The collect for today, the Feast of St Stephen, from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:

Grant, O Lord, that, in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors by the example of thy first Martyr Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those that suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

For The Epistle: Acts 7:55-60
The Gospel: St Matthew 23:34-39

More on St Stephen here.

Click for larger view

Artwork: Annibale Carracci, The Martyrdom of St Stephen, 1603-1604, Oil on canvas. Louvre, Paris.