The Massacre of the Holy Innocents

The story of the Massacre of the Holy Innocents is told in the second chapter of Matthew, specifically verses 16-18:

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”

Like Saint Stephen’s Day, this feast curbs our joy during the Christmas Season. Even as we celebrate the first coming of the Messiah, we are reminded that the Evil One seeks to destroy his Gospel. And yet that Gospel was not — and will not be — destroyed.

Other entries in this series:

“Taking Back St. Nick” by Zach Wendling
“St. Ambrose” by Zach Wendling
“Pope Saint Damascus I” by Joshua Claybourn
“St. John of the Cross” by David Darlington
“The Commemoration of Daniel and the Three Young Men” by Zach Wendling
“Doubting Thomas” by Zach Wendling
“The Festival of St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr” by Zach Wendling
“St. John, Apostle and Evangelist” by Matthew Stevenson (off-site)