Feast Of The Holy Innocents

 Giotto di Bondone

No. 21 Scenes from the Life of Christ
Massacre of the Innocents
1304-06 -- Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

"Thus saith the Lord: A voice was heard on high of lamentation, of mourning, and weeping, of Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted for them, because they are not.  Thus saith the Lord: Let thy voice cease from weeping, and thy eyes from tears: for there is a reward for thy work, saith the Lord: and they shall return out of the land of the enemy" (Jeremias 31:15~16)

 Today the Church remembers those children who were killed shortly after Jesus' birth in the massacre ordered by King Herod. Herod was so threatened by the possibility of another King, that he took the lives of these innocent baby boys.
Unfortunately things are not too different more than 2000 years later. Today the lives of millions of children are taken before they are even born in the form of abortion.
No matter what our legislators may tell us, it is still murder, and the massacre continues.
Those of us, who by God's grace, have recognized the sin we committed and have repented of it, have received God's healing.
Today as we remember those children of Christ's time, let us also offer a prayer so that the killing may come to an end in our time. Please pray for the continued healing of those of us who have received it from the healing ministries and the sacraments of the Church, but more importantly pray for those who are still in need of healing and those who will contemplate making this horrible decision in the future, and let us pray that our culture will convert from one of death to one of life.

Holy Innocents of yesterday and today, pray for us!

Novena For the Protection of the Unborn