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

Sorrowful Mysteries

Second Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar

“So Pilate then took Jesus and flogged him.”John 19:1

Pilate has Jesus scourged. The innocent Lamb of God bears the blows in silence, offering His suffering for our sins.

Fruit of the mystery: Purity · mortification

Hail, Holy Queen

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

Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show us the blessed fruit of thy 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 (Sorrowful Mysteries)

The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning with Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion

Coming up

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and JosephSun, Dec 30 · Feast
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of GodTue, Jan 1 · Solemnity
The Most Holy Name of JesusThu, Jan 3 · Optional memorial
The Epiphany of the LordSun, Jan 6 · Solemnity
The Baptism of the LordSun, Jan 13 · 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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