The Feast of the Holy Innocents is not about Jesus, Mary, and Joseph being forced to emigrate. Macrobius (Saturn., IV, xiv, de Augusto et jocis ejus) relates that when Augustus heard that amongst the boys of two years and under Herod‘s own son also had been massacred, he said: “It is better to be Herod‘s hog [us], than his son [uios],” alluding to the Jewish law of not eating, and consequently not killing, swine. //-->. Perfect Contrition and Spiritual Communion Prayers The Roman Station of December 28 is at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, because that church is believed to possess the bodies of several of the Holy Innocents. The Catholic Church regards them as the first Christian martyrs, and their feast – Holy Innocents Day (or the Feast of the Holy Innocents) – is celebrated on 28 December. The lamentation of Rachel after the fall of Jerusalem receives its eminent completion at the sight of the downfall of her people, ushered in by the slaughter of her children and the banishment of the Messias. Herod “the Great,” king of Judea, was unpopular with his people because of his connections with the Romans and his religious indifference. malum, inquit, est Herodis esse natum. rom.”, 1891, p. 38). brev. Businesses have […] However, it wasn’t celebrated as its own feast day but was instead a part of the Feast of the Epiphany and was celebrated in January. At Bethlehem the feast is a Holy Day of obligation. The church of St. Justina at Padua, the cathedrals of Lisbon and Milan, and other churches also preserve bodies which they claim to be those of some of the Holy Innocents. Click here to subscribe to our new daily prayer resource, Biden’s inaugural address calls for Americans to work for unity, At national memorial, Cardinal Gregory prays for all who died of COVID-19. [CDATA[> [CDATA[// >