Today we look ahead to the Three Kings arriving on Twelfth Night at the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

We remember the innocent male babies put to death on orders of King Herod who was trying to kill the Christ Child.

The Three Kings, or Wise Men, had visited Herod on their way to Bethlehem asking about this just born new ‘king’.

But fearing Herod’s hostility towards the recently born Baby Jesus they did not return to say where in Bethlehem they had found the Holy Family.

This morning we pray for very young children in danger from war and the sick children evacuated in the last few hours from Damascus.

This is a special day for churches dedicated to the Holy Innocents such as Holy Innocents Church in New York.