Feast of Finding of the Body of St. Stephen the First Martyr

Introit • Ps. 118, 23, 86

Princes sat, and spoke against me; and the wicked persecuted me: help me O Lord my God, for Thy servant was employed in Thy justifications. Ps. 118, 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way: who walk in the law of the Lord. Glory be …

Collect (Prayer)

Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to imitate what we worship, that we may learn to love our enemies also; for we celebrate the finding of him who knew how to pray ever for his persecutors to Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Who with Thee.

Epistle • Act. 6, 8-10; 7, 54-59

Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles.

 

In those days, Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people. Now there arose some of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke. Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him. 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.

And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, invoking, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord.

Gradual • Ps. 118, 23, 86, 117

Princes sat, and spoke against me; and the wicked persecuted me. Help me. O Lord, my God: save me for Thy mercy’s sake.

Lesser Alleluia

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

 


Gospel • Matt. 23, 34-39

Continuation of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew. 

 

[Christ admonishes the people to follow the good doctrine, not the bad example of the scribes and Pharisees. He warns his disciples not to imitate their ambition and denounces divers woes against them for their hypocrisy and blindness.]

 

At that time, Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees. Behold I send to 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 city to city: That upon you may come all the just blood that hath been shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just, even 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 shall come upon this generation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered together thy children, as the hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldest not? Behold, your house shall be left to you, desolate. For I say to you, you shall not see me henceforth till you say: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Offertory • Acts 6, 5: 7, 59

The apostles chose Stephen, a levite, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, who the Jews stoned, praying and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Alleluia.

Secret

Receive our gifts, O Lord, for the commemoration of Thy saints, that, as suffering hath made them glorious, so devotion may render us blameless. Through our Lord.

Communion • Acts 7, 56, 59, 60

I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing on the right had of the power of God: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, and lay not this sin to their charge.

Postcommunion

May the mysteries we have received aid us, O Lord; and by the intercession of blessed Stephen, thy martyr, may they confirm us in Thine everlasting protection. Through our Lord.

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