The sorrow of the flight into Egypt, Mary: Day 224

The sorrow of the flight into Egypt

When St. Joseph received instructions in a dream for the Holy Family to flee to Egypt, Mary knew that St. Simeon’s prophecy of her sorrows was begin- ning to be fulfilled. St. Alphonsus explains.

The stag, wounded by an arrow, carries the pain with him wherever he
goes, because he carries with him the arrow that has wounded him. In the same way, after the sad prophecy of St. Simeon, the Mother of God always carried her sorrow with her in the continual remembrance of the passion of her Son. Her Son was himself that arrow in the heart of Mary. And the more lovable he appeared to her, the more deeply did the thought of losing him by so cruel a death wound her heart. Consider the sword of sorrow that wounded Mary, in the flight into Egypt with her infant Jesus from the persecution of Herod.

Herod, having heard that the expected Messiah was born, foolishly feared that he would deprive him of his kingdom. For this reason St. Fulgentius, reprov- ing Herod for his folly, addresses him this way: “Why are you troubled, Herod? This King who is born comes not to conquer kings by the sword, but to bring them under his rule wonderfully by his death.” The impious Herod waited to hear from the holy Magi where the King was born, so that he might take his life. But finding himself deceived, he ordered all the infants who could be found in the neighborhood of Bethlehem to be put to death. Then it was that the angel appeared in a dream to St. Joseph, telling him: “Rise, take the Child and his mother, and flee to Egypt” (Mt 2:13). So St. Joseph immediately, on that very night, made the instruction known to Mary; and taking the infant Jesus, they set out on their journey (see Mt 2:14).

St. Albert, speaking on Mary’s behalf, says: “O God, must he who came to save men now flee from men?” At that time the afflicted mother knew that already the prophecy of Simeon concerning her Son had begun to come true.
—St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Doesn’t the world still have its Herods—government officials here and abroad who fear the political implications of the gospel and are hostile to Christians? Do I pray and take other action to counter their influence?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of Venerable Pope Pius XII: Mary, Mother of Divine Love, stir up and confirm in the hearts of those who govern nations a clear notion of their responsibility, and of their duty to foster religion, morality, and the common good.

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