When considering the Holy Innocent who died at Herod’s command after learning the King of Judea had been born in Bethlehem, a very important issue regarding martyrdom arises.
These children, unlike the many martyrs who have died for the faith, never knew Christ, they were not baptized, they were not followers of Christ. The Holy Innocent never made a conscious decision to follow Christ, nor were they martyred because they refused to renounce their faith. How come they are considered martyrs?
When speaking of martyrs, the Church speaks of those killed in odium fidei, or killed in hatred of the faith. Martyrs are those killed out of hatred for the faith, hatred for Jesus Christ and His Church.
The Holy Innocent therefore can be considered martyrs though they never knew Christ, since they were certainly killed out of hatred for Jesus Christ. They died in odium fidei.
The Gospel passage of the slaughter of the Holy Innocent is seldom portrayed in church art anymore. A few years ago I saw one of the most disturbing depictions of the Holy Innocent at the ancient Church of Saint Savior in Chora in Istanbul, Turkey.
Some make a link between the Holy Innocent and the millions of innocent babies who have died as a result of abortion in modern times. Though both groups of babies are innocent babies slaughtered, those who have died due to an abortion do not die in odium fidei as the Holy Innocent did, so we cannot speak of them as martyrs. That is an important distinction to consider by those who attempt to classify the Holy Innocent and victims of abortion in the same category as martyrs.
May the Holy Innocent pray for us and help us become more Christ-like, that our mere existence may be a witnessing of the presence of Christ in the world.
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