December 28: The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

Victims of violence by the powerful

The Holy Innocents are the children of Bethlehem who lost their lives because of the fury of King Herod, thus becoming the first innocent victims associated with the birth of Christ. Not with words, but with their blood, they offered an example of faith and sacrifice.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, during the reign of Herod, some Magi from the East arrived in Jerusalem, seeking the “King of the Jews,” drawn by an extraordinary star. When they revealed their purpose, Herod, troubled and filled with fear, devised a plan to eliminate the newborn, worried that his earthly authority might be threatened by the future heavenly king.

To conceal his intentions, Herod feigned a desire to pay homage to the child and sent the Magi to Bethlehem, saying: “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him” (Mt 2:8). But God thwarted his deception: the Magi returned to their country by another route, avoiding Jerusalem.

Enraged, Herod ordered the killing of all the children two years old and under in and around Bethlehem, hoping to eliminate Jesus as well. However, the child escaped the massacre because an angel warned Joseph in a dream: “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” (Mt 2:13–15).

The king’s soldiers carried out the cruel order, tearing infants from their mothers’ arms and killing them without mercy. In this tragic event was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentations: Rachel weeping for her children and she would not be consoled, since they were no more” (Mt 2:18).

The Church remembers these little martyrs, celebrating their innocence and purity, symbols of the price paid by faith even at the most tender age.