Celebrating the martyrdom of St. Stephen, and turning stones into bread
Celebrating the martyrdom of St. Stephen, and turning stones into bread
“But [Stephen], filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55-56).
St. Stephen, recognized as the first deacon and the initial martyr, has always occupied a significant place for me within the Communion of Saints. My maternal grandmother had her birthday on Dec. 26, which is St. Stephen’s feast day, and that significantly influenced my choice to adopt St. Stephen as my patron during my confirmation. Likewise, the narrative of his martyrdom in the Acts of the Apostles captivated me, particularly his bold testimony to God’s mercy towards Israel, which reached its pinnacle with the arrival of Christ (and the ongoing rejection of that mercy through the ages, culminating in Christ’s death). As Stephen’s declaration comes to a conclusion, even a first-time reader of Acts must sense how the tale will conclude. The Truth has liberated Stephen, and in this newfound freedom, he has no longer any fear of death.
Since Christmas Day occurs on a Saturday this year, the observance of St. Stephen is omitted from the calendar, being replaced by the feast of the Holy Family, which takes place on the first Sunday following Christmas. However, even though St. Stephen is momentarily absent, returning next year on his usual date, he should not be overlooked. The observation of his feast on the second day of Christmas is both purposeful and meaningful. We are uncertain about the specific date when Stephen received the martyr’s crown for his testimony to the resurrection and divinity of Christ. The sole record of his life is contained in the Acts of the Apostles, and there is nothing within to imply that he was martyred on December 26. So what led the Church to choose that date for his feast?
In the fifth century, Bishop St. Fulgentius articulates the Church’s insight in a homily for the feast (already well recognized by that time): “Yesterday, our King, having assumed the vesture of our humanity, emerged from the holy sanctuary of his Mother’s pure womb, and graciously visited the world: today, his Soldier, departing from his earthly vessel, ascended victoriously into heaven.” Christ descends so that we might rise, but even if we do not experience martyrdom, we must be prepared to tread the path that Stephen walked. To kneel at the manger signifies an acceptance of the cross; to be a Christian involves proclaiming Christ crucified, risen and seated at the right hand of God — and being ready to bear the repercussions that may arise from our testimony to the truth.
As the esteemed liturgical expert Dom Prosper Gueranger states, “Stephen … merits a place beside the crib of his King, as the foremost among those valiant warriors, the martyrs, who perished for the divinity of that Infant, whom we worship.”
At the onset of his public ministry, Jesus withdrew into the wilderness, where, following 40 days of prayer and fasting, he faced temptation from Satan. Aware of Jesus’s hunger, Satan urged him to transform the stones into bread. Jesus responded, affirming that humanity does not survive on bread alone but is nourished by the word of God. In the martyrdom of Stephen, this truth is illustrated, but another aspect emerges: Through his testimony, the stones that serve as the means of Stephen’s demise transform into bread that nourishes the faith of his fellow believers, even to this present day.
In classic representations, St. Stephen is often depicted grasping a small church atop a red cloth. The sacrifice of the martyrs, particularly that of the first martyr, perpetually revitalizes the Church. May we find the courage to testify as St. Stephen did, and to pardon those who throw any stones.
Scott P. Richert is publisher for OSV.
