place. His immediate forerunner, S. John the Baptist, is called "a burning and a shining light." Then lastly came that glorious vision of Angels to announce the arrival of the "Sun of Righteousness," telling the shepherds of "a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger;" the King of Kings, and LORD of Lords Himself.

What a happy, joyous, and holy season is that of Christmas, when most people look for merriment, some who think little, far too little about the reason. Let us, however, strive to bear in mind what Christmas really is, and we shall find it none the less happy for being a holy season.

S. STEPHEN.

DECEMBER 26.

"On the King of Martyrs wait
Three chosen bands in royal state,
And all earth owns, of good and great,
Is gathered in that choir.

"Foremost and nearest to His throne,
By perfect robes of triumph known,
And likest Him in look and tone,

The holy Stephen kneels."

CLOSELY following the great Festival of our SAVIOUR'S birth, the Church has appointed three days to be kept holy in memory of the martyrs S. Stephen, S. John, and the Holy Innocents. Not that they suffered just at this time, but because these Innocents first laid down their lives for Him, it is fitting that we should think of them about the time we commemorate His birth Who gave to them eternal life.

Also to show the three very different kinds

of martyrdom which have been, and may be borne for CHRIST's sake.

First: S. Stephen-a martyr both in will and deed; for he was willing to die for his SAVIOUR, and did so die.

Second: S. John the Evangelist, who was willing to be killed for CHRIST's sake, but was not required by Him to do so; but who did willingly, rather than deny CHRIST, go through a torture which must have killed him in a most cruel manner, only that he was saved, as the Three Children were saved, out of the burning fiery furnace.

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And, thirdly, the deed without the will. For the poor children, whom the wicked Herod caused to be killed were not old enough to wish or to understand anything; but still they were killed for CHRIST's sake, when Herod, exceeding wroth, sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under," because he hoped, amongst them, to kill our SAVIOUR, then a child not two years old.

The history of S. Stephen is very interesting. He was a Jew, and was probably one of the seventy disciples sent out two and two by CHRIST; and he was wonderfully well instructed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and the coming of our SAVIOUR as foretold in them. Indeed, perhaps if he had 1 S. Matt. ii. 16.

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not shown this so clearly that the High Priest and others were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake," he might not have been martyred.

He was the first appointed to the office of Deacon in the early Church.

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'Deacon means one who ministers to or serves others. You know that at first the Christians had "all things in common;" everything they had they threw into one purse for the use of all. But there will always be complaints everywhere; and so, here were those who complained that some of the widows were neglected in the daily ministration;" and then the Apostles, who had not time to attend themselves to all this, appointed seven persons, called Deacons (of whom Stephen, a man full of faith and the HOLY GHOST,' was first called) to attend to the wants of the poor, and also to make daily provision for other matters required in the Church.

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One of these duties was the preparation for the Holy Sacrament, which was then administered every day; and afterwards rich and poor sat down at one table together to a meal; and the deacons had to see to the provision of this out of the general purse.

Moreover, deacons, though they acted under our LORD's chosen Apostles, were allowed to preach and baptize; and it was just after S. Stephen's grand sermon that he was stoned to death.

A little before this, when "full of faith and power, S. Stephen did great wonders and miracles among the people," some of the chief Jews of the synagogue stirred up the elders and others to seize him and to bring him before the Council; and moreover they bribed some wicked people to come and lay false accusations against him. These false witnesses he answered by speaking what you will read in the 7th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles; and what he said was so true, that it provoked and enraged those who were listening, but who would not believe, until "they gnashed on him with their teeth," and made ready at once to kill him.

But our SAVIOUR showed Himself to this His first martyr to strengthen him; for S. Stephen saw the heavens opened, and CHRIST standing at the right hand of God.

S. Stephen was cast out of the city, and had stones thrown at him till he died. He kneeled down, praying, "LORD JESUS, receive my spirit;" and then his last words were for his murderers: "LORD, lay not this sin to their charge."

So like our SAVIOUR's words at His crucifixion! "FATHER, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

No wonder that S. Stephen has been called "the head of the martyrs," "" the crown of the Church." His name, Stephen, signifies a

crown.