Christum natum, qui beátum hódie coronávit Stéphanum, * Veníte, adorémus.
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The new-born Christ, who as on this day gave the crown to blessed Stephen, * O come, let us worship.
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Psalmus 94. Venite, exsultemus Domino
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Psalm 94 Venite, exsultemus Domino
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Veníte, exsultémus Dómino, jubilémus Deo, salutári nostro : præoccupémus fáciem ejus in confessióne, et in psalmis jubilémus ei.
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O come, let us sing unto the Lord ; let us heartily rejoice in the God of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving ; and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.
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Christum natum, qui beátum hódie coronávit Stéphanum, * Veníte, adorémus.
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The new-born Christ, who as on this day gave the crown to blessed Stephen, * O come, let us worship.
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Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus, et Rex magnus super omnes deos : quóniam non repéllet Dóminus plebem suam : quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitúdines móntium ipse cónspicit.
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For the Lord is a great God ; and a great King above all gods: For the Lord will not cast off his people: In his hand are all the corners of the earth, and the strength of the hills is his also.
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Veníte, adorémus.
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O come, let us worship.
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| In the following verse of the Psalm, at the words veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum (O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker) all genuflect. |
Quóniam ipsíus est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et áridam fundavérunt manus ejus : veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum : plorémus coram Dómino, qui fecit nos, quia ipse est Dóminus Deus noster ; nos autem pópulus ejus, et oves páscuæ ejus.
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The sea is his and he made it ; and his hands prepared the dry land. O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker: For he is the Lord our God ; and we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
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Christum natum, qui beátum hódie coronávit Stéphanum, * Veníte, adorémus.
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The new-born Christ, who as on this day gave the crown to blessed Stephen, * O come, let us worship.
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Hódie, si vocem ejus audiéritis, nolíte obduráre corda vestra, sicut in exacerbatióne, secúndum diem tentatiónis in desérto: ubi tentavérunt me patres vestri, probavérunt et vidérunt ópera mea.
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Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness; when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works.
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Veníte, adorémus.
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O come, let us worship.
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Quadragínta annis próximus fui generatióni huic, et dixi : Semper hi errant corde ; ipsi vero non cognovérunt vias meas : quibus jurávi in ira mea : Si introíbunt in réquiem meam.
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Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways: unto whom I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest.
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Christum natum, qui beátum hódie coronávit Stéphanum, * Veníte, adorémus.
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The new-born Christ, who as on this day gave the crown to blessed Stephen, * O come, let us worship. |
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.
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Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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Veníte, adorémus.
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O come, let us worship.
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Christum natum, qui beátum hódie coronávit Stéphanum, * Veníte, adorémus.
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The new-born Christ, who as on this day gave the crown to blessed Stephen, * O come, let us worship.
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Hymnus
Deus, tuórum mílitum Sors, et coróna, præmium, Laudes canéntes Mártyris Absólve nexu críminis.
Hic nempe mundi gáudia, Et blanda fraudum pábula Imbúta felle députans, Pervénit ad cæléstia.
Pœnas cucúrrit fórtiter, Et sústulit viríliter, Fundénsque pro te sánguinem, Ætérna dona póssidet.
Ob hoc precátu súpplici Te póscimus, piíssime : In hoc triúmpho Mártyris Dimítte noxam sérvulis.
Jesu, tibi sit glória, Qui natus es de Vírgine, Cum Patre et almo Spíritu, In sempitérna sæcula. Amen.
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The Hymn
O God, thy soldiers’ great reward, Their portion, crown, and faithful Lord, From all transgressions set us free Who sing thy Martyr’s victory.
By wisdom taught he learn’d to know The vanity of all below, The fleeting joys of earth disdain’d, And everlasting glory gain’d.
For thee through many a woe he ran, In many a fight he play’d the man; For thee his blood he dar’d to pour, And thence hath joy for evermore.
We therefore pray thee, Lord of love, Regard us from thy throne above; On this thy Martyr’s triumph-day Wash ev’ry stain of sin away.
All honour, laud, and glory be, O Jesu, Virgin-Born, to thee; Whom with the Father we adore, And Holy Ghost, for evermore. Amen.
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From the Breviary, http://www.breviary.net
The account of the testimony and death of St. Stephen, the Protomartyr from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles 6-8:2
6. The ordination of the seven deacons. The zeal of Stephen.
[1] And in those days, the number of the disciples increasing, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, for that their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. [2] Then the twelve calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. [3] Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. [4] But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. [5] And the saying was liked by all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.
[1] Greeks: So they called the Jews that were born and brought up in Greece.
[6] These they set before the apostles; and they praying, imposed hands upon them. [7] And the word of the Lord increased; and the number of the disciples was multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly: a great multitude also of the priests obeyed the faith. [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.
