Dec 27, 2023
O innocent martyrs of the Christ
who gave your lives
from the cradle
for Him who carries the Cross,
who suffered and died in His place
even before His crucifixion,
even as His martyrs would do
after His death on the Tree –
let our hearts cry not
for the evil that has wrought
your violent death;
pray we not fear
the dark wrath of this world’s king
but set our hearts
on the joy of our Lord’s kingdom,
where you now reign with Him
and to which we hope to come
by the laying down of our own lives
in His Name.
And pray for the least among us
who suffer the most this day,
that they who are murdered in the womb
will know the light of Christ’s holy face.