The Feast of the Holy Innocents
113.
Since the sixth century, on 28 December, the Church has celebrated the memory
of those children killed because of Herod's rage against Christ (cf. Mt 2,
16-17). Liturgical tradition refers to them as the "Holy Innocents"
and regards them as martyrs. Throughout the centuries Christian art, poetry and
popular piety have enfolded the memory of the "tender flock of
lambs"(125) with sentiments of tenderness and sympathy. These sentiments
are also accompanied by a note of indignation against the violence with which
they were taken from their mothers' arms and killed.
In
our own times, children suffer innumerable forms of violence which threaten
their lives, dignity and right to education. On this day, it is appropriate to
recall the vast host of children not yet born who have been killed under the
cover of laws permitting abortion, which is an abominable crime. Mindful of
these specific problems, popular piety in many places has inspired acts of
worship as well as displays of charity which provide assistance to pregnant
mothers, encourage adoption and the promotion of the education of children.
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