Holy Innocents Holy Cards – pack of 100

Pack of one hundred 2.5 x 5 inch holy cards. Printed on 80# gloss text paper for ease of use in your missal or other prayer book.

Front: Image of the Holy Innocents

Reverse: Excerpt from Quicumque Christum Quæritis, an early 5th century hymn by Prudentius (348-c. 410)

Ah tiny limbs! ‘twas hard to know
How best to strike the fatal blow:
Too wide the sword-blades are to smite
Those throats so silken-fragile, slight.

O horrid sight! the tender bones
Are dashed against the jagged stones:
Sightless and mangled there they lie,
Poor babes! untimely doomed to die.

Perchance the still deep river laves
Their bodies thrust into the waves:
The current with their sighing sighs,
Sobs with their latest, broken cries.

Ye flowers of martyrdom, all hail!
Of rising morn pure blossoms frail!
By Jesu’s foe were ye downcast,
Like budding roses by the blast.

Lambs of the flock too early slain,
Ye first fruits of Christ’s bitter pain!
Close to His very altar, gay
With palms and crowns, ye now do play.

(Trans. R. Martin Pope)