We remember this day, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by the order of King Herod. Receive, we beseech thee, into the arms of thy mercy all innocent victims; and by thy great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish thy rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Holy Innocents was the due date for my first child, whom I allowed to be aborted after my financee threatened suicide if I did not accede. (S)he would have been 41 today.
The real slaughter of the innocents was not the dozen or two children in Bethlehem, tragic as that was for those families, but the hundreds of millions of children aborted in the US, Europe, Canada, China and elsewhere in the last four decades alone.
Thank you for sharing Mr. Hall. I agree that this day calls for the remembrance of all those we have lost to abortion and for more voices to be raised within the Episcopal Church, all too silent.
Yes, thanks, Bart.
It was courageous of you, and very poignant.
FWIW, this grim feast day is also special to me personally, but for a much happier reason. It’s the anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood, and brings back many happy memories of that day 26 years ago.
David Handy+