Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, also called Childermas.
(Matthew 2:16-18) When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.”
Permit me to share two reflections I wrote for this day published in the Umatuna in December of 2011 and 2012.
Innocent, yet already holding the palm of martyrdom. O Holy Children, pray for us....
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago my pastor told me that he considers the Holy Innocents, not St. Stephen, as the first martyrs of the Church. Since then have kept that as their place of honor in my heart.
ReplyDelete