Please be so kind as to say a prayer for the release of Warren Weinstein, an American citizen who was captured and is being held by the terrorists Al Que’da in Pakistan. God is still on the throne and prayer changes things!
Today we celebrate the first Catholic martyr, great St. Stephen, deacon of Holy Mother Church. He saw the heavens open and the Lord waiting to receive him as he was being stoned to death. Many believe that in the crowd that watched his martyrdom, there was Saul of Tarsis, later to become the great St. Paul. Holy Mother Church gives St. Stephen this feast day so as to remind us that Christ came for a reason, to redeem a sinful world and that to do it cost His very Life, His very Blood. Those that are called to serve Him and who hope to be received by Him at the end must be willing to make the greatest sacrifice, like St. Stephen did. For us not called to physical martyrdom, a sacrifice just as serious is required of us- to live as a true Catholic every day of our lives and thus to die in His grace and favor. To forgive daily, to silence our pride and ego daily, to speak up for the injured, tortured and hurt and to do this daily. To pray and hope and LOVE daily, daily, daily! This is the way of Christ, the way of the true Catholic.
O Great St. Stephen, thank you for your sacrifice for Jesus, Our Lord and for your holy example. Please help us to lead good, Catholic lives and please, please protect Warren Weinstein and give him the miracle of a release from his captors. Amen.
