Sweet flow’rets of the martyr band,
So early plucked by cruel hand;
Like rosebuds by a tempest torn,
As breaks the light of summer morn.
First victims offered for the Lord,
Ye little knew your high reward,
As, at the very altar, gay
With palms and crowns ye seemed to play.
Ah! what availed King Herod’s wrath?
He could not stay your Savior’s path;
The Child he sought alone went free;
That Child is King eternally.
O Lord, the virgin born, to Thee
Praise, honor, might and glory be,
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Ghost forevermore.
--Aurelius Prudentius (348-413); translated by Henry W. Baker.So early plucked by cruel hand;
Like rosebuds by a tempest torn,
As breaks the light of summer morn.
First victims offered for the Lord,
Ye little knew your high reward,
As, at the very altar, gay
With palms and crowns ye seemed to play.
Ah! what availed King Herod’s wrath?
He could not stay your Savior’s path;
The Child he sought alone went free;
That Child is King eternally.
O Lord, the virgin born, to Thee
Praise, honor, might and glory be,
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Ghost forevermore.
All you Holy Innocents, pray for us.
what a lovely post
ReplyDeleteMay the Holy Innocents pray for their modern companions who suffer from abortion.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful picture, heartbreaking poem. Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteThis felt so sad, even with their innocence...
ReplyDeleteThank you all for writing. These Holy Innocents must have great influence with Our Blessed Lord since they are truly His very own martyrs. Thanks be to God, they are happy with Him now and forever. It is innocence such as theirs which we must protect with every fiber of our being. Poor little children of our world who are scandalized--or worse; they are the ones for whom we must pray. May God bless you all.
ReplyDelete