Prayer and Reflection

Jack Rakosky offers this background on the Feast of the Holy Innocents or, as Old English called it, Childermas. The Feast commemorates the story of the children killed by Herod as he swept Bethlehem of its youngest male children in his quest to destroy the child Jesus. Jack’s idea is to propose suitable readings for the next few months In the Vineyard. We share Jack’s contribution in dedication to the incomprehensible number of lives lost in the Indian Ocean tsunami.

One source of inspiration for this service was the annual Anglican Service of Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast by the BBC each Christmas eve. Rather than choosing nine (or more) hymns to complement the lessons, the Byzantine tradition of a Canon based upon nine Canticles using both the Old and New Testament texts suggested itself. Rather than following the Byzantine tradition of poetic texts inspired by nine standard Canticles, more freedom was used in choosing the texts of the canticles and in paraphrasing those texts for contemporary life. Like the Byzantine poetic tradition, these texts are meant to be a rich meditation upon the experience of childhood as portrayed in scripture, both its beauty and its tragedy.

The service is meant to be a foundation framework. Prior to each lesson, there should be a brief news article depicting some contemporary situation of children. For the first seven lessons these should be about the plight of children and adolescents, whether it be physical abuse, sexual abuse, sweat shop labor, AIDS, or other threats to children. For the last two lessons, children and adolescents are shown as exemplars and role models. The news articles might be accompanied by large posters, slide projections, or videos. Some of these might remain during the following lesson and canticle.

After each lesson, a choir might perform some musical piece. In the choice of music the choir director might consider that some greater effect might be achieved by placing an idyllic piece of music against the stark reality of life depicted in the news article. As with Christ’s Passover, it is best to maintain the unity of the Passion and the Resurrection.

In keeping with the spirit of the service and another tradition, the lessons and prayers and other activities should be led by children and adolescents.

While this service is most suitable for the period between Christmas and the Sunday after Epiphany, it may be used at other times of the year as suggested by the Armenian tradition. This Service, in the form of one lesson and Canticle per day, may also be used as a Novena by groups, families and individuals. This is again in accord with a tradition of beginning a Novena on Holy Innocents and ending on January 5th the eve of Epiphany.

Finally I wish to thank John Seryak for suggesting that Voice of the Faithful do something for the feast of Holy Innocents.

NINTH READING

Since the ninth reading uses the Canticle of Simeon, it is very appropriate for January through Candlemas on February 2nd.

A reading from the Gospel of Luke: Jesus says the Kingdom of God belongs to children. Luke 18:15-17

CANTICLE OF SIMEON LUKE 2: 25-34 Response after each verse: A light of revelation for the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.

CANTICLE PRAYER FOR RECEIVING THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS PRESENT IN CHILDREN

R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, let the children come into your Kingdom!
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, inspire your people to bring the Kingdom to all our children.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, help us to remove all that prevents children for experiencing your touch.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, help us rebuke all those who abuse and harm children
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, bring our witness for children into the temple courts.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, let our witness for children cause the rising and falling of many.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, let our witness for children be a sign to reveal the hearts of many.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, we await the consolation of seeing the well being of all the children.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, we await the safety and salvation of all the children
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, inspire us to become as little children for the sake of all the children.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

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