Feast: February 17th; these devotions are recited as a Triduum, Feb. 14-16, & on the Feast.
Instruction and Reflection on the Flight into Egypt
The infamous Herod, seeing that he had been confounded by the Three Holy Kings, took measures to destroy the Infant Jesus. But God watched over those to Whose care He had been confided, and warned them of Herod's designs. We see in this the Providence of God for His servants. He does not promise to spare them afflictions and persecutions; but He does promise to watch over and direct them by lawful superiors, and act in such a manner that all things work together for their good. He knows how also, when it seems good to Him, to baffle the plots of the wicked. However, God's beneficent designs for us in calamities are thwarted when we fail to be submissive to those whom He has placed over us, to guide and direct us according to His Holy Will.
We see in Joseph and Mary a wonderful and entire obedience, with a perfect submission of judgment. The Angel exacted from them an act of blind obedience by concealing from them the length of their exile, but Joseph and Mary promptly and generously arose that very night and embraced the inscrutable Will of the Eternal Father. Let us implore the Holy Family to impart to us the grace to understand clearly the beautiful lessons contained in their example in this trial of their Flight into Egypt, and to give us courage and zeal to model our obedience on theirs.
"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... It will come to pass that Herod will seek the Child to destroy Him." (Matt. 2:13)
"Joseph arose, and took the Child and His Mother by night, and withdrew into Egypt." (Matt. 2:14)
"The foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have their nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Matt. 8:20) Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...
"An Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 'Arise, and take the Child and His Mother, and go into the land of Israel.' And he went and settled in a town called Nazareth; that there might be fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets, 'He shall be called a Nazarene.' " (Matt. 2:20,23)
"And the Child grew and became strong. He was full of wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him." (Luke 2:40)
Hymn: "O Lux Beata Coelitum"(as above) -- Alternate with "Jesus Unto Thee I Flee"
Let us Pray:
O Lord, we offer Thee a sacrifice of propitiation and humbly beseech Thee to firmly establish our families in Thy peace and grace through the intercession of the Virgin Mother of God and blessed Joseph; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
