Sunday, December 26
Childermas: Sanctity of Life Sunday
Often called Childermas or the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the first Sunday after Christmas has traditionally remembered and solemnized the slaughter of the children of Judea by Herod the Great following the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. It has long been the focus of the Christian Church’s commitment to protect and preserve the sanctity of human life--thus serving as a prophetic warning against the practicioners of abandonment and infanticide in the age of Antiquity, oblacy and pessiary in the Medieval epoch, and abortion and euthanasia in these Modern times. Generally set aside as a day of prayer, it culminates with a declaration of the covenant community’s unflinching commitment to the innocents who are unable to protect themselves.
Great points, George, although as I understand it the Feast of the Holy Innocents is not the first Sunday after Christmas but today. I asked a mutual friend of our about it after reading your post and this is what he said: "The position of the Tridium of the feasts of St. Stephen, St. John, and Holy Innocents is directly the 3 days directly following the Feast of the Incarnation - 12/26 - 27 - 28. The only change in this is what happens in years like this year where the first Sunday after Christmas, which take priority, falls on 12/26 so the Tridium bumps over to the next three days 12/27,28,29. The 8th day of the Christmas 12 days is Holy Name or Jan.1, thus the new year is named 'new' by the naming of our Lord. Actually historically we celebrate new years eve because it is the 8th day after Christmas. Of course after the 12 days of Christmas comes Epiphany on 1/6 - this is when the Magi finally make it to your creche or manger scene. They shouldn't be there until then - It takes some time to make it from Persia."
ReplyDeleteBut other than that, great post!