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 your which we confess with our lips may also speak through our manner of life. HOMILY: (Mt. The Feast of the Holy Innocents, also called Childermas or Innocents’ Day, is a Christian feast in remembrance of the massacre of young children in Bethlehem by King Herod the Great in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:16–18). December 28, 2013 (Readings on USCCB website) COLLECT PRAYER. Herod murdered his own wife and preserved her corpse in honey. Apolytikion of Holy Innocents First Tone. While it is a sad day, people injected a few joyous traditions into the day: On this day it is custom to give the youngest child in the household the power to rule the day. College of the Holy Cross • One College Street • Worcester, MA 01610 USA By the Holy Innocents, who are honored as martyrs today by the Catholic Church, we understand those happy infants, who, by the command of King Herod, were put to death, for no other cause than that the new-born King of the Jews might be deprived of life [Mathew 2: 16]. The children did not know Jesus or why they died, but they were murdered to save Jesus Christ. Amen. These kids are viewed as saints, Saints of God, by the Church. In today’s Gospel, Feast of the Holy Innocents, the under two year olds who were killed by Herod in his effort to stop the birth of the promised Messiah. The feast of the Holy Innocents is an excellent time for parents to inaugurate the custom of blessing their children. Significant was the mention of Rachel weeping for the children as quoted from the prophet Jeremiah. 2:13-18) December 28, 2018, Feast of the Holy innocents. Kontakion of Holy Innocents Plagal of the Second Tone. MASS READINGS. 2. Feast of the Holy Innocents, also called Childermas or Innocents’ Day, Christian feast in remembrance of the massacre of young children in Bethlehem by King Herod the Great in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:16–18). Interesting Facts On Holy Innocents Day: The Western churches observe the Feast Of Holy Innocents on December 28th whereas the Eastern Churches observe it on December 29th. Feast Day of the Holy Innocents. The Latin Church instituted the feast of the Holy Innocents at a date now unknown, not before the end of the fourth, and not later than the end of the fifth century. Let the earth, therefore, rejoice and the Church exult — she, the fruitful mother of so many heavenly champions and of such glorious virtues. In England, the day came to be known as Childermas as the merging of the words children and mass. Jesus, our Emmanuel, has been born, but all is not well. The Holy Innocents are the special patrons of small children, who can please the Christ Child by being obedient and helpful to parents, and by sharing their toys and loving their siblings and playmates. In modern times, it has been known as Holy Innocent’s Day, Childermas, Children’s Mass and Innoc… We start our days with mornings prayers and an introduction to the saint of the day. 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. What can one possibly say? 04:41. Saint of the Day – December 28 2020 – Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs The Gospel writer Matthew noted that it was the fulfilment of the prophecy of the prophet Jeremiah. But parents can simply sign a cross on the child's forehead with the right thumb dipped in holy water and say: May God bless you, and may He be the Guardian of your heart and mind—the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. The children sacrificed their lives because of the Lord Jesus. News, analysis & spirituality by email, twice-weekly from CatholicCulture.org. Free eBook: Liturgical Year 2020-2021, Vol. King Herod … In many church traditions, December 28th is set aside as the feast day of the Holy Innocents, a remembrance of those children murdered in Bethlehem so many years ago. Never, in fact, would that impious tyrant have been able to benefit these children by the sweetest kindness as much as he has done by his hatred. The Holy Innocents were considered some of the first martyrs. 2:16). The Holy InnocentsToday, dearest brethren, we celebrate the birthday of those children who were slaughtered, as the Gospel tells us, by that exceedingly cruel king, Herod. 00:00. Reading 1 . But even if there had been only one, we recognize the greatest treasure God put on the earth—a human person, destined for eternity, and graced by Jesus’ death and resurrection. The day is still observed as a religious feast day and, in Roman Catholic countries, as a day of merrymaking for children. Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs . Today, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs. Saint of the day: Holy Innocents by Angelus Staff December 26, 2018; Saints of the day: The Holy Innocents by Angelus Staff December 28, 2019; Why the Feast of St. Dominic is not actually the Dominicans' biggest feast day by Hannah Brockhaus August 8, 2018 Eventually, sometime after the 5th century, it became decoupled from Epiphany and became its own feast day. “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”. December 28 - Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs. 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. In the day’s Gospel, Feast of the Holy Innocents, the angel warned Joseph about the plan of Herod to destroy their child. It hardly seems like the thing to celebrate right after the fanfare of Christmas, but then again, the church is known for doing things a little different. The slaughter of children is one of them. On this day it is custom to give the most … The coming of Christ has made it possible for us to be in the right place at the right time. Be entreated, O Lord, by the sufferings endured for You by the Saints, and we pray You, heal all our pain. The feast is observed by Western churches on December 28 and in the Eastern churches on December 29. He was still afraid that the newborn King of the Jews would pose a threat to his power. We welcome inquiries and feedback: 508-793-3869 • catholicsandcultures@holycross.edu. Feast of the Holy Innocents - Day Four The Holy Innocents saved the Child Jesus from death by King Herod by the shedding of their own blood. I long for a world in which such things are rare. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture Church leaders said, the Feast of the Holy Innocents is kept within the octave of Christmas because “the Holy Innocents died not only for Christ but in His stead. The Hymns Of The Holy Innocents The Hymns Of The Holy Innocents The feast day for the Holy Innocents is December 28. Herod the Sociopath, or Herod the Devil, would be more accurate titles. Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (India), Obando: Feast of the Three Saints (Philippines), Peñafrancia & Divino Rostro (Philippines), El Salvador's cofradía Niño Dios de María hosts New Year's festivities. Today’s December 28 2020 Daily Mass Readings Homily Theme: Herod Massacred Boys in Bethlehem – Matthew 2:13-18. Feast of the Holy Innocents - Day FourThe Holy Innocents saved the Child Jesus from death by King Herod by the shedding of their own blood. READING I 1 Jn 1:5–2:2 When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. Herod the Great was not great. The Holy Innocents are the Patron Saints of: Babies. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. 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. One of them, December 28, is the feast of the Holy Innocents. The Feast of the Holy Innocents. The throne is located on the street in front of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción church. Today’s feast of the Holy Innocents brings us to face one of the most challenging parts of the faith. They were able to elude Herod. In the first place, St. Joseph’s predisposition in God’s design for our salvation, by accepting God’s will. During the octave of Christmas, there are many special feasts that the Church gives us to celebrate! However, it wasn’t celebrated as its own feast day but was instead a part of the Feast of the Epiphany and was celebrated in January. The Holy Innocents are few, in comparison to the genocide and abortion of our day. The Holy Innocents are few in comparison to the genocide and abortion of our day. Ethiopia: Popular Meskel feast a time for dancing and celebration, Catholics & Cultures is an initiative of the Rev. This picture is "The Slaughter of the Children of Bethlehem" by Gustave Doré. O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on this day… Catholic Daily Readings Homily for December 28 2020, Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs. 1 JN 1:5—2:2. Holy Innocents as a holiday can be traced back to the year 485 A.D when it was celebrated as a feast day in the Western Church, or more specifically in the Leonine Sacramentary. In England around 1000 years ago, the day came to be known as Childermas as the contraction of the words children and mass The Catholic Church regards them as the first Christian martyrs, and their feast – Holy Innocents Day (or the Feast of the Holy Innocents) – is celebrated on 28 December. Privacy Policy. Today, the church sits in lamentation in the midst of celebration. He had two of his own sons strangled to death. Holy Innocents Feast Day The Western churches observed the Feast Of Holy Innocents on December 28th whereas the Eastern Churches observe it on December 29th. By Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876. December 28, 2017 Laurie Gudim Matthew 2:13-18 “Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.” There are some things in the face of which I am all but speechless. We also invite the children to recall our feast day celebration, which my older children hesitate to announce for the younger ones who still have not fully caught on. Yes, our God is with us. Just a few days into Christmas and the liturgical calendar confronts us with the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Matthew 2:16. Today’s feast of Holy Innocents should inspire us to shine Christ’s light first into our own hearts and then on our world to begin to ensure that as we move closer to the kingdom, fewer and fewer innocents will suffer for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Deceived by the magi, Herod decided to massacre children under two years old. In the New Testament, the Massacre of the Innocents (Hebrew: טבח החפים מפשע; Arabic: مذبحة الأبرياء; Greek: Σφαγή των νηπίων ) is the incident in the nativity narrative of the Gospel of Matthew (2:16–18) in which Herod the Great, king of Judea, orders the execution of all male children two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem. Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs Lectionary: 698. Embedded within the Christmas celebrations, we cannot ignore the message the liturgy wants to convey to us to define with two clear accents, and even more, the good news of the birth of Jesus. This day commemorates the baby boys who were murdered by an order of King Herod. Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books! He routinely … The Feast of the Holy Innocents, also called Childermas or Innocents’ Day, is a Christian feast in remembrance of the massacre of young children in Bethlehem by King Herod the Great in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:16–18). (Readings on USCCB website). From the Ritual comes the form which we use on solemn occasions, such as First Communion. After the Magi did not return to King Herod, he was furious! Through our Lord. December 28, 2020 Day Four ~ Celebrating the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Feast of the Holy Innocents -- The Youngest's Day, Holy Innocents or Childermas Day: Parental Blessing of Children, Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Christmas Season (2nd Plan), Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Christmas (1st Plan), The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptized | International Theological Commission. The day is still observed as a religious feast day and, in Roman Catholic countries, as a day of merrymaking for children. For as today's feast reveals, in the measure with which malice in all its fury was poured out upon the holy children, did heaven's blessing stream down upon them. Beloved: This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. He was evil. We’re celebrating the mass murder of all the boys in Bethlehem under two. Holy Innocents is the often-overlooked feast day of the church calendar on December 28 th that commemorates the slaughter of the infants in Bethlehem following the birth of Jesus. » Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books! No one is less deserving of death than a Baby. December 28—Feast Third Day in the Octave of Christmas Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saints of babies. “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” (Mt. Otherwise called the Feast of the Holy Innocents, this day is seen in the Western places of worship on December 28 and Eastern holy places on December 29. But even if there had been only one, we recognize the greatest treasure God put on the earth—a human person, destined for eternity and graced by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Click here to subscribe to our new daily prayer resource, Pause+Pray! Holy Innocents, Martyrs. 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