[11] Then they suborned men to say, they had heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God. [12] And they stirred up the people, and the ancients, and the scribes; and running together, they took him, and brought him to the council. [13] And they set up false witnesses, who said: This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place and the law. [14] For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us. [15] And all that sat in the council, looking on him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel.
7. Stephen’s speech before the council. His martyrdom.
[1] Then the high priest said: Are these things so? [2] Who said: Ye men, brethren, and fathers, hear. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charan. [3] And said to him: Go forth out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. [4] Then he went out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charan. And from thence, after his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein you now dwell. [5] And he gave him no inheritance in it; no, not the pace of a foot: but he promised to give it him in possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
[6] And God said to him: That his seed should sojourn in a strange country, and that they should bring them under bondage, and treat them evil four hundred years. [7] And the nation which they shall serve will I judge, said the Lord; and after these things they shall go out, and shall serve me in this place. [8] And he gave him the covenant of circumcision, and so he begot Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob; and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. [9] And the patriarchs, through envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; and God was with him, [10] And delivered him out of all his tribulations: and he gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharao, the king of Egypt; and he appointed him governor over Egypt, and over all his house.
[11] Now there came a famine upon all Egypt and Chanaan, and great tribulation; and our fathers found no food. [12] But when Jacob had heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent our fathers first: [13] And at the second time, Joseph was known by his brethren, and his kindred was made known to Pharao. [14] And Joseph sending, called thither Jacob, his father, and all his kindred, seventy-five souls. [15] So Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, and our fathers.
[16] And they were translated into Sichem, and were laid in the sepulchre, that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Hemor, the son of Sichem. [17] And when the time of the promise drew near, which God had promised to Abraham, the people increased, and were multiplied in Egypt, [18] Till another king arose in Egypt, who knew not Joseph. [19] This same dealing craftily with our race, afflicted our fathers, that they should expose their children, to the end they might not be kept alive. [20] At the same time was Moses born, and he was acceptable to God: who was nourished three months in his father’s house.
[21] And when he was exposed, Pharao’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. [22] And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and in his deeds. [23] And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. [24] And when he had seen one of them suffer wrong, he defended him; and striking the Egyptian, he avenged him who suffered the injury. [25] And he thought that his brethren understood that God by his hand would save them; but they understood it not.
[26] And the day following, he shewed himself to them when they were at strife; and would have reconciled them in peace, saying: Men, ye are brethren; why hurt you one another? [27] But he that did the injury to his neighbour thrust him away, saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over us? [28] What, wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the Egyptian? [29] And Moses fled upon this word, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begot two sons. [30] And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the desert of mount Sina, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush.
[31] And Moses seeing it, wondered at the sight. And as he drew near to view it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: [32] I am the God of thy fathers; the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses being terrified, durst not behold. [33] And the Lord said to him: Loose the shoes from thy feet, for the place wherein thou standest, is holy ground. [34] Seeing I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, and I will send thee into Egypt. [35] This Moses, whom they refused, saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge? him God sent to be prince and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
[36] He brought them out, doing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the desert forty years. [37] This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel: A prophet shall God raise up to you of your own brethren, as myself: him shall you hear. [38] This is he that was in the church in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on mount Sina, and with our fathers; who received the words of life to give unto us. [39] Whom our fathers would not obey; but thrust him away, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt, [40] Saying to Aaron: Make us gods to go before us. For as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.
[41] And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. [42] And God turned, and gave them up to serve the host of heaven, as it is written in the books of the prophets: Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me for forty years, in the desert, O house of Israel? [43] And you took unto you the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Rempham, figures which you made to adore them. And I will carry you away beyond Babylon. [44] The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the desert, as God ordained for them, speaking to Moses, that he should make it according to the form which he had seen. [45] Which also our fathers receiving, brought in with Jesus, into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David.
[45] Jesus: That is Josue, so called in Greek.
[46] Who found grace before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. [47] But Solomon built him a house. [48] Yet the most High dwelleth not in houses made by hands, as the prophet saith: [49] Heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool. What house will you build me? saith the Lord; or what is the place of my resting? [50] Hath not my hand made all these things?
[48] Dwelleth not in houses: That is, so as to stand in need of earthly dwellings, or to be contained, or circumscribed by them. Though, otherwise by his immense divinity, he is in our houses; and every where else; and Christ in his humanity dwelt in houses; and is now on our altars.
[51] You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also. [52] Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: [53] Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. [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.
8. Philip converts the Samaritans and baptizes the eunuch.
[1] And at that time there was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea, and Samaria, except the apostles. [2] And devout men took order for Stephen’s funeral, and made great mourning over him.
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6.
