Childermas: Parental Blessings

An old English name for the Feast of the Holy Innocents is Childermas, a term derived from the Old English words for “child” and “mass.” This feast commemorates the male infants tragically killed by King Herod in his attempt to eliminate the Christ Child. These young martyrs are honoured as the first witnesses to Christ, their sacrifice foreshadowing the passion and ultimate victory of Jesus.

Childermas has been observed since the early centuries of Christianity, with records of its celebration found in ancient liturgical texts like the Leonine Sacramentary from the 5th century. The day serves as a poignant reminder of the cost of Christ’s coming into the world and the innocence of children who hold a special place in God’s kingdom.

Background

The Catholic tradition of parents blessing their children on the Feast of the Holy Innocents has deep roots, emphasizing the sacred role of parents as the primary spiritual guardians of their families. In the domestic church, which is the family home, parents take on a priestly role in interceding for and guiding their children in faith. On this feast, they are encouraged to formally bless their children, either through a simple or formal ritual.

For the simple blessing, parents may trace the sign of the cross on their child’s forehead using their right thumb dipped in holy water. As they do so, they say:

“May Almighty God bless you, and may He be the Guardian of your heart and mind—the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.”

This act is a humble yet profound gesture, invoking God’s protection over the child’s heart, mind, and soul while reaffirming the parents’ commitment to raising their child in the faith.

The formal blessing, as found in the Roman Ritual, is a longer prayer that draws upon the imagery of Christ’s embrace of children during His earthly ministry. The blessing reads:
“O Lord, Jesus Christ, Who didst embrace and lay thy hands upon the little children when they came to thee, and didst say to them: ‘Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs, and their angels always see the face of my Father,’ — look with a Father’s eye upon the innocence of these children (and their parents’ devotion), and bless them this day (through our ministry). By thy grace and goodness let them make progress in desiring thee, loving thee, fearing thee, obeying thy commandments — thus coming to their destined home, through thee, Saviour of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, God, forever and ever. Amen.”

This prayer highlights the tender relationship between Christ and children, calling upon God’s grace to help the child grow in virtue and faith. It also acknowledges the parents’ devotion, linking their role to Christ’s own ministry of welcoming and blessing children.

Rite of Blessing

Father: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come unto Thee.
Father: Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, once Thou embraced and placed Thy hands upon the little children who came to Thee, and said: “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and their angels always see the face of my Father!” Look now with fatherly eyes on the innocence of these children and their parents’ devotion, and bless them this day through our prayers.

The father signs the forehead of each child with holy water.

Father: In Thy grace and goodness let them advance continually, longing for Thee, loving Thee, fearing Thee, keeping Thy commandments. Then they will surely come to their destined home, through Thee, Saviour of the world. Who lives and reigns forever and ever.
All: Amen.

Father: May God bless you. And may He keep your hearts and minds — the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.

Customs

Historically, the Feast of the Holy Innocents has been marked by various customs. In medieval Europe, the day was associated with the “Boy Bishop” tradition, where a young boy was chosen to act as a bishop for the day, leading processions and sometimes performing symbolic duties in the church. In certain regions, Childermas was considered an inauspicious day for beginning new projects, as it was associated with tragedy and loss.

In Spain and Hispanic countries like Mexico, and the Philippines, the feast is known as “Niños Inocentes” and Childermas is rather like April Fools Day is in the UK, America and France. Tricks are pulled, and the one tricked is called “Innocente!” rather than an “April Fool!” In many places, it is the young who play tricks on their elders, whom they often lock inside rooms and such until the oldsters pay a ransom!

Conclusion

Today, the Feast of the Holy Innocents continues to serve as a reminder of the sanctity of life and the importance of protecting the innocent. The custom of blessing children on this day provides a meaningful opportunity for families to gather in prayer, reflect on the significance of Christ’s incarnation, and renew their commitment to raising children in faith and love. Through these blessings, parents not only invoke God’s protection over their children but also affirm their own role as spiritual leaders within the family. This sacred tradition strengthens the bond between parents and children while fostering a deeper connection to the Church’s rich liturgical heritage.