+ The Holy Innocents were the boy children of
Bethlehem and its vicinity who were put to death not because of Christ, but instead
of Christ: thus, being the first New Testament persons to give their lives for him: thus making them the first
martyrs of Christendom! All male children under the age of two were put to
death when Herod became infuriated at being deceived by the Magi whom he sent
to ascertain the whereabouts of the Child who was born King of the Jews: for he
felt that his own throne was threatened by this newborn King. Anywhere from
five to twenty-five children were taken from their mother’s and killed, in one
account; but other accounts and observances from other rites in the Church list
the number as 14,000 (in the Greek Liturgy for today), 64,000 in the Syrian
Rite, and 144,000 of the Apocalyptic interpretation: [in any and every case] thereby
fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah regarding “Rachel weeping for her
children.”
The
feast has been celebrated on this day in the West since the sixth
century. They are depicted in art as children playing around God’s heavenly
altar, with the crowns and palms that are their reward. They are also in a
mosaic arch in the basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. In England their feast
was called Childermas. They are the
object of special veneration in Bethlehem where the Franciscans and children of
the choir visit their altar under the Church of the Nativity and sing a hymn to
their memory from the Divine Office.
May
we always remember the sacrifices that were made by many to
establish to the one true Church of Jesus Christ, beginning with the glorious
martyrdom of these dear young children; may our sacrifices today on behalf of
the Church and its continued spread be significant and loving, and also deserving
of heavenly reward.
Our
soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare!
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