A Prayer for the Feast of St. Stephen

December 26 / Matthew 23:34–39 / By Esaias Heidenreich

Lord Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, how great and inexpressible is Your love and faithfulness toward us poor sinners, to whom You so richly, fully, and often send Your prophets, teachers, and preachers to announce to us Your gracious will. We thank You from our hearts that You have let us, our dear parents, wife, children, servants, and neighbors enjoy this blessing up until now. In doing this, You have also so graciously borne our great ingratitude, complacency, and contempt. We call upon You: On the comfort and basis of Your joyful incarnation, we ask that You would, by Your grace, cover and forgive our sins, that we would henceforth not be frivolous with Your dear preaching office and the proper use of the most holy sacraments, but rather use these unto salvation. Grant that we may henceforth not, through godless ways, make ourselves partakers of others' guilt and sin, and be destroyed through Your eternal, righteous wrath. Amen.

Esaias Heidenreich, Betbüchlein (1572)

Hans Baldung Grien (d. 1545), Martyrdom of St. Stephen