The slaughter of the innocents came before Christmas this year. The priest in my sisters parish noted the paradox of celebrating Gaudete Sunday when the country is deep in grief and outrage. Twenty small votive candles were placed on the altar as a commemoration of the little ones. Dozens of children at this Mass of the age of the children killedall restless ants-in-the-pants energy, all curiositylooking here, looking there; touching Mom, touching Dad, touching sister, touching brother; Mom and Dad touching back, holding them close; a woman behind us weeping all through the Mass. Everywhere you looked, another reminder of what was taken from so many.What was done in your parish?

Rev. Joseph A. Komonchak, professor emeritus of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New York.

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