their sacred duties. The duty and office of the deacons consisted in helping the apostles not only in the care of the poor, but also in the cure of souls. In the chapter we have just read, we have seen that Stephen the deacon taught and preached, and in the following chapter we shall see that Philip, another deacon, baptized. Deacons are still ordained in the Catholic Church by the bishop, as successor of the apostles; and the order is conferred in the same way as the apostles conferred it, namely, by the imposition of hands with prayer. Deacons are assistants to bishops and priests, having authority to preach, to baptize, to assist the priest at the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and to give Holy Communion; but they have not the power to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord, or to remit sins. This power belongs to priests alone.
The Virtues shown by Stephen are as follows:
1. Living faith, in virtue of which he performed great signs and wonders.
2. Love of God; for he loved God more than his own life.
3. Love of his neighbour, and especially of the poor. In his deathagony he thought more of the sins of his enemies than of his own sufferings. While their sins were crying to heaven for vengeance, Stephen cried to the Lord of heaven to have mercy on his tormentors.
4. Zeal for souls, which proceeded from his love for God and his neighbour.
5. Wisdom, as shown in his explanation and defence of his faith.
6. Patience under suffering. He stood like an angel in the midst of his furious enemies, and no word of complaint crossed his lips.
7. Fortitude, in the strength of which he confessed his faith without fear, and sealed it with his blood.
The Gifts of the Holy Ghost. It is said of Stephen that he was “filled with the Holy Ghost”; consequently he possessed all the gifts of the Holy Ghost. The story which we have read proves that he did, indeed, possess them, and especially the gifts of wisdom, fortitude, piety and holy fear.
Happy death. Holy Scripture says that Stephen “fell asleep in the Lord”. As regards the body, death is a sleep, as was explained in reference to the raising to life of Jairus’ daughter (chapt. XXX). But, further, Stephen fell asleep “in the Lord”. Such a death is truly happy, for the soul which leaves the body in a state of grace is sure to go to heaven. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. From henceforth now, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, for their works follow them” (Apoc. 14, 13). The souls of the just do not all go to heaven immediately after death, not being quite purified. St. Stephen, however, went immediately to heaven, for not only did
