Catholic Prayer: Saint Stephen's Day Night Prayers
Description:
Leading the great saints who radiate from the Christ-Child is St. Stephen, whose feast is December 26. First of the martyrs, he was stoned by the Jews because he courageously proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah. His name signifies the crowned. In a day like ours, when hatred of enemies floods the minds of children, the soldier-saint Stephen, who loved his enemies, is an excellent model for them and for us.
On St. Stephen's Day our night prayers at the crib are varied in this fashion from the previous night prayers:
Prayer:
Father: | Christ, the New-born, today crowned blessed Stephen. |
| All: | Come, let us adore Him. |
| Mother: | Stephen, full of grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. |
| All: | Thanks be to God. |
| Father: | You crowned him with glory and honor, O Lord. |
| All: | You have given him rule over the works of Your hands. |
| Father: | Let us pray. Grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that we may imitate him whose memory we celebrate, so as to learn to love even our enemies; because we now solemnize his martyrdom who knew how to pray even for his persecutors to our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth forever. Alleluia. |
| All: | Alleluia. |
