St. Stephen, First Martyr · Feast

Mass Readings for Saturday, December 26, 2026

On Saturday, December 26, 2026, the Church in the United States celebrates the feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr; the liturgical color is red. The Gospel is Matthew 10:17-22.

Updated October 20, 2026

Liturgical color

Red

Celebration: St. Stephen, First Martyr
Season: Christmas Time
Rank: Feast
Sunday cycle: Year B
Weekday cycle: Cycle I

Mass readings US

First Reading Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59

8Then Stephen, filled with grace and fortitude, wrought great signs and miracles among the people.
9But certain ones, from the synagogue of the so-called Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those who were from Cilicia and Asia rose up and were disputing with Stephen.
10But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
Some verses are not read.
7:54Then, upon hearing these things, they were deeply wounded in their hearts, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
55But he, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and gazing intently toward heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.”
56Then they, crying out with a loud voice, blocked their ears and, with one accord, rushed violently toward him.
57And driving him out, beyond the city, they stoned him. And witnesses placed their garments beside the feet of a youth, who was called Saul.
58And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Catholic Public Domain Version · in the CPDV this is Acts 6:8–10; 7:54–58

Read in the CPDV: The whole of Acts 6 The whole of Acts 7

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17

Read in the CPDV: Psalm 31 (30 in the Vulgate)

Alleluia Psalm 118:26a, 27a

Read in the CPDV: Psalm 118 (117 in the Vulgate)

Gospel Matthew 10:17-22

17But beware of men. For they will hand you over to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues.
18And you shall be led before both rulers and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19But when they hand you over, do not choose to think about how or what to speak. For what to speak shall be given to you in that hour.
20For it is not you who will be speaking, but the Spirit of your Father, who will speak in you.
21And brother will hand over brother to death, and father will hand over son. And children will rise up against parents and bring about their deaths.
22And you will be hated by all for the sake of my name. But whoever will have persevered, even to the end, the same shall be saved.

Catholic Public Domain Version

Read in the CPDV: The whole of Matthew 10

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar.

In US parishes the readings are proclaimed from the NABRE; the text shown here is the Catholic Public Domain Version.

Old Testament readings and the psalm are listed with a link to their chapter: the US Lectionary numbers some of their verses differently from the CPDV, so their text is not printed here. Psalm citations keep the Lectionary’s Hebrew numbering; the CPDV numbers the Psalms as the Vulgate does.

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Saint of the day

St. Stephen

First Martyr · Feast day December 26

Patron of deacons and stonemasons

Read about St. Stephen

The liturgical day