THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT

THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS

PRAYER TO OBTAIN THE GRACE OF ALL WORLD’S MASSES

Eternal Father we humbly offer thee our poor presence and that of the whole humanity from the beginning to the end of the world at all the masses that ever have or ever will be prayed. We offer thee all the pains, suffering, prayers, sacrifices, joy and relaxations of our lives in union with those of our dear Lord Jesus here on earth.   

May the Most Precious Blood of Christ, all his blood and wounds and agony save us through the sorrowful and immaculate Heart of Mary. Amen St. Philomena pray for us. 

Readings Lectures Reflection 

Feast of Holy Innocents

First Reading 1 John 1:5-2:2

The blood of Jesus Christ purifies us all from sin

This is what we have heard from Jesus Christ, and the message that we are announcing to you: God is light; there is no darkness in him at all. If we say that we are in union with God while we are living in darkness, we are lying because we are not living the truth. But if we live our lives in the light, as he is in the light, we are in union with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we say we have no sin in us, we are deceiving ourselves and refusing to admit the truth; but if we acknowledge our sins, then God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and purify us from everything that is wrong. To say that we have never sinned is to call God a liar and to show that his word is not in us.

I am writing this, my children, to stop you sinning; but if anyone should sin, we have our advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who is just; he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away, and not only ours, but the whole world.

Responsorial Psalm: Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler

Gospel Acclamation Te Deum

Alleluia, alleluia!

We praise you, O God,

we acknowledge you to be the Lord;

the noble army of martyrs praise you, O Lord.

Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 2:13-18

 

The massacre of the innocents

After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:

 I called my son out of Egypt.

 

Herod was furious when he realised that he had been outwitted by the wise men, and in Bethlehem and its surrounding district he had all the male children killed who were two years old or under, reckoning by the date he had been careful to ask the wise men. It was then that the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled:

 

A voice was heard in Ramah,

sobbing and loudly lamenting:

it was Rachel weeping for her children,

refusing to be comforted because they were no more.

Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler. Heavenly Father we come to you for protection knowing that we have enemies who are not happy in our success, our progress and our existence. Father protect every child  from evil, abuse and infant abortion. Protect their lives from danger, from every societal ills. We pray for the departed souls of all children.

Father you will always intervene in every situations in our lives, you saved your Son Jesus Christ through Saint Joseph his foster father. May he intercede on our behalf through Jesus Christ our Lord. Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph pray for us. Intercede for all families. May there be peace, love and unity in all families. Father in heaven grant your us peace. Blood of Jesus purify  us.

PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH 

O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, our Lord: so that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers.

O St. Joseph, never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me, and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. 

Lord Jesus I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph pray for all families. God's Holy Angels protect me, My Angel Guardian guide and guard me. Pray for me.