INVITATORY
The Invitatory is said when this is the first ‘hour’ of the day.
Lord, + open my lips.
— And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
The antiphon is repeated. In individual recitation, the antiphon may be said only at the beginning of the psalm; it need not be repeated after each strophe.
Psalm 95
A call to praise God
Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).
Come, let us sing to the Lord *
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
and sing joyful songs to the Lord.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Come, then, let us bow down and worship, *
bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
the flock he shepherds.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: †
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
“They shall not enter into my rest.”
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:
God, + come to my assistance.
— Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
— as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
With honor let us celebrate
the Martyr Stephen’s solemn feast:
the first to fight for Christ and win
the gleaming palm of victory.
This faithful Martyr, in dispute
with false, deceitful witnesses,
saw Jesus, who in glory stood
beside the Father’s own right hand.
O noble Martyr, hear our prayer:
be quick and hasten to our aid;
obtain for us the gift we ask:
may heaven’s kingdom open wide.
You gleam with high, resplendent light,
for you are cleansed by streams of blood;
remember us, now beg that we
may share the glory you received.
May Christ with mercy grant these gifts,
who, born the Virgin Mother’s Son,
now reigns on high for evermore
with Father and with Spirit blest. Amen.
Tune: ST. VENANTIUS, 8 8 8 8
Music: Rouen church melody, 1728
or Mode IV, melody 68; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Festum celebre martyris, ca. 13th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father.
Psalm 2
The Messiah, king and conqueror
The rulers of the earth joined forces to overthrow Jesus, your anointed Son (Acts 4:27).
Why this tumult among nations, *
among peoples this useless murmuring?
They arise, the kings of the earth, *
princes plot against the Lord and his Anointed.
“Come let us break their fetters, *
come, let us cast off their yoke.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs; *
the Lord is laughing them to scorn.
Then he will speak in his anger, *
his rage will strike them with terror.
“It is I who have set up my king *
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will announce the decree of the Lord:
The Lord said to me: “You are my Son. *
It is I who have begotten you this day.
Ask and I shall bequeath you the nations, *
put the ends of the earth in your possession.
With a rod of iron you will break them, *
shatter them like a potter’s jar.”
Now, O kings, understand, *
take warning, rulers of the earth;
serve the Lord with awe *
and trembling, pay him your homage
lest he be angry and you perish; *
for suddenly his anger will blaze.
Blessed are they who put their trust in God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord God, you gave the peoples of the world to be the inheritance of your only Son; you crowned him as King of Zion, your holy city, and gave him your Church to be his Bride. As he proclaims the law of your eternal kingdom, may we serve him faithfully, and so share his royal power forever.
Ant. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father.
Ant. 2 Stephen fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice: Lord Jesus, do not hold this sin against them.
Psalm 11
God is the unfailing support of the just
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice; they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6).
In the Lord I have taken my refuge. †
How can you say to my soul: *
“Fly like a bird to its mountain.
See the wicked one bracing his bow; *
they are fixing their arrows on the string
to shoot upright men in the dark. *
Foundations once destroyed, what can the just do?”
The Lord is in his holy temple, *
the Lord, whose throne is in heaven.
His eyes look down on the world; *
his gaze tests mortal men.
The Lord tests the just and the wicked: *
the lover of violence he hates.
He sends fire and brimstone on the wicked; *
he sends a scorching wind as their lot.
The Lord is just and loves justice: *
the upright shall see his face.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord God, you search the hearts of all, both the good and the wicked. May those who are in danger for love of you, find security in you now, and, in the day of judgment, may they rejoice in seeing you face to face.
Ant. Stephen fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice: Lord Jesus, do not hold this sin against them.
Ant. 3 No one was able to resist the wisdom of blessed Stephen, for the Holy Spirit spoke through him.
Psalm 17
Save me, Lord, from those who hate you.
During his life on earth . . . Jesus prayed to the Father and was heard (Hebrews 5:7).
Lord, hear a cause that is just, *
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer: *
no deceit is on my lips.
From you may my judgment come forth. *
Your eyes discern the truth.
You search my heart, you visit me by night. †
You test me and you find in me no wrong. *
My words are not sinful as are men’s words.
I kept from violence because of your word, †
I kept my feet firmly in your paths; *
there was no faltering in my steps.
I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God. *
Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Display your great love, you whose right hand saves *
your friends from those who rebel against them.
Guard me as the apple of your eye. †
Hide me in the shadow of your wings *
from the violent attack of the wicked.
My foes encircle me with deadly intent. †
Their hearts tight shut, their mouths speak proudly. *
They advance against me, and now they surround me.
Their eyes are watching to strike me to the ground, †
as though they were lions ready to claw *
or like some young lion crouched in hiding.
