The Holy Innocents

The Holy Innocents: Feast Day Dec. 28th

Today we remember and celebrate those who were the first to die in Christ’s place—the Jewish baby boys of Bethlehem—the Holy Innocents. Our parish priest wrote a beautiful article about candle making and why the church uses beeswax candles. He said candles are a symbol of life giving sacrifice, feeding the light through their burning, and that bees are also a symbol of sacrifice since they spend their whole lives working to care for the queen so the hive can survive. Since the Jewish people use candles for Hanukkah and we as Catholics use candles at Advent, I thought today would be fitting to celebrate today’s feast day with a focus on light.

Celebrating Though Food:

Today, make the traditional Jewish Sabbath bread, Challah. Allrecipes has an easy recipe. Get the whole family together baking, and as you bake, talk about how Bethlehem means “House of Bread” and how the word for manger derives from the Latin word “manducare”meaning “to chew/devour.” Jesus was born in the House of Bread and laid in a manger foreshadowing that we would eat Him in the Holy Eucharist. How awesome is that! I know when I heard our parish priest explain this during a homily I found it AMAZING!

Celebrating Though Crafts:

Since the Holy Innocents died in place of baby Jesus, “the light of the world,” make homemade beeswax Advent candles to be used for next year. Next year, when you use these candles at Advent, you and your family can remember that Jesus is “the light of the world,” that the first people to receive this light were our Jewish brothers and sisters, and that the first to lose their lives for Christ were the Holy Innocents. You can make making Advent candles for the next year a family tradition every year on today’s feast day. You can purchase a Jewish Hanukkah beeswax candle making kit, like the one my family used, directly from the shop “Traditions—Jewish Gifts” or via Amazon.

(These are larger candles we made in 2021 and they burn a lot longer)

Another craft you can make is a “Star of David” ornament. Each year when you hang it on your Christmas tree, you can be reminded of The Holy Innocents and our connection with our Jewish brothers and sisters. Stars also emit light, and Jesus “the light of the world” was first seen by the Jewish people. The website, “Instructables,” has a great popsicle stick Star of David ornament craft you and your family can make.

I hope you and your family have a blessed day today celebrating The Holy Innocents. Sweet Holy Innocents, precious and pure, pray for us!

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