The Feast of the Holy Innocent
O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on
this day, not by speaking but by dying, grant, we pray, that the faith in you which
we confess with our lips, may also speak through our manner of life. Through our
Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.
Since the sixth century, on December 28, the Church has
celebrated the memory of those children killed because of Herod's rage against
Christ (cf. Mt 2:16-17). Liturgical tradition refers to them as the "Holy
Innocents" and regards them as martyrs. Throughout the centuries Christian
art, poetry and popular piety have enfolded the memory of the "tender
flock of lambs" with sentiments of tenderness and sympathy. These
sentiments are also accompanied by a note of indignation against the violence
with which they were taken from their mothers' arms and killed.
In our own times, children suffer innumerable forms of
violence which threaten their lives, dignity and right to education. On this
day, it is appropriate to recall the vast host of children not yet born who
have been killed under the cover of laws permitting abortion, which is an
abominable crime. Mindful of these specific problems, popular piety in many
places has inspired acts of worship as well as displays of charity which
provide assistance to pregnant mothers, encourage adoption and the promotion of
the education of children.
© Woman of faith and family http://www.wf-f.org/innocents.html
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