--- title: "Mass Readings for December 26, 2028: St. Stephen · Bless" url: https://blessbible.app/calendar/2028/12/26/ description: "December 26, 2028: St. Stephen, First Martyr, Year A, Cycle I, red. Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Psalm 31; Matthew 10:17-22. Gospel in the CPDV." updated: 2026-10-20 --- St. Stephen, First Martyr · Feast # Mass Readings *for Tuesday, December 26, 2028* On Tuesday, December 26, 2028, 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 ## The liturgical day Liturgical color Red - **Celebration**: St. Stephen, First Martyr - **Season**: Christmas Time - **Rank**: Feast - **Sunday cycle**: Year A - **Weekday cycle**: Cycle I ## Mass readings (US) ### First Reading: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 - 8 Then Stephen, filled with grace and fortitude, wrought great signs and miracles among the people. - 9 But 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. - 10 But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. - 7:54 Then, upon hearing these things, they were deeply wounded in their hearts, and they gnashed their teeth at him. - 55 But 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.” - 56 Then they, crying out with a loud voice, blocked their ears and, with one accord, rushed violently toward him. - 57 And driving him out, beyond the city, they stoned him. And witnesses placed their garments beside the feet of a youth, who was called Saul. - 58 And 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](https://blessbible.app/bible/acts/6/) [The whole of Acts 7](https://blessbible.app/bible/acts/7/) ### Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 Read in the CPDV: [Psalm 31 (30 in the Vulgate)](https://blessbible.app/bible/psalms/30/) ### Alleluia: Psalm 118:26a, 27a Read in the CPDV: [Psalm 118 (117 in the Vulgate)](https://blessbible.app/bible/psalms/117/) ### Gospel: Matthew 10:17-22 - 17 But beware of men. For they will hand you over to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. - 18 And you shall be led before both rulers and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. - 19 But 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. - 20 For it is not you who will be speaking, but the Spirit of your Father, who will speak in you. - 21 And 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. - 22 And 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](https://blessbible.app/bible/matthew/10/) Computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish. 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. Spotted a wrong date, color or citation? [Report an error](https://blessbible.app/support/#report) and we’ll fix it in the app and here. ## Saint of the day [St. Stephen](https://blessbible.app/saints/st-stephen/) First Martyr · Feast day December 26 Patron of deacons and stonemasons [Read about St. Stephen](https://blessbible.app/saints/st-stephen/) [December 2028, day by day](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2028/12/) [Liturgical calendar 2028](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2028/) [Today in the Church](https://blessbible.app/today/) [Previous day Mon, Dec 25](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2028/12/25/) [Next day Wed, Dec 27](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2028/12/27/)