Invention of St. Stephen, Protomartyr

   Finding the Body of St. Stephen

The body of St. Stephen, the first martyr, with those of some other saints, was discovered near Jerusalem in the year 415. Later the body of the saint was taken to Constantinople and finally to Rome, where it now lies beside that of St. Lawrence. The many miracles that occurred on the finding of St. Stephen’s body led to the institution of this festival, besides that of December 26th. A tradition states that Gamaliel, the teacher of St. Paul, had buried the body of St. Stephen at his country house; Nicodemus and Abibas, son of Gamaliel, and Gamaliel himself, were also buried there.

The Finding of the Body of  St. Stephen, Protomartyr  

Semi- Double / Red Vestments

Missa ‘Sederunt principes’

Introitus

Ps 118:23; 118:86; 118:23

Sedérunt príncipes, et advérsum me loquebántur: et iníqui persecúti sunt me: ádjuva me, Dómine, Deus meus, quia servus tuus exercebátur in tuis justificatiónibus.

Ps 118:1- Beati immaculáti in via, qui ámbulant in lege Dómini,

V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

R. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculórum. Amen

Sedérunt príncipes, et advérsum me loquebántur: et iníqui persecúti sunt me: ádjuva me, Dómine, Deus meus, quia servus tuus exercebátur in tuis justificatiónibus.

Introit

Ps 118:23; 118:86; 118:23

For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications. All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, do thou help me. For princes sat, and spoke against me: but 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.

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.

For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications. All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, do thou help me. For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.

      

Collect

Grant us, we beseech You, O Lord, to imitate what we celebrate, so that we may learn to love even our enemies; because we keep the anniversary of the invention of Him Who knew how to plead even for His persecutors with our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who with You. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Epistle – Acts: 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Lesson from the Acts of Apostles

And 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. And Saul was consenting to his death.

Gradual

Ps 118:23; 118:86

For princes sat, and spoke against me: they have persecuted me unjustly,

Ps 6:5

Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for thy mercy's sake.

Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia,

I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Alleluia.

Gospel – Matthew: 23:34-39

Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Therefore 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, you 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 man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost, And the Jews stoned Stephen, invoking, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Secret

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.

Common Preface

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, Dominations worship, Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:

The Sanctus

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.  Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

Communion - Acts 7:55; 58; 59

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

Post Communion

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. Through our Lord.