December 28th.  The Holy Innocents.

This feast, once called ‘Childermass’ in England, commemorates the boys of Bethlehem aged 2 or under who were murdered by King Herod the Great, according to Matthew chapter 2, in a futile attempt to ensure that he was rid of the Christ-child.  Commentators tend to doubt that such an event ever took place, or at least reduce the size of the slaughter to ‘manageable’ proportions: between six and twenty-five.  At the very least, the Innocents symbolise those who are ready to die for Christ at any age and in any time: they died instead of Christ, and thus for him.  In earlier ages of high infant mortality, the Church used this feast to console parents whose children had died very young.  The glory of Jesus is offered to those who resemble the ‘holy babes and sucklings’ (Martyrdom of Jerome, quoting Psalm 8).