[1] in diebus autem illis crescente numero discipulorum factus est murmur Graecorum adversus Hebraeos eo quod dispicerentur in ministerio cotidiano viduae eorum [2] convocantes autem duodecim multitudinem discipulorum dixerunt non est aequum nos derelinquere verbum Dei et ministrare mensis [3] considerate ergo fratres viros ex vobis boni testimonii septem plenos Spiritu et sapientia quos constituamus super hoc opus [4] nos vero orationi et ministerio verbi instantes erimus [5] et placuit sermo coram omni multitudine et elegerunt Stephanum virum plenum fide et Spiritu Sancto et Philippum et Prochorum et Nicanorem et Timonem et Parmenam et Nicolaum advenam Antiochenum
[6] hos statuerunt ante conspectum apostolorum et orantes inposuerunt eis manus [7] et verbum Dei crescebat et multiplicabatur numerus discipulorum in Hierusalem valde multa etiam turba sacerdotum oboediebat fidei [8] Stephanus autem plenus gratia et fortitudine faciebat prodigia et signa magna in populo [9] surrexerunt autem quidam de synagoga quae appellatur Libertinorum et Cyrenensium et Alexandrinorum et eorum qui erant a Cilicia et Asia disputantes cum Stephano [10] et non poterant resistere sapientiae et Spiritui quo loquebatur
[11] tunc submiserunt viros qui dicerent se audisse eum dicentem verba blasphemiae in Mosen et Deum [12] commoverunt itaque plebem et seniores et scribas et concurrentes rapuerunt eum et adduxerunt in concilium [13] et statuerunt testes falsos dicentes homo iste non cessat loqui verba adversus locum sanctum et legem [14] audivimus enim eum dicentem quoniam Iesus Nazarenus hic destruet locum istum et mutabit traditiones quas tradidit nobis Moses [15] et intuentes eum omnes qui sedebant in concilio viderunt faciem eius tamquam faciem angeli.
7.
[1] dixit autem princeps sacerdotum si haec ita se habent [2] qui ait viri fratres et patres audite Deus gloriae apparuit patri nostro Abraham cum esset in Mesopotamiam priusquam moraretur in Charram [3] et dixit ad illum exi de terra tua et de cognatione tua et veni in terram quam tibi monstravero [4] tunc exiit de terra Chaldeorum et habitavit in Charram et inde postquam mortuus est pater eius transtulit illum in terram istam in qua nunc vos habitatis [5] et non dedit illi hereditatem in ea nec passum pedis et repromisit dare illi eam in possessionem et semini eius post ipsum cum non haberet filium.
[6] locutus est autem Deus quia erit semen eius accola in terra aliena et servituti eos subicient et male tractabunt eos annis quadringentis [7] et gentem cui servierint iudicabo ego dixit Deus et post haec exibunt et deservient mihi in loco isto [8] et dedit illi testamentum circumcisionis et sic genuit Isaac et circumcidit eum die octava et Isaac Iacob et Iacob duodecim patriarchas [9] et patriarchae aemulantes Ioseph vendiderunt in Aegyptum et erat Deus cum eo [10] et eripuit eum ex omnibus tribulationibus eius et dedit ei gratiam et sapientiam in conspectu Pharaonis regis Aegypti et constituit eum praepositum super Aegyptum et super omnem domum suam.
[11] venit autem fames in universam Aegyptum et Chanaan et tribulatio magna et non inveniebant cibos patres nostri [12] cum audisset autem Iacob esse frumentum in Aegypto misit patres nostros primum [13] et in secundo cognitus est Ioseph a fratribus suis et manifestatum est Pharaoni genus eius [14] mittens autem Ioseph accersivit Iacob patrem suum et omnem cognationem in animabus septuaginta quinque [15] et descendit Iacob in Aegyptum et defunctus est ipse et patres nostri.
[16] et translati sunt in Sychem et positi sunt in sepulchro quod emit Abraham pretio argenti a filiis Emmor filii Sychem [17] cum adpropinquaret autem tempus repromissionis quam confessus erat Deus Abrahae crevit populus et multiplicatus est in Aegypto [18] quoadusque surrexit rex alius in Aegypto qui non sciebat Ioseph [19] hic circumveniens genus nostrum adflixit patres ut exponerent infantes suos ne vivificarentur [20] eodem tempore natus est Moses et fuit gratus Deo qui nutritus est tribus mensibus in domo patris sui
[21] exposito autem illo sustulit eum filia Pharaonis et enutrivit eum sibi in filium [22] et eruditus est Moses omni sapientia Aegyptiorum et erat potens in verbis et in operibus suis [23] cum autem impleretur ei quadraginta annorum tempus ascendit in cor eius ut visitaret fratres suos filios Israhel [24] et cum vidisset quendam iniuriam patientem vindicavit illum et fecit ultionem ei qui iniuriam sustinebat percusso Aegyptio [25] existimabat autem intellegere fratres quoniam Deus per manum ipsius daret salutem illis at illi non intellexerunt.