Lord, arise, confront them, strike them down! *
Let your sword rescue my soul from the wicked;
let your hand, O Lord, rescue me from men, *
from men whose reward is in this present life.
You give them their fill of your treasures; †
they rejoice in abundance of offspring *
and leave their wealth to their children.
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face *
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Turn our eyes to see the truth of your judgments, Lord, that, when our spirits are tried by fire, the anticipation of seeing you may make us rejoice in your justice.
Ant. No one was able to resist the wisdom of blessed Stephen, for the Holy Spirit spoke through him.
Affliction and distress surround me.
— Yet your law is my delight.
READINGS
FIRST READING
From the Acts of the Apostles
6:8-7:2a, 44-59
The martyrdom of Stephen
Stephen was a man filled with grace and power, who worked great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called “Synagogue of Roman Freedmen” (that is, the Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia) would undertake to engage Stephen in debate, but they proved no match for the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke.
They persuaded some men to make the charge that they had heard him speaking blasphemies against Moses and God, and in this way they incited the people, the elders, and the scribes. All together they confronted him, seized him, and led him off to the Sanhedrin. There they brought in false witnesses, who said: “This man never stops making statements against the holy place and the law. We have heard him claim that Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.” The members of the Sanhedrin who sat there stared at him intently. Throughout, Stephen’s face seemed like that of an angel.
The high priest asked whether the charges were true. To this Stephen replied: “My brothers! Fathers! Listen to me. Our fathers in the desert had the meeting tent as God prescribed it when he spoke to Moses, ordering him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. The next generation of our fathers inherited it. Under Joshua, they brought it into the land during the conquest of those peoples whom God drove out to make room for our fathers. So it was until the time of David, who found favor with God and begged that he might find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob. It was Solomon, however, who constructed the building for that house. Yet the Most High does not dwell in buildings made by human hands, for as the prophet says:
‘The heavens are my throne,
the earth is my footstool;
What kind of house can you build me?
asks the Lord.
What is my resting-place to be like?
Did not my hand make all these things?’
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always opposing the Holy Spirit just as your fathers did before you. Was there ever any prophet whom your fathers did not persecute? In their day, they put to death those who foretold the coming of the Just One; now you in your turn have become his betrayers and murderers. You who received the law through the ministry of angels have not observed it.”
Those who listened to his words were stung to the heart; they ground their teeth in anger at him. Stephen meanwhile, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked to the sky above and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. “Look!” he exclaimed, “I see an opening in the sky, and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand.” The onlookers were shouting aloud, holding their hands over their ears as they did so. Then they rushed at him as one man, dragged him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses meanwhile were piling their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As Stephen was being stoned he could be heard praying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And with that he died. Saul, for his part, concurred in the act of killing.
RESPONSORY
While the Jews were stoning Stephen, God’s servant,
the heavens opened before him;
he saw, he entered in.
— Happy the man to whom the heavens opened.
As the stones crashed upon him,
from the depths of heaven the living splendor shone on him.
— Happy the man to whom the heavens opened.
SECOND READING
From a sermon by Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe, bishop
(Sermo 3, 1-3, 5-6: CCL 91A, 905-909)
The armament of love
Yesterday we celebrated the birth in time of our eternal King. Today we celebrate the triumphant suffering of his soldier. Yesterday our king, clothed in his robe of flesh, left his place in the virgin’s womb and graciously visited the world. Today his soldier leaves the tabernacle of his body and goes triumphantly to heaven.
Our king, despite his exalted majesty, came in humility for our sake; yet he did not come empty-handed. He brought his soldiers a great gift that not only enriched them but also made them unconquerable in battle, for it was the gift of love, which was to bring men to share in his divinity. He gave of his bounty, yet without any loss to himself. In a marvelous way he changed into wealth the poverty of his faithful followers while remaining in full possession of his own inexhaustible riches.
And so the love that brought Christ from heaven to earth raised Stephen from earth to heaven; shown first in the king, it later shone forth in his soldier. Love was Stephen’s weapon by which he gained every battle, and so won the crown signified by his name. His love of God kept him from yielding to the ferocious mob; his love for his neighbor made him pray for those who were stoning him. Love inspired him to reprove those who erred, to make them amend; love led him to pray for those who stoned him, to save them from punishment. Strengthened by the power of his love, he overcame the raging cruelty of Saul and won his persecutor on earth as his companion in heaven. In his holy and tireless love he longed to gain by prayer those whom he could not convert by admonition.
Now at last, Paul rejoices with Stephen, with Stephen he delights in the glory of Christ, with Stephen he exalts, with Stephen he reigns. Stephen went first, slain by the stones thrown by Paul, but Paul followed after, helped by the prayer of Stephen. This, surely, is the true life, my brothers, a life in which Paul feels no shame because of Stephen’s death, and Stephen delights in Paul’s companionship, for love fills them both with joy. It was Stephen’s love that prevailed over the cruelty of the mob, and it was Paul’s love that covered the multitude of his sins; it was love that won for both of them the kingdom of heaven.
