The Feast of the Holy Innocents: The First to Die for Christ
Quick answer
The Holy Innocents were the baby boys of Bethlehem whom King Herod ordered killed in an attempt to destroy the newborn Jesus (Matthew 2:16-18). The Church has honored them as martyrs since early times, because they died in Christ's place, though they could not yet speak His name. Their feast is December 28, in the octave of Christmas.
Key takeaways
- Herod ordered the killing of all boys in Bethlehem two years old and under.
- The Holy Family escaped because an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt.
- St. Matthew saw the prophecy of Rachel weeping for her children fulfilled (Jeremiah 31:15).
- The feast is a day to pray for children, especially those who suffer or die young.
In the middle of the joy of Christmas, the Church remembers a terrible grief. On December 28 we honor the children of Bethlehem who died because a king feared a baby.
The Story
After the Wise Men came looking for the newborn King of the Jews, King Herod was troubled. He told them to report back once they found the child. Warned in a dream, they went home another way. An angel also appeared to Joseph and told him to take the child and His mother and flee into Egypt.
Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry; and sending killed all the menchildren that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under. (Matthew 2:16, Douay-Rheims)
St. Matthew recalled the words of the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not” (Matthew 2:18).
Did It Happen?
No other ancient writer mentions this event. But Herod was well known for his cruelty. He executed his own wife and several of his sons. In a town the size of Bethlehem, the number of children was probably small, and such a crime may have gone unrecorded by historians focused on larger events.
Martyrs Who Could Not Speak
From early centuries, the Church honored these children as martyrs. St. Quodvultdeus, a fifth-century bishop, wrote that they died for Christ before they could know Him, and that the tiny ones were crowned in glory. Their feast was celebrated by the fifth century.
The Holy Innocents remind us that Christ’s coming provoked opposition from the start, and that the innocent often suffer from the sins of the powerful.
A Day to Pray for Children
Many Catholics keep this feast by praying for:
- Children who suffer from violence, war, hunger and abuse.
- Unborn children, and an end to abortion.
- Parents who have lost a child, through miscarriage, illness or accident.
- Refugee families who, like the Holy Family, must flee their homes.
In some countries, it is a custom to bless children on this day.
A Prayer for Children (Original Prayer)
Lord Jesus, the Holy Innocents died in Your place. Protect children everywhere, comfort parents who grieve for a child, and welcome all little ones who die into Your arms. Holy Innocents, pray for us. Amen.
Continue Reading
Read about St. Joseph, who protected the Holy Family, St. Stephen, or our Christmas prayers for family.
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast of the Holy Innocents?
December 28.
How many children did Herod kill?
Scripture does not say. Bethlehem was a small town, and historians estimate perhaps a dozen or two. Later traditions gave much larger numbers.
Why are they called martyrs if they did not choose to die?
They are martyrs "not by speaking but by dying," as an ancient prayer of the feast puts it. They gave their lives in place of Christ, and the Church has always honored them as among the first to die for Him.
Sources
- Gospel of Matthew 2:13-18 (Douay-Rheims)
- Jeremiah 31:15 (Douay-Rheims)
- St. Quodvultdeus, Sermon 2 on the Creed (Office of Readings, December 28)
- Roman Missal, Feast of the Holy Innocents
