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The Holy Family in Egypt
“An angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: ‘Arise and take the Child and His mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee’” (Matt. 2, 13).
First Prelude: Represent to yourself the Holy Family arriving in Egypt and occupying a poor dwelling.
Second Prelude: O Jesus, teach me to bear sufferings meritoriously that they may become for me a source of graces.
First Point
THE SUFFERINGS OF THE HOLY FAMILY IN EGYPT
If every virtuous person considers it a great trial to be compelled to live among unbelievers and wicked people, the purest, holiest persons—our Divine Saviour, His holy Mother, and His holy foster-father, must have suffered immeasurably in Egypt among a godless nation buried in sin. Our Saviour, Who knew God perfectly and measured the shame and insult heaped upon Him, and Who longed to offer His life for the remission of sin, must have grieved profoundly to see these people practising gross idolatry. What must not His tender Heart have suffered! Mary and Joseph shared His sufferings, because their hearts, aglow with love, were being consumed with zeal for souls. Another source of suffering for the Holy Family was found in the bond of the most tender mutual affection. The compassionate Heart of Jesus felt doubly the sufferings of His holy Mother, and of his holy foster-father, who for love of Him bore the discomfiture of exile. Mary and Joseph, on the contrary, grieved inexpressibly to see the Divine Child suffer the direst poverty and deprivations of every sort, as well as neglect and even the contempt of men. But in the midst of all these trials the Holy Family enjoyed a quiet peace, poor, indeed, and unknown before men, but rich and dowered with grace in the sight of God, the objects of His divine pleasure. In the midst of idolatry and superstition the Holy Family renders God the purest service and the most perfect homage. Amid a wicked and godless people, Jesus, Mary and Joseph distinguish themselves by the practice of all virtues.
What lessons of sanctity does the Holy Family teach us in all places and conditions of life! Let us endeavor to be hidden, humble and recollected in union with our Divine Saviour, and we will not fail to edify our neighbor, to prevent scandal and to spread the sweet odor of Christ everywhere by the practice of virtue. Let us patiently bear the reverses and privations which are ordinarily inseparable from the faithful discharge of the duties of our vocation. Let us not desire rest and comfort in this life, for we must labor, suffer and struggle here, that we may hereafter find peace and everlasting bliss.
Second Point
CONSOLATIONS OF THE HOLY FAMILY
Our Divine Saviour suffered intensely in the flight and during His sojourn in Egypt, but these sufferings by reason of the great good that they should bring mankind, were not without comfort for the Heart that so loved men. He did not work miracles, it is true, but His prayers, tears and privations, were the seed that should in time yield the richest harvest of graces. Egypt was the land where Christianity flourished most, as we read in the Fathers of the Church. Its solitude was peopled with holy hermits. There lived in the desert a St. Anthony, a St. Paul and a St. Macarius, and many others. The monks and consecrated virgins led there a holy life which resembled that of the angels. St. Chrysostom likens Egypt to paradise, when he says: “The monks and virgins who have glorified Egypt by their sanctity, are more numerous than the stars of the heavens.” Such was the magnitude of the graces which the Divine Child prepared in silence for this people that had fallen so low. Of Christ’s advent in Egypt the prophet has foretold: “Behold the Lord will ascend upon a swift cloud, and will enter into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence” (Is. 19, 1). This light cloud is the sacred Humanity of our Lord, which veils the splendor of the Divine Majesty from the eyes of men. Mary and Joseph found comfort in sorrows and tribulation in the presence of the Divine Child. The Son of God, the Saviour of the world, their one and highest love and, hence, their greatest comfort, was with them. We may here apply the words of the Imitation: “When Jesus is present, all goes well and nothing seems difficult; but when Jesus is absent, everything is hard . . . If Jesus be with thee, no enemy can hurt thee. Whosoever finds Jesus, finds a good treasure, yea, good above all goods” (Bk. 2, chap. 8). Let us then not fear to go in the company of Jesus to Egypt, that is, to the place to which holy obedience assigns us, and where we, perhaps, shall find hardships, privations, and all manner of reverses. Let us suffer for love of Him, in union with His holy sentiments, and our sufferings and sacrifices will yield fruits of salvation and perfection for our own souls, and fruits of grace for the souls of those entrusted to us. If our hearts are filled with love of God and zeal for souls, we shall find in these considerations a source of joy and consolation.
Affections: For the love of poor sinners, O Divine Child, Thou didst will to suffer persecution and exile. Thou wouldst show us that no one can be perfectly happy on earth, because we are all but pilgrims and strangers. But despite the manifold hardships of this present life, it is by Thy grace very meritorious, and has been made bearable for us poor mortals by Thy example and that of the saints. For our encouragement Thou dost show us the glorious fruits of the patient bearing of trials. Let not one of Thy spouses seek consolation in the things of this world, and thus be detained from following Thee. O Mary and Joseph, lead us through the imitation of your virtues to Jesus.
Resolution: In all trials and tribulations I will seek consolation in God alone.
Spiritual Bouquet: Give me but Thy grace, and it sufficeth me.
