Holy Innocents Saint Bernard

The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Feast Day
December 28th

Giotto di Bondone
No. 21 Scenes from the Life of Christ
Massacre of the Innocents
1304-06 -- Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
http://www.wf-f.org/innocents.html

 

 Gospel Reading

 Matthew 2:13-18

First Reading

From the book of Exodus (1:8-16.22)

Night Office Reading (Saint Bernard).

From a sermon on the Feast by Saint Bernard (PL 183,129-131)

Blessed is he who came in the name of the Lord! For the holy One born of Mary did not come in vain, but spread abroad abundantly the name and grace of holiness. Thence surely came the holiness of Stephen, of John, and of the Innocents. It is well for us that these three feasts are associated with the birthday of the Lord, for besides helping us to maintain our devotion, their coming one after another, as a kind of escort makes the fruit of our Lord's birth more evident.

In these three solemnities, three kinds of holiness can be seen, and I think it would be hard to find among humans a fourth. In blessed Stephen we have a martyr both in will and deed; in blessed John we have the will alone; in the blessed Innocents the deed alone.

As for the Innocents, who could have any doubt about their reward? Surely, no one who believes that children born again in Christ receive divine adoption can doubt that these children slain for Christ are crowned among the martyrs. Otherwise, why did tilt: Child who was born to help us, not to hurt us, allows these babes of his own age to be killed on his account? Since he could certainly have prevented their murder with a mere nod, he must have had some better thing in store for them. Therefore, as baptism suffices for a child's salvation even though he receives it without any act of will on his part, so also did the involuntary martyrdom of these children suffice to sanctify them.

Stephen was a martyr in human eyes. His willingness to suffer appears most clearly in the fact that on the point of death he was more concerned for his persecutors than for himself. John was a martyr in the sight of the angels who, being spiritual themselves, could see the spiritual proofs of his dedication.

But these, these Innocents, are clearly your own martyrs, O God; because they do not seem either to humans or angels to have earned any reward, your special favor to them is shown with greater clarity. Out of the mouths of children and of babes you have received perfect praise. The angels sang: Glory to God in the highest and peace to people of good will. That indeed is magnificent but I dare to say not perfect praise, which will be found only when he comes who said: Let the little children come to me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Then, through the mystery of God's goodness, there will be peace even for people who cannot use their will.

Responsory see Wis 4:14.15; Rom 8:28

The Lord took them quickly * from the midst of wickedness,

- for God's grace and mercy are with his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.

By turning everything to this good

God works together with those who love him, - for God's grace ...