You can be of any faith tradition—or no faith at all—and still believe in the sanctity of innocent human life. That is because the sacredness of life is a universal principle written on the human heart.
Today Catholics commemorate the Feast of the Holy Innocents. This recalls the event from Scripture where Herod orders the slaughter of baby boys. As it states in the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew:
“When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.
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This has got to be one of the saddest days in the Catholic Church calendar. To think about the senseless slaughter of innocents brings us to a point of searing emotional pain.
I cannot help but think of all the mothers who grieve children lost to abortion. How great must be their mourning, knowing that they will never see their babies grow and thrive. As dedicated advocates for life, we must be ready to accompany them on their journey toward healing.
In fact, I believe that this is the hallmark of the pro-life movement: the abundant love we show toward women who have suffered the tragedy and trauma of abortion. We see that they have been victimized by an abortion industry that ignores their pain, and we stand in solidarity with them.
As we remember the innocents, let us tuck in a prayer for those who have been left behind, particularly the many Rachels weeping for their lost children.
LifeNews.com Note: Maria Gallagher is the Legislative Director and Political Action Committee Director for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation and she has written and reported for various broadcast and print media outlets, including National Public Radio, CBS Radio, and AP Radio.
