When my son got married six years ago, I bought a nativity set for him and his wife. A few years later I asked them what they would like as an addition to their manger scene and my son jokingly said, “Herod!” And believe it or not, you actually CAN get a Herod for a nativity scene!
So last year we also added some Roman Soldiers to our Nativity Scene. We put them right in the midst of Bethlehem, by the women and children.
It’s appropriate. Because the truth is a major part of the story is the government mandates and overreach of the Roman empire and the powers that be to effect mayhem and even tragedy in the lives of the Holy Family, and all of the people in Bethlehem.
When you think of it that way, it’s sadly familiar.
What happened to the holy innocents?
The holy innocents were all of the little boys and infants that Herod’s men murdered because of a governmental mandate. Herod knew that a little king had been born. He couldn’t find him. So the answer was to kill all little boys. As many government mandates go, this one was a one-size-fits-all approach.
Another somber realization is that as far as governments and people go, this kind of thing is too commonly familiar.
What kind of soldier could carry out Herod’s orders so ruthlessly? What kind indeed. The massacre of the innocents continues – for profit.
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,
Lamentation and bitter weeping:
Rachel Weeping for Her Children
Refusing to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.
Jeremiah 31:15
Father P once reminded us that Jesus didn’t escape martyrdom when his parents fled with him to Egypt – his time had simply not yet come. When he was martyred on the cross and then came into his glory, he took all of those little children then, and now, with Him.
Interestingly, this is not the only murder we recognize during Christmas time. St. Stephen’s voluntary martyrdom is remembered on December 26. St. John survived several attempts on his life, and then the children today were executed, but not by choice. The people in these examples are called Comites Christi – the Companions of Christ.
Father Lawrence Lew, OP via Flickr Licensed CC
HT Jenn of Feast and Feria
Martyrdom of the Holy Innocents by Gustav Dore 1868
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Reflection
Every Catholic Household has to choose for themselves which feasts and commemorations have the most meaning for their particular household. The Feast of the Holy Innocents is one of those for my household. Since I lost my own baby in 2002, this day speaks to me as a mother in grief. I understand what it is to refuse to be comforted for my child because he was no more.
I always go to mass on this day. It is true that the hole in a mother’s heart will always be there after the loss of a child. But I think it is also true that a new baby is a salve that makes the pain from that injury bearable.
I didn’t realize how much I still hurt until I compared my Christmases from 2002, 2003, and 2004 to the Christmases since Rosie was born. Certainly, time and distance have helped, but the deep ache and emptiness I felt previously are not as severe. It’s like remembering what it was like to be very hungry compared to being very hungry. It’s that different.
Mr. Pete, put the finishing holiday touches on the grave of our son, Raphael a few years ago.
One Christmas Eve, while we put tea lights on Raphael’s grave, a big SUV pulled up. An entire family including a young mother, her siblings, and what looked like two sets of grandparents got out and proceeded to walk past us to the newer graves – graves that don’t even have grass on them yet. They huddled in the cold around the little grave, I heard the sobs of the young woman who, “refused to be comforted.”
We had three lights on our baby’s grave, so I took one and walked over to the group. The young woman’s buried her face in the chest of what I assumed was her own mother as she continued to sob, so I turned to the other older woman there and asked her if she wanted a little light for the baby’s grave. She and her husband thanked me profusely. As Mr. Pete and I drove off, I watched the younger woman kneel down and put the lamp on her baby’s gravesite. I hope that gave her some comfort and perhaps even start a little tradition for her to do for her baby on Christmas Eve.
Things to do today:
- If you have lost a child, a son, or daughter, sibling, a little friend, today would be a good day to remember him or her. Join your prayers with the ones at mass today and ask your little friend in heaven to be your intercessor with the Father.
- A Prayer for the Victims of Abortion.
Grave site of Baby John – found dead and alone at a construction site. Given a grave and Christian burial in 2005.
Blessing of Children on Feast of Holy Innocents:
- Today is also a good day to make a donation to theChurch of the Holy Innocents in New York. The Shrine is a great source of comfort to mothers who have lost babies to miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death and abortion.
- Bless your children!
Leader (Mother and/or Father): Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, because of a dream, you escaped being killed with the other babies of Bethlehem. As an adult, you embraced and blessed the little children who came to you. You wanted them to come to you and used them as examples in your teaching. Look now on the beauty and innocence of these children. Bless them, their parents and all who care for them.
The leader signs the forehead of each child with the sign of the cross.
In Your grace and goodness let these children advance in age and wisdom, aware of your love for them and desiring to love others in your name. Help them to be faithful to the gospel and to live lives of compassion. Then they will surely come to their heavenly home where they will live in perfect happiness forever. We ask this in confidence in your holy name.
All answer: “Amen.”
Leader to the children: “May God bless you and keep you. May your heart and mind be open. May you live a life of love and caring for all of God’s people and all of creation. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
All answer: “Amen.”
The Leader then sprinkles the children with holy water.
Other links for the Martyrdom of the Holy Innocents in my Diigo links.
