Though they were not mature enough to speak or act for themselves like St. Stephen, the Holy Innocents are martyrs in their own fashion. They were killed in Herod’s indiscriminate efforts to wipe out the infant Messiah, Jesus. They, like St. Stephen, gave witness to the Light of the World by their very existence. As children and infants they fit naturally in a season commemorating the birth and childhood of Jesus. Moreover, because of the youth of the Holy Innocents this has traditionally been a day of festivities for students, especially seminarians.