Holy Innocents Novena
Contents
Show HideThe Holy Innocents is the name given by the Church to the babies killed by Herod when he was seeking to kill the Christ Child. These babies lived in Bethlehem around the time that Christ was born, for a short time. None of them were older than two years old.
The Church recognizes the Holy Innocents as the first martyrs to be killed for Jesus. You can use this novena to seek intercession from these innocent children!
About the Holy Innocents
Little information is known for certain about the Holy Innocents beyond what is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. According to the account in Matthew 2:1-18, Herod was troubled when the Magi visited him and told him that they were searching for a newborn King of the Jews.
The Magi had learned that Jewish Scriptural prophecy foretold the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem. Herod was already not popular with the people he ruled because he was connected to the Romans and was religiously indifferent. So when he heard the Magi’s words about the newborn Messiah King, he was afraid that his own throne was in danger of being usurped.
Herod lied to the Magi, telling them that he wished to do homage to this newborn king himself. He asked them to come back to him and tell him where the king was after they found him.
After the Magi found Jesus, an angel warned them not to return to Herod. The Magi went back to their home by another route and did not see Herod again.
When Herod realized that the Magi were not returning and that he would not learn the location of the new King from them, he was very angry. He ordered that all the baby boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding area be killed, in order to ensure that this new King was killed and no longer a threat to Herod’s throne.
St. Matthew’s Gospel references the words of the prophet Jeremiah, about the horror and grief of this event for the parents of these killed children: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.”
Scholars and sources do not agree on the number of children killed in the Massacre of the Holy Innocents. Some medieval scholars estimated that 144,000 boys were killed in the Massacre. Others put the number at 64,000 or 14,000. Many modern scholars estimate that the number was much smaller because Bethlehem was a small town.
While the exact date of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents is not known, it must have occurred within two years of the time that the star was seen by the Magi.
The Church venerates the Holy Innocents as the first martyrs to die for Christ, since they were killed literally in place of Jesus.
The Holy Innocents’ Feast Day: December 28th
Why Pray the Holy Innocents Novena?
The Holy Innocents are the patron saints of the prolife movement. You can seek their intercession if you work in the prolife movement or feel moved to get involved in prolife work. You can also ask them to pray for someone you know who works in the prolife movement, or for someone you know who is considering abortion.
The Holy Innocents are also the patron saints of babies. You can ask them to pray for your own baby or for the baby of someone whom you know.
Additionally, the Holy Innocents are the patron saints of children’s choirs. You can ask them to pray for you if you work with a children’s choir. Or you can ask them to pray for your children if you children participate in a children’s choir.
You can pray the Holy Innocents Novena for any intention!
Holy Innocents Novena Prayers
Holy Innocents Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Jesus, we thank You for Your blessed martyrs, the Holy Innocents. We praise You for the holy sacrifice they made by dying in place of You, and we ask You to hear their prayers on our behalf.
Holy Innocents, you were the victim of evil King Herod’s cruel jealousy. Fearing that his power would be usurped, he ordered your deaths. You gave up your lives in place of Christ.
Please bring my prayers before the throne of Jesus for Whom you died!
You were cruelly killed at a young age by Herod’s soldiers. You died innocent victims, and we venerate you as martyrs because you were killed in place of the Infant Jesus.
Pray for us, that we may always be willing to lay down our lives for Christ. Pray that we may grow in devotion to God each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Holy Innocents, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Holy Innocents Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Jesus, we thank You for Your blessed martyrs, the Holy Innocents. We praise You for the holy sacrifice they made by dying in place of You, and we ask You to hear their prayers on our behalf.
Holy Innocents, we know very little for certain about any of you beyond the sacrifice You made for Jesus. You died in humble obscurity, but God rewarded you for your sacrifice.
Please bring my petitions before God Who rewarded you!
Herod only cared about killing the Infant King who could usurp his power. But because of Herod’s pride and malice, your lives were brought to an end early.
Pray for us, that we may grow in humility and true virtue each day of our lives. Pray that we may strive to grow in imitation of Christ at every opportunity.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Holy innocents, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Holy Innocents Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Jesus, we thank You for Your blessed martyrs, the Holy Innocents. We praise You for the holy sacrifice they made by dying in place of You, and we ask You to hear their prayers on our behalf.
