Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, a very poignant day within the liturgical Octave celebrating the Nativity of the Lord reminding us that Herod strove impiously and cruelly to slay the newborn Christ and Saviour. Whenever this Feast comes around, I can't help thinking of many, too many, other holy innocents these days killed simply because their parents find that raising children might be irksome or a burden, or they are killed mercilessly by some witchdoctor for some other excuse. I only hope that God grants these murderers time to relive their deeds in the uttermost shame.
The Introit of today's Mass is quite lovely, and is one which I think of often:
Ex ore infantium, Deus, et lactentium perfecisti laudem propter inimicos tuos. Domine Dominus noster: quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra! Gloria Patri.
Out of the mouths of infants, O God, and of sucklings, you have perfected praise according to your enemies. O Lord, our Lord: how admirable is your name in the whole earth! Glory be to the Father.
You can read about the Holy Innocents, of course, in St Matthew's Gospel, and The Catholic Encyclopedia has a detailed article about the event and the Feast.
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