St. Stephen, the First Martyr (26 December): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On December 26, the Catholic Church commemorates St Stephen, the First Martyr (Protomartyr). In this profound reading from The Lives of the Saints by Father Alban Butler, we hear the traditional account of St Stephen’s life, ministry, trial before the Sanhedrin, and glorious martyrdom as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and preserved by the Church Fathers. St Stephen, one of the seven first deacons chosen by the Apostles, was filled with the Holy Ghost, endowed with miraculous power, and fearless in preaching Jesus Christ. His holy courage stirred opposition, false accusations, and ultimately his death by stoning—making him the first to shed his blood for Christ. This account highlights: The early Church’s life of charity and unity The institution of the diaconate St Stephen’s inspired defense of the Gospel His vision of Christ standing at the right hand of the Father His final prayer for his persecutors The role of his martyrdom in the conversion of St Paul A timeless meditation on meekness, forgiveness, charity, and heroic faith, this reading reminds us that true Christianity is marked by humility and love—even unto death. 📖 Source: The Lives of the Saints by Fr. Alban Butler 📅 Feast Day: December 26 🎧 Ideal for prayer, meditation, catechesis, and liturgical reflection 00:00 Introduction – St Stephen the First Martyr 00:45 Origin and Identity of St Stephen 01:59 Life of the Early Church and Charity 02:29 Election of the Seven Deacons 03:21 St Stephen as First Deacon 04:23 Miracles and Preaching in Jerusalem 04:48 Opposition from the Synagogues 05:19 Trial before the Sanhedrin 06:01 St Stephen’s Apology and Sermon 06:58 Accusation and Rage of the Council 07:15 Vision of Christ in Heaven 08:16 Stoning of St Stephen 08:53 Final Prayer and Holy Death 09:22 Connection to the Conversion of St Paul 09:52 Discovery of His Relics 10:12 Meditation on Meekness and Charity https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/december/st-stephen-the-first-martyr/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #StStephen #FirstMartyr #LivesOfTheSaints #AlbanButler #CatholicSaints #December26 #CatholicTradition #ChristianMartyr #EarlyChurch #CatholicFaith #SaintsLives #TraditionalCatholic #Protomartyr

Topics

• Suffering & Trials