(C.D. Stampley Enterprises, Charlotte, NC 2001). Used with permission.

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For deacons

St. Stephen (died c. 34)

Feast day: December 26

Deacons have as their patron St. Stephen, one of the first seven deacons of the Church who was ordained by the Apostles to serve the Christians of Jerusalem.

Everything we know about St. Stephen, one of the first deacons and the first martyr, comes from chapters six and seven of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament.

Stephen came from a family of Hellenists, Jews who had emigrated from Palestine to one of the Greek-speaking provinces of the Roman Empire, spoke Greek rather than Aramaic, and in the synagogues heard Scriptures read Greek rather than Hebrew. The sixth chapter of Acts tell us that tension arose between the Greek Jewish converts to Christianity and the Palestinian Jewish converts. The Greeks said that their widows and needy were being neglected in favor of the Hebrew poor. To resolve the problem the Apostles ordained seven men as deacons to serve the poor and preach the faith. The first name on this list of seven is Stephen.

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St. Luke, the author of Acts, tells us that Stephen was a handsome man with “the face of an angel... full of grace and fortitude,” who in his zeal for the faith debated with members of four different Greek synagogues. When Stephen’s eloquence got the better of the Hellenist Jews his angry opponents seized him and dragged him off to the court of the Sanhedrin. There false witnesses charged him with blasphemy, denouncing the Temple sacrifices, and reviling the Law of Moses.

The High Priest (perhaps Caiaphas, the same High Priest who tried {ln:Jesus}) asked Stephen if he had anything to say: in answer to these accusations Stephen delivered a lengthy speech which traced the sacred History of the Jews from Abraham to their own day. He conclude his discourse with a denunciation of his accusers and Judges: “You stiffnecked and uncircumcized in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?”

Oblivious to the commotion in the court Stephen antagonized his audience further by characterizing them as “betrayers and murderers” who did not keep the Law of Moses. Then, suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit, he looked up to Heaven and cried out, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.”

This was too much for the men in the court. They rushed upon Stephen, dragged himself outside the city walls, and stoned him to death. The man who watched the killers’ clothes as they went about their brutal business was named Saul—known to us as St. Paul the Apostle.

As the stones struck him, Stephen prayed, “Lord {ln:Jesus}, receive my spirit.” Then, when he was down on his knees and near death, he prayed again, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”

After the mob had dispersed Christians took Stephen’s body away for burial.

Although St. Stephen’s feast day was observed by the ancient Church the location of his tomb was forgotten. In 415 a priest named Lucian learned through a vision that St. Stephen’s body was buried in Caphar Gamala north of Jerusalem. With Bishop John of Jerusalem and several other bishops Lucian set out for the site where they found the relics of the first martyr. A large crowd of Christians had followed the clergy to the site, and when the tomb was opened 73 sick people were healed.

Bishop John formed a procession to escort St. Stephen’s relics to Jerusalem where they were enshrined in the Church of Sion. In Book 22 of his City of God St. Augustine, who was alive at the time, testifies to the discovery of St. Stephen’s tomb and reports the miracles wrought by some relics of St. Stephen that were brought to Africa.

St. Stephen has always been venerated by deacons as their special patron. Today a network of deacon-intercessors who call themselves the Sons of St. Stephen pray daily for an end to {ln: Abortion }, the protection of families, the health of the Holy Father, and for all priests and bishops that they may be inspired by St. Stephen to be courageous in teaching and bearing witness to the truth.

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Prayer to the saints is a powerful thing.

Now, with Saints for Every Occasion, readers can quickly find help for any challenge they face – no matter how large or small. Author Thomas J. Craughwell profiles 101 patron saints from various continents, cultures and times – from saints who were contemporaries of Christ, to modern patrons like Padre Pio and Faustina Kowalska. Each saint lived heroically in difficult times and circumstances, providing powerful examples of how to turn almost any obstacle into a source of grace. Along with old favorites such as St. Anthony and St. Jude, Craughwell offers patrons for specifically modern concerns, including, for example, saints to watch over astronauts, internet users and environmental activists. Beautifully illustrated and entertainingly told, Saints for Every Occasion features 101 patron saints readers will seek out time and again.

“An excellent resource for home and classroom use.” – Publisher’s Weekly {/tabs}