Saint of the Day, December 28

The Holy Innocents are the baby boys of Bethlehem killed by order of King Herod after the birth of Jesus. Saint Matthew's Gospel tells how the Magi came looking for the newborn King of the Jews. Herod, afraid of losing his throne, told them to come back and tell him where the child was. Warned in a dream, they went home another way. Furious, Herod ordered the killing of all the boys in and around Bethlehem two years old and under (Matthew 2:16–18). Joseph, also warned in a dream, had already fled with Mary and the child to Egypt.