Happy Feast of Stephen!
The home of Sts. Joachim and Ann–our Lady’s parents–was in the northeast corner of ancient Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is less than a day’s journey from Bethlehem. Perhaps the Holy Family rested today in the home where the Blessed Virgin grew up.
St. Stephen was martyred right outside the Sheep Gate of the ancient city. This gate is just steps from the home of Joachim and Ann.
Nobody knows exactly why St. Stephen’s Day is the day after Christmas. It has been his feast day since the early centuries.
Maybe the first Christians all knew that the first martyr died very near the place where the Lord spent his newborn days on earth.
Father Mark White Blog 