Prayer: Soul of Christ . . .
First Prelude: Represent to yourself the Holy Family arriving in Egypt and occupying a poor dwelling.
Second Prelude: O Jesus, teach me to bear sufferings meritoriously that they may become for me a source of graces.
First Point
THE SUFFERINGS OF THE HOLY FAMILY IN EGYPT
If every virtuous person considers it a great trial to be compelled to live among unbelievers and wicked people, the purest, holiest persons—our Divine Saviour, His holy Mother, and His holy foster-father, must have suffered immeasurably in Egypt among a godless nation buried in sin. Our Saviour, Who knew God perfectly and measured the shame and insult heaped upon Him, and Who longed to offer His life for the remission of sin, must have grieved profoundly to see these people practising gross idolatry. What must not His tender Heart have suffered! Mary and Joseph shared His sufferings, because their hearts, aglow with love, were being consumed with zeal for souls. Another source of suffering for the Holy Family was found in the bond of the most tender mutual affection. The compassionate Heart of Jesus felt doubly the sufferings of His holy Mother, and of his holy foster-father, who for love of Him bore the discomfiture of exile. Mary and Joseph, on the contrary, grieved inexpressibly to see the Divine Child suffer the direst poverty and deprivations of every sort, as well as neglect and even the contempt of men. But in the midst of all these trials the Holy Family enjoyed a quiet peace, poor, indeed, and unknown before men, but rich and dowered with grace in the sight of God, the objects of His divine pleasure. In the midst of idolatry and superstition the Holy Family renders God the purest service and the most perfect homage. Amid a wicked and godless people, Jesus, Mary and Joseph distinguish themselves by the practice of all virtues.
What lessons of sanctity does the Holy Family teach us in all places and conditions of life! Let us endeavor to be hidden, humble and recollected in union with our Divine Saviour, and we will not fail to edify our neighbor, to prevent scandal and to spread the sweet odor of Christ everywhere by the practice of virtue. Let us patiently bear the reverses and privations which are ordinarily inseparable from the faithful discharge of the duties of our vocation. Let us not desire rest and comfort in this life, for we must labor, suffer and struggle here, that we may hereafter find peace and everlasting bliss.
Second Point
CONSOLATIONS OF THE HOLY FAMILY
Our Divine Saviour suffered intensely in the flight and during His sojourn in Egypt, but these sufferings by reason of the great good that they should bring mankind, were not without comfort for the Heart that so loved men. He did not work miracles, it is true, but His prayers, tears and privations, were the seed that should in time yield the richest harvest of graces. Egypt was the land where Christianity flourished most, as we read in the Fathers of the Church. Its solitude was peopled with holy hermits. There lived in the desert a St. Anthony, a St. Paul and a St. Macarius, and many others. The monks and consecrated virgins led there a holy life which resembled that of the angels. St. Chrysostom likens Egypt to paradise, when he says: “The monks and virgins who have glorified Egypt by their sanctity, are more numerous than the stars of the heavens.” Such was the magnitude of the graces which the Divine Child prepared in silence for this people that had fallen so low. Of Christ’s advent in Egypt the prophet has foretold: “Behold the Lord will ascend upon a swift cloud, and will enter into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence” (Is. 19, 1). This light cloud is the sacred Humanity of our Lord, which veils the splendor of the Divine Majesty from the eyes of men. Mary and Joseph found comfort in sorrows and tribulation in the presence of the Divine Child. The Son of God, the Saviour of the world, their one and highest love and, hence, their greatest comfort, was with them. We may here apply the words of the Imitation: “When Jesus is present, all goes well and nothing seems difficult; but when Jesus is absent, everything is hard . . . If Jesus be with thee, no enemy can hurt thee. Whosoever finds Jesus, finds a good treasure, yea, good above all goods” (Bk. 2, chap. 8). Let us then not fear to go in the company of Jesus to Egypt, that is, to the place to which holy obedience assigns us, and where we, perhaps, shall find hardships, privations, and all manner of reverses. Let us suffer for love of Him, in union with His holy sentiments, and our sufferings and sacrifices will yield fruits of salvation and perfection for our own souls, and fruits of grace for the souls of those entrusted to us. If our hearts are filled with love of God and zeal for souls, we shall find in these considerations a source of joy and consolation.
Affections: For the love of poor sinners, O Divine Child, Thou didst will to suffer persecution and exile. Thou wouldst show us that no one can be perfectly happy on earth, because we are all but pilgrims and strangers. But despite the manifold hardships of this present life, it is by Thy grace very meritorious, and has been made bearable for us poor mortals by Thy example and that of the saints. For our encouragement Thou dost show us the glorious fruits of the patient bearing of trials. Let not one of Thy spouses seek consolation in the things of this world, and thus be detained from following Thee. O Mary and Joseph, lead us through the imitation of your virtues to Jesus.
Resolution: In all trials and tribulations I will seek consolation in God alone.
Spiritual Bouquet: Give me but Thy grace, and it sufficeth me.
Prayer: Soul of Christ . . .
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