HOLY CHRISTMAS DAY 4....FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS.........

Jealousy is hard enough for good and selfless persons to avoid. When self serving and insecure persons are confronted with jealousy, dastardly things can result. That was the case with King Herod and his threatened response to the birth of the infant Jesus. Herod's insecurities about control of his kingdom and his self serving attitude concerning his autocratic power and privilege as the undisputed and only King of Judea, led him to conspire against the Christ Child and order the killing of all baby boys in the kingdom, two years of age and younger. Their slaying, seen as bearing witness to the divine sovreignity of Jesus, causes those blameless, slaughtered children to be thought of in our Catholic-Christian Faith, as the "Holy Innocents". Today, the 4th Day of Christmas, is their feast day. In Sacramento, a candlelight procession through the downtown streets from the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, at 11th & K Streets, to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, at 7th & T Streets, will take place tonight as it has for many years. It is our Catholic belief and teaching as Christian disciples that respect for the dignity and sanctity of human life extends from,"the moment of conception to natural death". Being truly and fully pro-life, means defending and providing for, the innocent unborn, children, the poor, hungry, homeless, unemployed, disabled, elderly, ill, infirm, dying, and the marginalized. To be anti-abortion, but otherwise oblivious to the the right to life and dignity for all human persons, is deficient in our faithful witness as Catholic-Christian disciples. Dualism and indifference are incompatible with the Gospel values of Life we profess. So as we commemorate the Holy Innocents and their sacrifice in light of God's plan of salvation, what can and will you do, today, this Christmas Season, in the New Year 2010, to bear faithful witness to the wholistic right and respect for life, we are committed to, by belief in Christ Our Lord and Savior ????????????.........Redeemed By Jesus in the Reverence For Life We Hold So Dear, Fr. Troy