Finding the Body of Saint Stephen
The body of St. Stephen, the first martyr, with those of some other saints, was discovered near Jerusalem in the year 415. Later the body of the saint was taken to Constantinople and finally to Rome, where it now lies beside that of St. Lawrence. The many miracles that occurred on the finding of St. Stephen’s body led to the institution of this festival, besides that of December 26th. A tradition states that Gamaliel, the teacher of St. Paul, had buried the body of St. Stephen at his country house; Nicodemus and Abibas, son of Gamaliel, and Gamaliel himself, were also buried there.
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
The theme of the Eighth Sunday is to account for your stewardship before God and then man. In the Epistle we are reminded of our divine filiation, and Our Lord tells us in a parable in today’s Gospel of the duties thereby entailed. We are the children of God, since we may say in all truth: Our Father (Epistle). God has given us life, “wherefore we must life according to His will” (Collect).
Just as this rich landowner who, before giving his son his share of the heritage, wishes to test his administrative capability, by entrusting to him things of little value, God, before making us His heirs in Heaven, has wished to test our fidelity by giving us the management on earth of both temporal and spiritual goods. But, like the steward mentioned by Jesus, we have been unfaithful, dissipating by sin the riches and talents which God entrusted to us.
Therefore, vying in zeal with the children of the world, the sons of light imitate the foresight of the steward who, by means of his father’s riches, prepared friends unto himself. Turning to profitable use what God has given to us, let us do good, and especially by almsgiving let us secure the testimony which the poor will bear their benefactors at the moment when all will have to give an account of their stewardship to the divine Judge.
Eighth Sunday After Pentecost – Commemoration of Finding of the Body of Saint Stephen
Give an account of thy stewardship – Missa “Suscépimus, Deus”
INTROIT: Psalm 47: 10-11
Suscépimus, Deus, misericórdiam tuam in médio templi tui secúndum nomen tuum, ita et laus tua in fines terrae: justitia plena est déxtera Tua.
INTROIT: Psalm 47: 10-11
We have received Thy mercy, O God, in the midst of Thy temple; according to Thy name, O God, so also is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of justice. (Ps. 47: 2 ) – Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised, in the city of God, in His holy mountain. Glory be to the Father.
COLLECT
Grant to us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we who cannot exist without Thee, may be able to live according to Thy will. Through our Lord.
2nd COLLECT
Commemoration of Saint Stephen
Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to imitate what we worship, that we may learn to love our enemies also; for we celebrate the finding of him who knew how to pray even for his persecutors to Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
3rd COLLECT
Collect for the Intercession of the Saints
Let us pray. Defend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all dangers of mind and body: and through the intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary, ever Virgin, mother of God, of St Joseph, of Thy holy apostles, Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in Thy loving-kindness grant us safety and peace; that, all adversities and errors being overcome, Thy Church may serve Thee in security and freedom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God…
EPISTLE: Romans 8: 12-17
Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Romans, We are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh; for if you live according to the flesh, you shall die but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live. For whoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry, Abba (Father). For the Spirit Himself giveth testimony to our spirit, that we are the sons of God and if sons, heirs also heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ.
Commemoration of Saint Stephen Act. 6, 8-10; 7, 54-59
In those days: Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. But he rose people from the so-called Freedmen synagogue, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia, who disputed with Stephen; and they could not withstand the wisdom or the Spirit by which he spoke. On hearing the words, they had exasperated the heart, and they gnashed their teeth against him. But (Stephen), which was filled with the Holy Spirit, having fixed his eyes to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the son of man standing at the right hand of God. ” They cried with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him; and after having driven out of the city, they stoned him. The witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Is kneeled down, he cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not impute this sin against them!” And having said that, he died.
GRADUAL: Psalm 30: 3
Be Thou unto me a God, a protector, and a place of refuge, to save me. In Thee, O God, have I hoped: O Lord, let me never be confounded.
ALLELUIA: Ps. 47: 2
Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised, in the city of our God in His holy mountain. Alleluia.
GOSPEL: Luke 16: 1-9
At that time Jesus said to His disciples this parable: “There was a certain man, who had a steward and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods; and he called him, and said to him: How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship, for now thou canst be steward no longer, And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord taketh away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able: to beg I am ashamed. I know what I will do, that when I shall be put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses, Therefore calling together every one of his lord’s debtors, he said to the first: How much dost thou owe my lord? But he said: A hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then he said to another: And how much dost thou owe my lord? Who said: A hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill, and write eighty. And the lord commended the unjust steward, as much as he had done wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity, that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.”
OFFERTORY: Psalm 17: 28, 32
Thou wilt save the humble O Lord, And wilt bring down the eyes of the proud: for who is God but Thee, O Lord?
SECRET
Accept, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, the gifts of Thine own bounty, which we bring Thee: that these holy and sacred Mysteries, by the working of the power of Thy grace, may sanctify us in our conduct of” this present life and bring us to everlasting joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God…
2nd SECRET
Commemoration of Saint Stephen
Receive our gifts, O Lord, for the commemoration of Thy saints, that, as suffering hath made them glorious, so devotion may render us blameless. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
3rd SECRET
Secret for the Intercession of the Saints
Graciously hear us, O God our Saviour, and, by virtue of this Sacrament, defend us from all enemies of soul and body, bestowing upon us Thy grace here and Thy glory hereafter. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God
PREFACE of the Most Holy Trinity
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, ever-lasting God: Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, are one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out with one voice saying:
SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria Tua. Hosanna in excelsis. + Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God of Hosts! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory! Hosanna in the highest. + Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
COMMUNION: Psalm 33: 9
Taste and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in Him
POSTCOMMUNION
May this Heavenly Mystery be to us, O Lord, for renewal of mind and body: that we may enjoy the fruits of that which we celebrate. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever.
2ND POSTCOMMUNION
Commemoration of Finding of the Body of Saint Stephen
May the mysteries we have received aid us, O Lord; and by the intercession of blessed Stephen, Thy martyr, may they confirm us in Thine everlasting protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
3rd POSTCOMMUNION
For the Intercession of the Saints
Let us pray. May the gift of this Divine Sacrament which we have offered, cleanse us and defend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord; and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of God, of St. Joseph, of Thy holy apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, free us from all iniquity and deliver us from all adversity. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
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