Dec 28 – Holy Innocents

In Matthew 2:16-18, we are told that Herod issued an order that all male babies two years old and under should be killed.  When Herod heard from the wise men that the King of the Jews had been born, he was determined to kill the Christ child.  Since he did not know the child’s true identity, he was trying to make sure that he killed the child by killing all the children who were born during the likely time period of the birth of Jesus.   No one is sure how many infants were killed, estimates ranging from 6 to 64,000.  Many Christians considered these infants to be the first martyrs, since they were killed because of the arrival of Christ into the world; Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:13-18; Collect: O ALMIGHTY God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths; Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith even unto death, we may glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.