26 December – Saint Stephen, the First Martyr
Feast day (2nd Day in the Octave of Christmas)
While the world is still opening presents and recovering from Christmas dinner, the Church puts a deacon with a smashed-in skull on the altar and says: “This is what the Child in the manger came for.”
Stephen was the first to follow Christ all the way to the end. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he preached with such fire that the crowd gnashed their teeth, stopped their ears, and stoned him to death. As the rocks flew, he looked up, saw heaven open, and prayed for his killers — the same words Jesus used: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
From the manger to martyrdom in 24 hours. That’s how fast the liturgy reminds us Christmas isn’t cozy — it’s war.
Patron of deacons, altar servers, bricklayers, and anyone who needs courage to speak truth when the mob is screaming.
Red vestments today. The blood of the first witness waters the infant Church.
“Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
— Acts 7:56