December 28, 2023 / 12:01 AM
Every December 28, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Innocents, those children who were murdered by orders of King Herod: “When Herod realized that the wise men had deceived him, he became furious and ordered them to be killed, in Bethlehem and its surroundings, to all children under two years of age, according to the date that the wise men had indicated to him” (See: Mt 2, 13-18).
Herod thought that with this cruel measure he would get rid of Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. He was willing to do anything to maintain his power, and certainly the news of the birth of a king who would rule his people terrified him. Despite great power, the Son of God managed to be saved thanks to the care of Saint Joseph and Saint Mary.
Tragically, the blood of these innocents was shed so that Christ could live, and although they did not know it at the time, God the Father constituted them “martyrs”, that is, witnesses of the sacrifice of his own Son.