Today is the 4th day of Christmas. I am reminded of the song. You know the one, "On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, four calling birds....." dah, dah, dah, dah, "...and a partridge in a pear tree." As a child, growing up Protestant, I had no idea what that song meant. I did not know what the twelve days of Christmas were or when they occurred. But four years ago, I was given a gift, from God Himself. Four years ago, I was received into the Roman Catholic Church. After earnestly praying for many years for God to show Himself to me, to give me His light, His Truth...He gave me the gift of becoming one of His own.
Now, what does that have to do with the fourth day of Christmas? Well...today is the feast day of the Holy Innocents. While the majority of the world, aside from Catholics, views Christmas as done and over until next year, we Catholics are still celebrating. We have 8 more days of Christmas to go! And sprinkled throughout those 8 days, while continuing to rejoice in the birth of Our Lord in human flesh, there are other days of celebrating and commemorating the Saints.
Today is a big one. I'm sure you are familiar with the story of the massacre of the Holy Innocents, as it is in the same Chapter of Matthew as the birth of Our Lord. Matthew Chapter 2, v. 16-18:
[16] Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry; and sending killed all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. [17] Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: [18] A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. http://drbo.org/chapter/47002.htm
In an effort to kill the Infant Christ, whom Herod perceived as a threat to his earthly monarchy, he ordered ALL babies two years old and younger slaughtered. Can you imagine the sounds of horror coming from the mouths of the mothers of those babies? I would imagine that was one of the most horrific, hellish, nearly unbearable scenes to witness. It's easy to think about how this is the inversion of how many women view children today - around the world. Many mothers are willingly murdering their own flesh and blood within their wombs, as opposed to risking and sometimes giving their own lives, in order to save their babies. But...I digress.
Back to today's significance....during the Octave of Christmas, we commemorate and ask for the prayers of those Holy Innocents who were martyred. Theirs was a baptism by blood. The third antiphon from Laudes: "Angeli eorum semper vident faciem Patris." "Their angels do always behold the face of the Father."
Now, what does that have to do with the 4th day of Christmas, and being Catholic? You see, had God not given me the gift of His Truth, and bringing me into His Church, I would be done with Christmas today. Today, I would be thinking about the coming year. I would be taking down my Christmas decorations and moving on with my earthly life, following the majority of Americans in wringing my hands over the upcoming uncertainties of the new year. I would not be contemplating the Holy Innocents, and their cries to God for us, for the other murdered innocents throughout the world, for Him to avenge their blood.
God is so good to us. He is full of mercy. There are many proofs of His mercy to me, the foremost being His Providence to make me one of His own. And my heart cries out in the prayer of Laudes today:
"O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day. For thee my soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, O how many ways! In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: so in the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory.
For thy mercy is better than lives: thee my lips shall praise. Thus will I bless thee all my life long: and in thy name I will lift up my hands. Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in the morning: because thou hast been my helper.
And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings: my soul hath stuck close to thee: thy right hand hath received me."
God is my true love. On this fourth day of Christmas, He gave to me a heart that yearns for Him, a place in His Church, and indescribable graces that I pray others will long for and receive with open hearts. Holy Innocents, pray for us!
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