As a deacon in the Church, St. Stephen is both my patron and role model. Along with St. Anthony of Padua, for whom my mother had great devotion, they have both inspired me for as long as I can remember and right through to today.

Their common theme is strong preaching. Both were the best examples of proclaiming the Lord in the face of difficulty and with St. Stephen, martyrdom.

St. Stephen, Protomartyr, pray for us.

Yesterday we celebrated the birth in time of our eternal King. Today we celebrate the triumphant suffering of his soldier. Yesterday our king, clothed in his robe of flesh, left his place in the virgin’s womb and graciously visited the world. Today his soldier leaves the tabernacle of his body and goes triumphantly to heaven.

Our king, despite his exalted majesty, came in humility for our sake; yet he did not come empty-handed. He gave of his bounty, yet without any loss to himself. In a marvelous way he changed into wealth the poverty of his faithful followers while remaining in full possession of his own inexhaustible riches. And so the love that brought Christ from heaven to earth raised Stephen from earth to heaven; shown first in the king, it later shone forth in his soldier. His love of God kept him from yielding to the ferocious mob; his love for his neighbor made him pray for those who were stoning him. Love inspired him to reprove those who erred, to make them amend; love led him to pray for those who stoned him, to save them from punishment.

Love, indeed, is the source of all good things; it is an impregnable defense, and the way that leads to heaven. He who walks in love can neither go astray nor be afraid: love guides him, protects him, and brings him to his journey’s end.

My brothers, Christ made love the stairway that would enable all Christians to climb to heaven. Hold fast to it, therefore, in all sincerity, give one another practical proof of it, and by your progress in it, make your ascent together.

— from a sermon by Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe

O, First Martyr and Apostle of Christ, you fought the good fight. You exposed the perversion of the persecutors, for when you were killed by stoning of the hands of the wicked men, you received a crown from the Right Hand on high.

— Troparion of St. Stephen

Conturbare cave, non est placare suave, diffamare cave, nam revocare grave
Guard against causing trouble and slandering others, for it is difficult to right the evil done.

Since the Roman Church celebrates the Commemoration of St. John of Kanty, priest on December 23rd, it is opportune that we look to him and ask his intercession for our friends at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in St. Louis.

John Cantius was born in the year 1397 in the Polish town of Kanty (near Krakow). He became a professor of theology, then a parish priest for a short time. He returned to the professor’s chair at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. He made pilgrimages to the holy places of Rome and Palestine.

It is said that one day, after robbers had deprived him of all his effects, they asked him whether he had anything more. The saint said no, but hardly had they gone when he remembered having sewn some gold pieces inside his clothing; immediately he followed and overtook them. The robbers, astonished at the man’s sense of truthfulness, refused to accept the money and returned to him the stolen luggage.

Many miracles are attributed to him during his earthly life.

To guard himself and his household from evil gossip he wrote upon the wall of his room:

Conturbare cave, non est placare suave, diffamare cave, nam revocare grave
Guard against causing trouble and slandering others, for it is difficult to right the evil done.

His love of neighbor was most edifying. Often he gave away his own clothing and shoes; then, not to appear barefoot, he lowered his cassock so as to have it drag along the ground. Sensing that his death was near at hand, he distributed whatever he still had to the poor and died peacefully in the Lord at an advanced age. He is honored as one of the principal patrons of Poland and Lithuania.

St. John Kanty, pray for us.

And, by the way, if your read a one sided interpretation into “Guard against causing trouble and slandering others,” you would be mistaken.

I absolutely love the tradition of St. Nicholas Day. In Polish it is Mikojki time. The figure of St. Nicholas allows us to refocus the idea of —holiday— gift giving and place it in proper perspective. Gifts come from God, and God’s greatest gift is His son and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

St. Nicholas visits our School of Christian Living children each year. They get the message that God sends St. Nicholas to them to encourage them in their studies, to promote their generosity, and to bless them.

In our home my children exchange small gifts. I’ve noticed that their choice of gifts is very sensitive, personal, and meaningful. They also feel special because this time/this day is unique to their Catholic/Christian life.

If you do not do this in your Parish or home, give it a try. Most pastors usually cut a fine figure in an alb, beard and white hair, red cope, and miter, carrying a cross as their crosier. The affect on your children, families, and Parish members is marvelous.

I pray that through the intercession of St. Nicholas our charity and love increase, that we look past our own desires, and that children, families, and all people be strengthened in their love and devotion to our Lord, Jesus Christ.