“When Herod realized that the wise men had deceived him, he flew into a rage and issued an order to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding area who were two years old or less, in accordance with the information that he had obtained from the wise men.” (Matthew 2:16)

Meditation: The Passion of the Innocents

“It is significant that the brief account of the infancy of Jesus mentions, practically at the same time, his birth and the danger which he immediately had to confront. The fact that Jesus, from his very birth, had to face threats and dangers has a certain prophetic eloquence. Even as a Child, Jesus is a “sign of contradiction.” ”

“Prophetically eloquent also is the tragedy of the innocent children of Bethlehem, slaughtered at Herod’s command. According to the Church’s ancient liturgy, they shared in the birth and saving passion of Christ. Through their own “passion,” they complete “what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church” (Colossians 1:24).” (Pope St John Paul II, Letter to Families, 21, 2 February 1994)

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