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| "Stoning of Saint Stephen", altarpiece of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, by Jacopo & Domenico Tintoretto |
FIRST
READING:
Acts 6:
8 - 10; 7:
54 - 59
8
And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs
among the people.
9
Now there arose some of that which is called the synagogue of the
Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of
them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that
spoke.
54
Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they
gnashed with their teeth at him.
55
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to
heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of
God. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of
man standing on the right hand of God.
56
And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with
one accord ran violently upon him.
57
And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him; and the
witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose
name was Saul.
58
And they stoned Stephen, invoking, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit.
59
And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord,
lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell
asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death.
PSALM:
Psalms 31:
3 - 4, 6, 8, 17
3
Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save
me.
4
For thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name's sake thou
wilt lead me, and nourish me.
6
Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord,
the God of truth.
8
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. For thou hast regarded my
humility, thou hast saved my soul out of distresses.
17
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me in thy mercy.
Alleluia:
Psalms 118:
26, 27
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed
be he that cometh in the name of the Lord;
The
Lord is God, and he hath shone upon us.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 10:
17 - 22
17
But beware of men. For they will deliver you up in councils, and they
will scourge you in their synagogues.
18
And you shall be brought before governors, and before kings for my
sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles:
19
But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought how or what to
speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak.
20
For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that
speaketh in you.
21
The brother also shall deliver up the brother to death, and the
father the son: and the children shall rise up against their parents,
and shall put them to death.
22
And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that
shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.
