  December 28, Feast of the Holy Innocents
The feast of the Holy Innocents is an excellent time for parents to inaugurate the custom of blessing their children. From the Ritual comes the form which we use on solemn occasions, such as First Communion. But parents can simply sign a cross on the child's forehead with the right thumb dipped in holy water and say: May God bless you, and may He be the Guardian of your heart and mind—the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
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| Walk Fearlessly with Him into the Light | ||
The Feast of the Holy Innocents
1 Jn 1:5-2:2 / Mt 2:13-18
Murder on a large scale was entirely in character for King Herod, who had not flinched at killing members of his own family, to say nothing of countless numbers of political opponents and potential rivals for his throne. Despite all his wealth and power, Herod lived in inner darkness, driven by fear and knowing no peace. His was hardly a life to be envied, even though he thought himself to be the most fortunate man in the kingdom.
Though no kings, we could end up in the same condition, desperately grasping for happiness but living empty-handed in the dark. John reminds us today that this is not what God, Who is light, has in mind for us. “Walk in light,” he says to us, and Jesus “will cleanse us from every wrong.”
What does it mean to walk in the light? It means to open up to God every closed and hidden space in our souls, and to cling to nothing that is darkness. It means living simply and transparently in His presence, letting Him show us the way, and trusting Him so thoroughly that we do not fear to walk where we’ve never walked before.
The Lord is calling us to walk with Him into the new year and to live with Him in a new way, in peace and without fear. Listen to His call and walk fearlessly with Him into the light.
The Holy Innocents saved the Child Jesus from death by King Herod by the shedding of their own blood. The Holy Innocents are the special patrons of small children, who can please the Christ Child by being obedient and helpful to parents, and by sharing their toys and loving their siblings and playmates. 