Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Stephen

The Popish Plot
"Stoned-until-Cold St. Stephen Dances"

Commentary: Our dancing St. Stephen, one of our three wee saints, is called "Stoned-until-Cold" because it's a modified Stone Cold Steve Austin action figure.

'Tis the Feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr (circa 5-34): Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, Martyr-link Aleteia, Wikipedia-link, & Wikipedia-link Saint Stephen's Day.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

One of the first ordained deacons of the Church & was also the first Christian martyr.

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

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus predicts the coming persecution of his disciples. And we can see his prophetic word realized through the ages.

Think of St. Peter himself, crucified upside down in the circus of Nero; of Felicity and Perpetua, thrown to wild animals because they wouldn’t deny their faith; of Thomas More, who resisted King Henry VIII and paid for it with his head; of Paul Miki, the Japanese Jesuit, who was crucified for announcing the Christian faith; of Padre Pro, who was shot to death for defying a repressive Mexican government, shouting as he was shot, "Viva, el Cristo Rey!"; of Franz Jägerstätter and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whom the Nazi regime put to death; of Maximilian Kolbe, who died at Auschwitz, willingly taking the place of another man. And the list goes on and on.

Indeed, the martyrs have come from all corners of the world, and they have spoken Greek, Latin, French, German, English, Japanese, Polish, and many other languages besides. Friends, this, strangely, is the army that undermines the foundations of the fallen world through the centuries. This is the great fighting force that Jesus has unleashed and continues to unleash.

Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Father Ryan Mann (uCatholic): Christmas Reflection.

Welcome to the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord within the Christmastide: Wikipedia-link Octave & Wikipedia-link Christmastide. Merry Christmas!

'Tis also the festival of Saint Dionysius, Pope (died 268), twenty-fifth (XXV) Bishop of Rome (259-268): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontifex-link, & Wikipedia-link Pontifex.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Archelaus of Mesopotamia, Bishop (died circa 280), Bishop of Carrhae: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Zosimus, Pope (died 418), forty-first (XLI) Bishop of Rome (417-418): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontifex-link, & Wikipedia-link Pontifex.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Tathan, Abbot (fifth-sixth centuries; also spelt Tatheus, Tathai, Tathyw, etc.), founder of the monastery at Caerwent: Saint-link, Wikipedia-link Tathan, & Wikipedia-link Tathyw; Wikipedia-link Caerwent.

Commentary: Nephew of St. Samson of Dol [28 July].

Papal Quote o' the Day

"O sweet & gentle Infant of Bethlehem, grant us the gift of sharing with our whole soul in this profound mystery of Christmas. Put into other's hearts the peace that at times they seek so openly & that You alone can give them."
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, feast day: 11 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"He was humbled in the womb of the Virgin, needy in the manger of the sheep, & homeless on the wood of the cross. Nothing so humbles the proud sinner as the humility of Jesus Christ's humanity."
—St. Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church (1195-1231, feast day:)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"The absolute once ruled the universe from a cattle stall."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)