Feast of the Holy Innocents – December 28


When Jesus was born, King Herod decreed to kill all the children in Bethlehem under the age of two years old. The Church remembers these innocent children on December 28.

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When the three wise men arrived from the East before King Herod in Jerusalem and asked where the king was, this constituted a terrible provocation. They were speaking to the king, how could they ask where the king was? Saint Matthew tells the story in his Gospel:

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road” (Matthew 2:1-12).

Saint Matthew then describes the flight of the Holy Family, Mary, Joseph and Jesus to Egypt, before the terrible massacre that ensued:

“16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more"” (Matthew 2:16-18).

Herod, an evil king, resembled Pharaoh, who had also ordered the slaughter of the children of the Israelites in order to try and overturn God’s plan of salvation (cf. Exodus 1).

On this feast of the Holy Innocents, we can pray for all those children who are still victims of violence, exploitation, famine and injustice.

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