Dear Parishioners,
Pop quiz! Who was the first saint?
- a) St. Joseph
- b) St. John the Baptist
- c) St. Michael the Archangel
- d) St. Stephen the Martyr
- e) The Holy Innocents
Okay, I know it's Christmas Break and you weren't prepared, so I'll be merciful. No need to call the Cardinal to complain and ask for a redo. I'll accept any of your answers. For one could make a theological and historical argument for each of the above.
But, if we had to choose, (and the answer I usually tell the students in school), I would say: e) The Holy Innocents.
We celebrated the Feast of the Holy Innocents this past week on December 28. If you are not familiar with the Holy Innocents, these are the children in Bethlehem who were murdered by King Herod as a result of Jesus' birth. "When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi (Matt 2:16)."