The Little Book of the Most Holy Child Jesus/Meditation VI
MEDITATION VI.
MURDER OF THE INNOCENTS.
Grace to ask for: The spirit of penance.
What dismal sound is this that rings through the streets of Bethlehem, where of late the Maiden-mother vainly sought a shelter?
It is the voice of weeping mothers, of others wailing for their children torn from their breasts and slain.
Soldiers, cruel messengers of a cruel king, seek them in every house, snatch them from mothers' arms, that fondly cling in vain, and spill with the sharp biting sword their red young blood beneath God's sky.
He whom they seek to slay is far off in the old Egyptian land.
These little ones die in His stead.
Herod would have slain the Lord of life and glory, but they are the babes of Bethlehem who perish.
Dear Jesus, how couldest Thou suffer these harmless lambs to lose their young lives thus?
To the angels Thy birth was joy unspeakable.
To Mary it was heaven on earth.
To Joseph, to the shepherds, to the kings, to Simeon and Anna, it was the brightness of the very God.
But to these poor guileless babes it has brought red blood and death.
The innocent and sinless are not to be without their penance in this world, upon which falls the deep shadow of sin. I see it is Thy holy will, who willest all things well.
Not even they.
I, then, will at least deny myself some little pleasure each day for love of Thee.
I will not always seek and choose the easy and the flowery path.
Teach me to give up daily my own will with gladness for Thy dear sake.
Ye holy Innocents, blest Babes, earliest martyrs of Jesus Christ, the King of martyrs, how bright a life was won by that sharp death!
Beautiful little martyrs of the holy Child, your eyes soon closed upon the dull mists of earth, to open upon untold glories.
Bitter and short the passage, but Oh, how passing sweet the end!
How sweet to have died for Him who came to give His life for you!
Pray for me, ye stainless ones, before the Throne, that I too, unworthy and wayward as I am, may come to be with those who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.
Most Holy Child Jesus, save Thy children.