Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs

The Month of December Dedicated to Advent and the Coming of Christ

400th Anniversary of the Death of Saint Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church (August 21, 1567-December 28, 1622)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 70 The Presumption of Striking Another Monk at Will

Mass: 1 Jn 1:5-2:2; Resp Ps 124; Mt 2:13-18

Our soul has been rescued like a bird from a fowler's snare.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,

PRAY FOR US.

God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

(1 Jn 1:5)

UNTIL

(Hafiz, 1320-1389)

I think we are frightened every

Moment of our lives

Until we

Know

Him.

Herod certainly did not know Him. It may be a good day to ask Our Lord to remove the darkness in our hearts and help us to know Him better. No one is beyond fear, anger, or even the "furious rage" (Mt 2:16) of King Herod. With darkness in our hearts each one of us is capable of things better left unsaid. Saint John is clear: "If we say, 'we have fellowship with Him,' while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of His Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn 1:6-7). Let us not deceive ourselves then and acknowledge our sins. God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing (1 Jn 1:8-9). United in faith and prayer, with the grace of God, we go forth. Jesus, author of life, have mercy on us. 

In today's General Audience, Pope Francis asked all of us to pray especially for his 95-year-old predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who is very ill. The Vatican Press Office confirmed that "in the last few hours there has been an aggravation of his health due to advancing age." We pray then with the Holy Father, "may the Lord sustain him in this witness of love until the very end." The Pope Emeritus has led such a long and full life dedicated to God and the Church. Thank you, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

ALL HOLY INNOCENTS,

SERVANT OF GOD JEROME LEJUENE,

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES, 

PRAY FOR US. 

Today's photo: From the archives, 2021. Just like the holy innocents, this bird is minding his own business, not bothering a soul. He was busy just being a bird. Just like those poor children, all of those boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under (see Mt 2:16). They were just busy being boys. Broken from the snare and we were freed.

© Gertrude Feick 2022