Last night we observed the Feast of the Holy Innocents. This is the day in the church calendar when we remember the innocent children that King Herod slew in his attempt to get rid of the baby Jesus. The image above shows the angels carrying the children to heaven while Mary and Joseph take the baby Jesus to safety in Egypt.
We observed Holy Innocents' Day in remembrance of the twenty children who died in the Newtown, CT, shootings. We lit a candle for each of them and read their names aloud. Our whole nation feels grief over the loss of these children because they are innocent victims, just like the children of Bethlehem who died under King Herod.
We prayed for all innocent victims throughout the world, remembering refugees, victims of child abuse, human slavery, and famine. The following Collect is for Holy Innocents' Day;
We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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