• December 29, 2025, Today’s Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET
• The Audio Podcast of this Rosary is Available Here Now!
Friends of the Rosary,
Today, December 29, the fifth day of Christmas, the Church commemorates the Massacre of the Innocents by King Herod, the male children under two years old who were executed in Bethlehem as told in Matthew 2:16.
Upon hearing of the birth of the King of the Jews, a threat to his murderous rule and the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy, Herod, King of Judea, ordered the execution of all the male children in Bethlehem.
These children are considered martyrs, Saints of God, by the Church.
The feast has been celebrated since before the end of the fifth century.
And as we continue Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ and yet acknowledge the great suffering that surrounded His earthly life. The devil, his fallen angels, and minions (King Herod, Roman Emperor… and many of today’s leaders) did (and continue doing) everything they could to try to destroy God’s perfect plan of salvation.
They stirred up hatred, jealousy, paranoia, and every other vile sin imaginable in an attempt to destroy our Lord’s mission. Their attack began at the time of Jesus’ birth and continued during his public ministry.
In the end, Jesus’ apparent defeat turned into His glorious triumph. So also with these innocent children. God has transformed their cruel and tragic deaths, and they will forever be honored in Heaven.
Today, it’s also the Optional Memorial of St. Thomas Becket (1118-1170), the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in his Cathedral by agents of King Henry II of England.
Ave Maria
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Please give us the grace to respond with joy!
+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
Enhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:
Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play
