Music: Who Stood Up for Stephen?
Saint Stephen, or On the Friendship of Christ
Homily by Luigi Giussani for the Feast of St Stephen
Desio, Italy, December 26, 1944
Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Veni per Mariam.
The sacred vestments that the ministers are wearing at the altar are no longer the immaculate white of yesterday. They are red, the symbol of blood. Next to the sweet contemplation of a God-child warmed by His Mother’s love, what a contrast is the vision of Stephen dying under the pelting hail of stones, covered with blood! With what horror our thoughts move from the angels’ song and the affectionate faces of the shepherds to the shouting figures of Stephen’s stoners, throbbing with hatred!
But this juxtaposition is dense with meaning. In the dazzling light that surrounds the stable in Bethlehem, we perceive the majestic outline of the Cross.
St Stephen was the first to sacrifice his life to follow the Divine Master. The feast of his martyrdom together with the feast of the Holy Birth, whose significance it completes, give us a lesson in sacrifice. [full text]
Who Stood Up for Stephen?
by Bay Ridge Band
Who stood up for Stephen, when he was condemned to die?
Who stood up for Stephen, who heard his dying cry?
Who stood up for Stephen, can't somebody tell me why
He looked so glad, when it looked so bad,
And he wasn't scared of the hate they had?
Who stood up for Stephen? Was it the priests? Oh no!
Who stood up for Stephen? They all had stones to throw.
Who stood up for Stephen? Now where could the poor man go?
Not to the law those priests would draw like a weapon o' war 'gainst the grace they saw.
Who stood up for Stephen? Wasn't Paul there that day?
Who stood up for Stephen before Paul found the Way?
Who stood up for Stephen? Who saved that man's life that day?
It wasn't Paul, he still was Saul, so he joined the call for the killing and all.
Lord won't you please have mercy, Lord Jesus won't you please have mercy
On us sinners one and all?
Who stood up for Stephen? When everyone else stood back?
Who stood up for Stephen? Stood up from where he sat?
Who stood up for Stephen and gave him his life right back?
Our Lord stood up for the first of us who loved enough to take His cup.
Can't you hear the angels? Can't you hear the angels singin'?
They're singin' Hosanna on high!
Cause He stood up for Stephen, yes Jesus Christ did stand.
He stood up for Stephen, from Mighty God's right hand.
He stood up for Stephen! Right there in the Promised Land!
Saint Stephen's cry was heard on High, and that is why he'll never die!
