The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

Feast

The baby boys of Bethlehem killed by King Herod in his attempt to destroy the newborn Christ (Matthew 2:16–18).

Readings of the day

Joyful Mysteries

First Mystery: The Annunciation

“Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”Luke 1:38

The angel Gabriel is sent by God to a virgin of Nazareth named Mary and tells her she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and bear a Son, who will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary gives her humble, free consent.

Fruit of the mystery: Humility

Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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A notification each morning with the day’s mysteries, a mystery to meditate on with its scripture, and a short prayer. Free, no account.

This day’s five mysteries (Joyful Mysteries)

The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity
The Presentation
The Finding in the Temple

Coming up

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of GodFri, Jan 1 · Solemnity
The Epiphany of the LordSun, Jan 3 · Solemnity
The Baptism of the LordSun, Jan 10 · Feast
The Conversion of Saint Paul the ApostleMon, Jan 25 · Feast
The Presentation of the LordTue, Feb 2 · Feast

✝ Pray the full Rosary

Liturgical calendar for the dioceses of the USA (General Roman Calendar and U.S. proper), checked against the USCCB liturgical calendar. Readings: citations from the U.S. Lectionary for Mass, text from the Douay-Rheims Bible (public domain).

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