Feast of the Holy Innocents - December 28

The Feast of the Holy Innocents

December 28

Because they died for Jesus Christ, the children of Bethlehem killed on the orders of Herod the Great were declared martyrs.

“When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’ [Hosea 11:1]

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(about six miles from Jerusalem signifying lamentations heard from great distance), sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.’” [Jeremiah 31:15] (Matthew 2:13 -18)




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Art
Flight Into Egypt - Fra Angelico
Massacre of the Innocents - Giotto di Bondone