Happy Feast of Saint Stephen 12/26/11

Saint Stephen was the proto-martyr or first martyr of the early Church. A young man named Saul held the garments of those who stoned him to death. As he died he looked to heaven and forgave all those who were casting the stones, just as our Lord forgave those who had murdered Him, us included.
   The Catholic Church holds Saint Stephen up as a model of faith and heroic virtue so we would all face our martyrdoms in a similar fashion.

 Saint Stephen, we ask your intercession for the souls of all those who died for their faith in Nigeria on Christmas Day.