Project BLACK MAMBA: Octave of the Nativity

'Tis the Feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr (first century): Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was a deacon in the early Church at Jerusalem who aroused the enmity of members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy, at his trial he made a long speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him & was then stoned to death.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

The feast of St. Stephen has been celebrated in the West since the fifth century. St. Stephen was a deacon in the early Church & had been assigned to distribute food to the poor. When certain Jews would engage him in argument, he would always confound them with his wisdom. Ultimately, they made false charges against him, brought in false witnesses, & stoned him to death. The account of his martyrdom is described in chapters six & seven of the Acts of the Apostles. St. Stephen prayed for & forgave his persecutors. He teaches us to do the same. He is also the patron of all deacons.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter six, verses eight thru ten & chapter seven, verses fifty-four thru fifty-nine;
Psalm Thirty-one, verses three(c) thru four, six, eight(a,b), sixteen(b,c), & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses seventeen thru twenty-two.