Hymns for the Incarnate God let us be raising!
O
God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family,
graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family
life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one
day in eternal rewards.
Today is a fitting day to follow the Fourth Commandment: Honor your father and mother. Of course, this applies to our living and deceased parents.
The consistent teaching of the Church, based on sacred Scripture and Tradition, tells us that the family is an irreplaceable contribution to the good of society. In an eminent
way the family, through responsible motherhood and fatherhood, and the spouses' unique and singular participation in God's work of co-creation. Pope Benedict XVI reminds that us that "the
natural family, as an intimate of life and love, based on marriage between a
man and a woman, constitutes 'the primary place of humanization for the person
and society,' and 'a cradle of life and love'" (Message for the Celebration
of the World Day of Peace 2008).
At the king's command these innocent babes and little Children were put to death. They died for Christ, and now in the glory of heaven as they follow Him, the spotless Lamb, they sing for ever: Glory to You, O Lord!
O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on this day, not speaking but by dying, grant we pray, that the faith in you which we confess with our lips may also speak through our manner of living.
Pay close attention to the sentiments of this prayer: confession of the reality of God not by words but by actions, by the way we live. How appropriate to keep this in mind these days.