Love, indeed, is the source of all good things; it is an impregnable defense, and the way that leads to heaven. He who walks in love can neither go astray nor be afraid: love guides him, protects him, and brings him to his journey’s end.
My brothers, Christ made love the stairway that would enable all Christians to climb to heaven. Hold fast to it, therefore, in all sincerity, give one another practical proof of it, and by your progress in it, make your ascent together.
RESPONSORY
Yesterday, the Lord was born on earth that Stephen might be born in heaven;
— the Lord entered into our world that Stephen might enter into heaven.
Yesterday, our king, clothed in our flesh,
came forth from the virgin’s womb to dwell among us.
— The Lord entered into our world that Stephen might enter into heaven.
Those who wish to extend the celebration of the vigil of this Feast, according to tradition, first celebrate the Office of Readings. After both readings and before the Te Deum, they may add canticles and a gospel reading. Afterward the Te Deum is sung, the prayer is said, and the hour is concluded as in the Ordinary.
TE DEUM
You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come, and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
℣. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
℟. Govern and uphold them now and always.
℣. Day by day we bless you.
℟. We praise your name for ever.
℣. Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.
℟. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
℣. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
℟. for we put our trust in you.
℣. In you, Lord, is our hope:
℟. and we shall never hope in vain.
The concluding part of the hymn may be omitted.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Lord,
today we celebrate the entrance of Saint Stephen
into eternal glory.
He died praying for those who killed him.
Help us to imitate his goodness
and to love our enemies.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
Or:
Grant, Lord, we pray,
that we may imitate what we worship,
and so learn to love even our enemies,
for we celebrate the heavenly birthday
of a man who knew how to pray even for his persecutors.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
℟. Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
— And give him thanks.
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Psalm 24
The Lord’s entry into his temple
Christ opened heaven for us in the manhood he assumed (Saint Irenaeus).
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, *
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas; *
on the waters he made it firm.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? *
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart, †
who desires not worthless things, *
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord *
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him, *
seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Who is the king of glory? †
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Who is he, the king of glory? †
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Psalm 67
People of all nations will worship the Lord
You must know that God is offering his salvation to all the world (Acts 28:28).
O God, be gracious and bless us *
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth *
and all nations learn your saving help.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Let the nations be glad and exult *
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples, *
you guide the nations on earth.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
The earth has yielded its fruit *
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing *
till the ends of the earth revere him.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Psalm 100
The joyful song of those entering God’s temple
The Lord calls his ransomed people to sing songs of victory (Saint Athanasius).
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. †
Serve the Lord with gladness. *
Come before him, singing for joy.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Know that he, the Lord, is God. †
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Go within his gates, giving thanks. †
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Come, let us worship the newborn Christ who has given the glorious crown to Saint Stephen.
OPTIONAL VIGIL
CANTICLES
Ant. I shall fill up in my body what is lacking from the sufferings of Christ for his body, the Church.
Canticle I: Jeremiah 17:7-8
Blessed are those who hope in the Lord
Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it (Luke 11:28).
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, *
whose hope is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters *
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes, *
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress, *
but still bears fruit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Canticle II: Sirach 14:20; 15:3-5a, 6b
The happiness of the wise man
Wisdom is justified by her children (Luke 7:35).
Happy the man who meditates on wisdom, *
and reflects on knowledge.
She will nourish him with the bread of understanding, *
and give him the water of learning to drink.
He will lean upon her and not fall, *
he will trust in her and not be put to shame.
She will exalt him above his fellows; *
and he will inherit an everlasting name.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Canticle III: Sirach 31:8-11
Blessed are those who do not seek after gold
Make for yourselves a never-failing treasure in heaven (Luke 12:33).
Happy the rich man found without fault, *
who turns not aside after gain!
Who is he, that we may praise him? *
he, of all his kindred, has done wonders,
for he has been tested by gold and come off safe, *
and this remains his glory;
He could have sinned but did not, *
could have done evil but would not,
so that his possessions are secure, *
and the assembly recounts his praises.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. I shall fill up in my body what is lacking from the sufferings of Christ for his body, the Church.
THE HOLY GOSPEL
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
10:17-22
You will be led before governors and kings for my sake, as a witness before them and the pagans
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
Or:
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
9:23-26
Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it
Jesus said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory
and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Or:
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
12:24-26
If a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it produces much fruit
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
Other readings may be chosen from the Common of Martyrs found in the Lectionary for Mass.
A homily on the Gospel may be given.