[26] sequenti vero die apparuit illis litigantibus et reconciliabat eos in pacem dicens viri fratres estis ut quid nocetis alterutrum [27] qui autem iniuriam faciebat proximo reppulit eum dicens quis te constituit principem et iudicem super nos [28] numquid interficere me tu vis quemadmodum interfecisti heri Aegyptium [29] fugit autem Moses in verbo isto et factus est advena in terra Madiam ubi generavit filios duos [30] et expletis annis quadraginta apparuit illi in deserto montis Sina angelus in igne flammae rubi
[31] Moses autem videns admiratus est visum et accedente illo ut consideraret facta est vox Domini [32] ego Deus patrum tuorum Deus Abraham et Deus Isaac et Deus Iacob tremefactus autem Moses non audebat considerare [33] dixit autem illi Dominus solve calciamentum pedum tuorum locus enim in quo stas terra sancta est [34] videns vidi adflictionem populi mei qui est in Aegypto et gemitum eorum audivi et descendi liberare eos et nunc veni et mittam te in Aegyptum [35] hunc Mosen quem negaverunt dicentes quis te constituit principem et iudicem hunc Deus principem et redemptorem misit cum manu angeli qui apparuit illi in rubo.
[36] hic eduxit illos faciens prodigia et signa in terra Aegypti et in Rubro mari et in deserto annis quadraginta [37] hic est Moses qui dixit filiis Israhel prophetam vobis suscitabit Deus de fratribus vestris tamquam me [38] hic est qui fuit in ecclesia in solitudine cum angelo qui loquebatur ei in monte Sina et cum patribus nostris qui accepit verba vitae dare nobis [39] cui noluerunt oboedire patres nostri sed reppulerunt et aversi sunt cordibus suis in Aegyptum [40] dicentes ad Aaron fac nobis deos qui praecedant nos Moses enim hic qui eduxit nos de terra Aegypti nescimus quid factum sit ei.
[41] et vitulum fecerunt in illis diebus et obtulerunt hostiam simulacro et laetabantur in operibus manuum suarum [42] convertit autem Deus et tradidit eos servire militiae caeli sicut scriptum est in libro Prophetarum numquid victimas aut hostias obtulistis mihi annis quadraginta in deserto domus Israhel [43] et suscepistis tabernaculum Moloch et sidus dei vestri Rempham figuras quas fecistis adorare eas et transferam vos trans Babylonem [44] tabernaculum testimonii fuit patribus nostris in deserto sicut disposuit loquens ad Mosen ut faceret illud secundum formam quam viderat [45] quod et induxerunt suscipientes patres nostri cum Iesu in possessionem gentium quas expulit Deus a facie patrum nostrorum usque in diebus David.
[46] qui invenit gratiam ante Deum et petiit ut inveniret tabernaculum Deo Iacob [47] Salomon autem aedificavit illi domum [48] sed non Excelsus in manufactis habitat sicut propheta dicit [49] caelum mihi sedis est terra autem scabillum pedum meorum quam domum aedificabitis mihi dicit Dominus aut quis locus requietionis meae est [50] nonne manus mea fecit haec omnia.
[51] dura cervice et incircumcisi cordibus et auribus vos semper Spiritui Sancto resistitis sicut patres vestri et vos [52] quem prophetarum non sunt persecuti patres vestri et occiderunt eos qui praenuntiabant de adventu Iusti cuius vos nunc proditores et homicidae fuistis [53] qui accepistis legem in dispositionem angelorum et non custodistis [54] audientes autem haec dissecabantur cordibus suis et stridebant dentibus in eum [55] cum autem esset plenus Spiritu Sancto intendens in caelum vidit gloriam Dei et Iesum stantem a dextris Dei et ait ecce video caelos apertos et Filium hominis a dextris stantem Dei.
[56] exclamantes autem voce magna continuerunt aures suas et impetum fecerunt unianimiter in eum [57] et eicientes eum extra civitatem lapidabant et testes deposuerunt vestimenta sua secus pedes adulescentis qui vocabatur Saulus [58] et lapidabant Stephanum invocantem et dicentem Domine Iesu suscipe spiritum meum [59] positis autem genibus clamavit voce magna Domine ne statuas illis hoc peccatum et cum hoc dixisset obdormivit Saulus autem erat consentiens neci eius.
8.
[1] facta est autem in illa die persecutio magna in ecclesia quae erat Hierosolymis et omnes dispersi sunt per regiones Iudaeae et Samariae praeter apostolos [2] curaverunt autem Stephanum viri timorati et fecerunt planctum magnum super illum.
From the online Douay-Rheims and Vulgate: http://www.drbo.org/lvb/index.htm
Venite, adoremus!
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Altar Stones Oratory 