December 28 (or in our case, the Sunday closest to it) has traditionally marked the observance of Childermas. Also called
the Feast of the Holy Innocents, this is a day of remembrance and mourning for the children of Bethlehem murdered by
the order of King Herod. Along with Stephen, whose feast day (December 26) is also observed during the week after
Christmas, these “infant martyr flowers” are considered the first to be martyred on behalf of Christ. Isn’t it appropriate
that right in the midst of the celebration of Christmas, we would turn our focus to such a terrible scene of violence?
Jesus was born to deal with hearts like Herod’s—and ours. This Holiest Innocent came so that the foe greater than any
Herod, Death itself, would be overthrown. —Henry C. Haffner
