Stephen, a Roman and the son of Jovius, was the archdeacon of Rome when Pope Saint Lucius I entrusted him with the care of the Church shortly before his martyrdom in 254 AD in the persecution under Decius. During the interval between the Decian and Valerian persecutions, there sprang a controversy regarding baptism. The Churches of Africa and the East, and of Alexandria to a lesser extent, declared that baptisms performed by heretics were void and could only be valid when performed by duly consecrated clergy in communion with the Church. However, Pope Stephen I was of the view that every baptism performed with the right matter and the right words was effective.
Saints Cyprian of Carthage and Dionysius of Alexandria wrote to Pope Stephen who replied by denouncing Cyprian as a false Christ, a false apostle and a deceitful worker. He broke off communion with all the Churches of the East and of Africa which adhered to the more rigorous practice. Cyprian then held a council at Carthage attended by 71 bishops of Africa, and at it he asserted the independent judgement of the African Churches. Cyprian sent two bishops to Rome with a copy of the decisions of the Carthaginian council, and letters from himself. Stephen would not allow the messengers to enter his presence, and forbade the faithful to show them the smallest hospitality, to receive them into their houses, or wish them God-speed. Cyprian wrote in indignation. He condemned in severe terms the perverseness, obstinacy and contumacy of Stephen. He promulgated, in Latin, a letter of Saint Firmilian, the Bishop of Cappadocian Caesarea, even more unmeasured in its censures. Firmilian denounced the audacity and insolence of Stephen and scoffed at his boasted descent from Saint Peter. He declared that, by his sin, he had excommunicated himself: that he was a schismatic, an apostate from the unity of the Church. Cyprian assembled another council of 87 bishops who reasserted their previous decision, repudiated the assumption by Stephen of the title Bishop of Bishops, and the arbitrary dictation of one bishop to all Christendom.
This happened in 256 AD. In the council were fifteen confessors, some with scars, and maimed for the faith. It is not known what was the end of this dispute. It lasted under the pontificate of Saint Sixtus, the successor of Stephen. The sudden outbreak of persecution under Valerian in 257 AD drew attention from these questions to the more pressing necessities of a time of fiery trial. One of the first victims was Stephen. Soldiers suddenly entered a church while he was saying Mass, but he remained before the altar and concluded the sacred mysteries with intrepidity, and was beheaded on his throne. He was buried in the Catacombs of Saint Callistus.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
The commemoration of the illustrious Pope and Martyr Stephen I adds a perfume of antiquity to the holiness of this day dedicated to the honour of a comparatively modern Saint. Stephen’s special glory in the Church is to have been the guardian of the dignity of holy Baptism. Baptism once given can never be repeated, for the character of child of God, which it imprints upon the Christian, is everlasting. And this unspeakable dignity of the first Sacrament in no wise depends upon the disposition or state of the minister conferring it. According to the teaching of Saint Augustine, whether Peter, or Paul, or Judas baptise, it is He upon whom the Divine Dove descended in the Jordan, it is He alone and always that baptises by them in the Holy Ghost. Such is the adorable munificence of our Lord with regard to this indispensable means of salvation, that the very pagan who belongs not to the Church, and the schismatic or heretic separated from her, can administer it with full validity on the one condition of fulfilling the exterior rite in its essence, and of wishing to do by it what the Church does.
In the time of Stephen I this truth was not so universally known as now. Great bishops whose learning and holiness had justly won them the admiration of their age wished to make the converts from various sects pass again through the laver of salvation. But the assistance promised to Peter was not wanting to his successor, and by maintaining the traditional discipline, Rome, through Stephen, saved the faith of the Churches. Let us testify our gratitude to the holy Pontiff for his fidelity in guarding the sacred deposit which is the treasure of all men. And let us beg him to preserve no less effectually, in us also, the nobility and the rights of our holy Baptism.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Nicaea in Bithynia, the martyrdom of St. Theodota with her three sons. The eldest, named Evodius, confessing Christ with confidence, was first beaten with rods, by order of Nicetius, ex-consul of Bithynia, and then the mother, with all her sons, was consumed by fire.
In Africa, St. Rutilius, martyr. He had frequently secured safety from the perils of persecution by flight, and sometimes even by means of money, but at last, being unexpectedly apprehended, he was led to the governor and subjected to many tortures. Afterwards he was cast into the fire and thus merited the glorious crown of martyrdom.
At Padua, St. Maximus, bishop of that city, who ended his blessed life in peace, with a reputation for miracles.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
