28 December 2012 Holy Innocents, martyrs The Church celebrates the memory of the small children in the neighborhood of Bethlehem whom Herod ordered put to death while seeking to kill Jesus. These innocent victims bear witness to Christ to a world which would not receive Him. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, 1989, p1722 The shepherds go to Bethlehem The shepherds eagerly ‘came with haste’ despite the darkness and their fatigue. Why such decisive will? 1) A lively faith on hearing the angel’s words. 2) An ardent desire to see and adore the Messiah and Saviour. 3) They hoped to receive blessings and favours. Upon reaching the place, they “found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger” (Lk 2:16). Their bodily eyes saw only an ordinary infant; but their eyes of faith saw beneath a veil of weakness, the infinite majesty of God their Saviour. What joy in adoring the Divine Child; and what special graces they received! Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp820-21 The sanctification of suffering To explain suffering is not easy especially that of the innocent. Today’s feast shows us the apparently useless and unjust suffering of some children who died for a Person and Truth whom they didn’t even know. Suffering is often a cause of scandal. Many people see it like a great wall which prevents them from seeing God and his infinite love for men. Why does Almighty God allow such apparently useless suffering? Indeed suffering is a mystery. Yet, through faith, the Christian can discover in the darkness of his own or other people’s suffering, the loving and provident hand of his Father God. Then he begins to understand the words of St Paul: “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him.” (Rom 5:28) “There is anguish for us, twenty centuries later, in thinking of the slain babies and their parents. For the babies the agony was soon over; in the next world they would come to know whom they had died for to save, and for all eternity would have that glory. “For the parents, the pain would have lasted longer; but at death they, too must have found there was a special sense in which God was in their debt, as he had never been indebted to any. They and their children were the only ones who ever agonized ... to save God’s life ...” (Frank J Sheed, “To Know Christ Jesus”, pp45-6) Let us contemplate Mary at the foot of her Son’s Cross and ask her to teach us to sanctify pain, uniting it to that of her Son Jesus. Let us ask the Holy Innocents to help us to love mortification and voluntary sacrifice, to offer up our own pain and to have great compassion for all who suffer. Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:253-9 ‘Queen of martyrs. Pray for us.’ Mary talks to us Good children listen to their mothers; so, if you love me, listen to what I want to say to you: 1) ‘Love God above all things’, observe His commandments, do not offend Him by sinning. And if you fall into sin because of your weakness, remember that I can help you. 2) ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’, because you are all my children; I embrace all of you, and my only wish is to see you in the embrace of God, saved in heaven. 3) ‘Remember to pray.’ In prayer you get all the strength you need to face the dangers of life, overcome the temptations of the enemy of your souls, the devil; acquire the virtues, perform many good deeds. 4) ‘Consecrate yourselves to my Immaculate Heart’, and I will always watch over you, comfort you, and help you in all your needs. Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p39 · “Lady, full and overflowing with grace, all creation receives new life from your abundance. Virgin, blessed above all creatures, through your blessing all creation is blessed, not only creation from its Creator, but the Creator himself has been blessed by creation!” -- St Anselm of Aosta (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p39) Christmas Raises Man Up “‘For a child is born to us’, a son is given to us; upon his shoulders dominion rests.” What happened on the night of Bethlehem cannot really be contained within a framework like that of a news report. Although this description is outlined in the readings of today’s liturgy in a very detailed way, it still does not tell all. To learn all about it, we must enter into development of events in light of the words of the prophet Isaiah, quoted at the beginning. What power is on the shoulders of this Child, who did not have even a simple roof over his head at the moment of his entry into the world? A manger for animals as his first crib? We ask ourselves this “power” during the night of Bethlehem, the power which this Newborn bears with Him into the world. Well, together with that angel who announced the birth of the Savior to the shepherds, was “a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, saying, Glory to God in high heaven and peace on earth ‘to those upon whom His favor rests’.” We find an answer to our question in that announcement at Bethlehem. What power rested on the shoulders of Christ on that night? A ‘unique power’ which only He possesses. He alone has the power to penetrate the soul of every human with the peace of the ‘Divine Pleasure’. He alone has power to cause men to become children of God. He alone is able to raise the history of man to the heights of the glory of God. Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, p40 • Our Lady of Pontoise, seven leagues from Paris. This image, which stands in the front of the church of the suburb of this town, towards Rouen, is celebrated for the. miracles which are wrought there. — Archives of the church. (Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com; www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Pontoise. Near Paris, France. 12th Century. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Pontoise (France, 1484). (http://mariedenazareth.com)