Liturgy Alive ST. STEPHEN, First Martyr

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Tuesday, December 26, 2017

ST. STEPHEN, First Martyr
Feast
December 26

 

Introduction

From the very beginning of its existence, the Church suffered persecution, like its founder, Jesus. St Stephen was of Greek, pagan origin and highly respected in the young Church of Jerusalem. Like Jesus, he died praying for his persecutors, and entrusted himself, even as he died into the hands of God. He had been one of the seven deacons who assisted the apostles, particularly in the ministry to the poor. He is described in Acts of the Apostles as “filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit” and “full of fortitude.”

Opening Prayer

    Lord our God,
    we honor today St Stephen,
    the first martyr of your young Church.
    Make us good witnesses like him,
    people filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit,
    men and women who are full of fortitude,
    as we try to live the life of Jesus.
    Give us a great trust
    that we may live and die in your hands
    and make us pray for those who harm us,
    that you may forgive them and us.
    We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

General Intercessions

    –   For faithful witnesses, who testify to God and to the values of the gospel by their life and when necessary by their death, we pray:

    –   For zealous and compassionate people, who serve their neighbors in their need, we pray:

    –   For people persecuted because of their faith, that they may keep steadfast in their faith and strong in the Holy Spirit, we pray:

    –   For deacons in the Church, that God may keep them generous in their ministry of service, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

    Lord our God,
    we bring before you bread and wine,
    as we remember how St Stephen
    gave food to the hungry.
    Make us, too, ministers of your love,
    who care for the poor,
    that no one in our Christian communities
    may suffer any want.
    For we try to be one heart and mind
    in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

    Lord our God,
    as we celebrate the memory of St Stephen,
    take away from us all fear
    and dispose us to bear witness in all serenity
    to the death and resurrection of Jesus.
    May we learn from this martyr
    to become more like Jesus
    in what we say and in the way we live.
    We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

How much Stephen was like Jesus , living in the hands of the Father and dying as he forgave those who were killing him and entrusted himself to God. May God give us such a beautiful faith and bless us, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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