Holy Innocents, you were ordered to be killed by Herod when you were under two years old. You were innocent and defenseless, but you were brutally murdered in place of the Christ Child.
Please bring my petitions before Jesus for Whom you gave up your lives!
Though you had done no crime and had committed no offense, you were put to death. We honor you as martyrs because your lives were sacrificed for Jesus.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Pray that we may have the courage to do what is right.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Holy Innocents, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Holy Innocents Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Jesus, we thank You for Your blessed martyrs, the Holy Innocents. We praise You for the holy sacrifice they made by dying in place of You, and we ask You to hear their prayers on our behalf.
Holy Innocents, your lives were taken from you by Herod and his soldiers before you had the chance to live for very long on this earth. After your lives ended so early, God rewarded you for your sacrifice by bringing you to Heaven.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you worship in Heaven!
You suffered brutal death for the sake of Jesus and lost the opportunity to serve Him in this world later in life. Because of this sacrifice, we venerate you as martyrs.
Pray for us, that we may always take every opportunity to serve God as He asks us to. Pray that we may grow in openness to God’s will each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Holy Innocents, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Holy Innocents Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Jesus, we thank You for Your blessed martyrs, the Holy Innocents. We praise You for the holy sacrifice they made by dying in place of You, and we ask You to hear their prayers on our behalf.
Holy Innocents, we know very little about any of your lives. But we do know that none of you lived past the age of two. Herod’s evil orders brought your lives to an early end, and you joined God in Heaven.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God with Whom you are spending eternity!
Though your lives on earth were very short, God made great use of them. You gave up your lives in place of the Christ Child.
Pray for us, that we may be ready and willing to even give up our lives for God. Pray that we may grow in devotion to God each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Holy Innocents, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Holy Innocents Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Jesus, we thank You for Your blessed martyrs, the Holy Innocents. We praise You for the holy sacrifice they made by dying in place of You, and we ask You to hear their prayers on our behalf.
Holy Innocents, your lives were taken from you at a young age by those who did not recognize your value. You were killed by Herod’s soldiers in place of the Infant Jesus.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of Jesus for Whom you died!
Herod ordered that all children under the age of two be killed. His pride and malice led directly to the deaths of you who were so innocent and helpless.
Pray for us, that we may always care for the vulnerable around us out of love for God. Pray that we may grow in virtue each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Holy Innocents, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Holy Innocents Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Jesus, we thank You for Your blessed martyrs, the Holy Innocents. We praise You for the holy sacrifice they made by dying in place of You, and we ask You to hear their prayers on our behalf.
Holy Innocents, you were the victims of a proud and evil man who cared nothing for the sacredness of your lives. You were murdered brutally, but God brought you to Heaven with Him because of your sacrifice.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God in Heaven!
You were innocent and defenseless, but Herod’s soldiers murdered you heartlessly as they carried out Herod’s plans to kill the Infant King.
Pray for us, that we may always recognize and respect the value of all human life. Pray that we may grow in appreciation for the good of God’s creation.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Holy Innocents, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Holy Innocents Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Jesus, we thank You for Your blessed martyrs, the Holy Innocents. We praise You for the holy sacrifice they made by dying in place of You, and we ask You to hear their prayers on our behalf.
Holy Innocents, your lives were brought to an early end because of Herod’s evil plot. You were mourned deeply by your parents as you left this world and went to Heaven.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God Whom you serve in Heaven!
St. Matthew’s Gospel uses the words of the prophet Jeremiah to describe the horror and grief of your parents at your murders. But your deaths were given deep meaning through the sacrificial nature of your dying in place of Christ.
Pray for us, that we may be ready to sacrifice anything necessary for Jesus. Pray that we may grow to a deeper love of God each day of our lives.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Holy Innocents, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Holy Innocents Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Jesus, we thank You for Your blessed martyrs, the Holy Innocents. We praise You for the holy sacrifice they made by dying in place of You, and we ask You to hear their prayers on our behalf.
Holy Innocents, King Herod heartlessly ordered your deaths in an attempt to kill the Infant King. You were brutally murdered in place of the Christ Child.
Please bring my petitions before Christ for Whom you gave up your lives!
Your lives were brought to an end before the age of two, and you were mourned deeply by your parents. But your sacrificial deaths protected the Christ Child.
Pray for us, that we may have the courage to lay down our lives for God whenever we are called to. Pray that our love for God may increase each day of our lives.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Holy Innocents, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.