Holy Innocents

The Feast of the Holy Innocents commemorates the children of Bethlehem slain by King Herod in his attempt to destroy the Christ Child. Though they did not know Christ by reason or choice, they bore witness to Him by their blood. The Church honours them as martyrs, reminding the faithful that Christ’s coming immediately provoked the world’s hatred, and that innocent suffering is never forgotten by God but gathered into His redemptive purpose.