consolation when   
   afflicted, protection when persecuted, strength when burdened with trials,   
   and light in doubt and darkness.   
      
   Dear Jesus, I firmly believe that You can grant me the grace I implore, even   
   though it should require a miracle. You have only to will it and my prayer   
   will be granted. I admit that I am most unworthy of Your favors, but this is   
   not a reason for me to be discouraged. You are the God of mercy, and You   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)