14 May 2019

Miracles of the relics of St. Stephen, the Martyr

Saint Augustine knew and strongly believed that the purpose of miracles in the Church were mainly to strengthen the faith of the people in the Catholic faith. In his book, ‘The City of God’, in Chapter 8 of Book 22 Saint Augustine relates four accounts of people being raised from the dead through the relics of St. Stephen, the martyr that were brought to Africa. These incidents also further strengthen our faith in the Catholic tradition of venerating the relics of Saints which is also based on what we read in the Scriptures "May their bones send forth new life from where they lie." Sirach 46:12

Accounts of the Dead Raised to life:

A Spanish priest, Eucharius, who was stationed in Calama, was cured of ‘stone’ when Bishop Posidius applied to him the relic of St. Stephen. Later the same priest was again near death from another illness. With great faith they took the priest’s tunic to the shrine where the relics of St. Stephen were kept and touched it to the relic. When they returned, the priest Eucharius was already dead. But as soon as they placed the garment on him he was miraculously restored back to life.

In another account, the son of a certain tax collector named Irenaeus died. His corpse was laid out and the preparations for the funeral were underway. A friend attending the funeral suggested that the boy’s body be anointed with the oil from the shrine of St. Stephen. Accordingly it was done and the boy was restored back to life.

There was a Syrian named Bassus who lived in Hippo. He had a daughter who was gravely sick and near death. With great faith he took her robe to the relic of St. Stephen and touched the relic with it. As he was praying at the shrine, his servants came to tell him that his daughter was dead. However, his friends who were with him saw the servants first, and forbade them to tell their master the bad news lest he break down in public. When they got back home, Bassus found his house filled with the wailing of mourners. In his sorrow, he threw the girl’s robe on the corpse and her life was miraculously restored.

In another incident near Audurus, at an estate called Villa Caspaliana, a consecrated virgin became sick and was on the brink of death. Her parents took her habit and set out for the shrine of St. Stephen in Audurus to touch it to his relic. In the meantime, the nun died. When the parents returned, they clothed the corpse with the habit and the moment they did this, their daughter was brought back to life.

Saint Stephen:

Saint Stephen was the first martyr of the Church. In the Acts of the Apostles 6:5 we read about Stephen “....and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” But the people could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. They instigated people against him and brought him before the Council. They set up false witnesses against him and stoned him to death. Thus he became the first martyr to have died for faith

Saint Augustine:

Saint Augustine was a Roman African priest who was the Bishop of Hippo for 35 years and lived during the period AD 354 to 430. He is one of the greatest and most influential theologians of the Catholic Church. His greatest literary works include the ‘City of God’, ‘Confessions of St. Augustine’ and ‘The Christian Doctrine’. He was recognized as a Doctor of the Church in 1298 by Pope Boniface VIII. His feast day is 28 August, the day on which he died.