The Order of the Fighting Fathers

"Then they dragged [Stephen] out of the city and began to stone him... While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

Thus we remember the tragic death of Stephen, remembered each year on December 26th especially, but also at other times in the ecclesiastical calendar.

Why is the church so keen to remember the miserable death of one of its members? Why not celebrate the success of someone whose faith led him or her to wealth, peace and happiness?