The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Feast · Red · 28 December
In December
About this day
These are the young boys of Bethlehem whom King Herod ordered killed in his attempt to destroy the newborn Christ (Matthew 2:16–18). The Church honors them as martyrs who died in Christ's stead, and keeps their feast within the Octave of Christmas.
Coming up in the next year
Next: Mon 28 Dec 2026 — Year B · I
- Mon 28 Dec 2026
Music
Mass
- Dec 26 – St Stephen to Dec 28 – Holy Innocents – Propers [26. 27. 28 DEC. Mass Propers. Ps. tones. 2016] DetailsIntroit (Entrance) · Responsorial Psalm · Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia) · Offertory · Communion
- Saints of Thanksgiving Day to Dec 14 – St John of the Cross – Propers (English & Latin) [Propers. III. SANC full. 06.04.20] DetailsIntroit (Entrance) · Offertory · Communion
From the Missal
- Entrance Antiphon — Roman Missal “The innocents were slaughtered as infants…”
- Communion — Roman Missal “Behold those redeemed as the first…” Cf. Rv 14: 4