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The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

Feast Day: December 28

It is because Herod believed the words of the Magi and of the high Priests whom he consulted that he sees a rival in the Infant of Bethlehem and with jealousy pursues the Child, born King of the Jews. It is this God-king that the Innocents by dying confess. Their passion is the exaltation of Christ. Like a compassionate Mother, the Church chooses today for her priests vestments of mourning, and suppresses the Gloria and Alleluia.

Updated Wednesday, March 12, 2003