May, month of Mary: meditation on day 23

THE ESCAPE TO EGYPT

23 DAY
Holy Mary.

Invocation. - Mary, Mother of mercy, pray for us!

Second pain:
THE ESCAPE TO EGYPT
The Magi, advised by the Angel, returned to their homeland, not going back to Herod. The latter, angered at having been disappointed and fearing that the born Messiah would one day take his throne away, stable to kill all the children of Bethlehem and the surrounding area, from two years on, in the foolish hope of involving Jesus in the massacre.
But the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in his sleep and said to him: Get up, take the Child and his Mother and flee to Egypt; you will stay there until I tell you. In fact, Herod is looking for the Child to kill him. - Joseph got up, took the child and his mother at night and went to Egypt; there he remained until the death of Herod, so that what the Lord had said through the Prophet would be fulfilled: "I have called my Son from Egypt" (St. Matthew, II, 13).
In this episode of the life of Jesus we consider the pain felt by the Madonna. What anguish for a mother to know that her son is being searched for without reason by a strong and overbearing man! He must flee immediately, at night, in the winter season, to travel to Egypt, about 400 miles away! Embrace the discomforts of a long journey, through the uncomfortable streets and through the desert! Go to live, without means, in an unknown country, unaware of the language and without the comfort of relatives!
Our Lady did not say a word of complaint, neither against Herod nor towards Providence, which disposed everything. He will have recalled the word of Simeon: A sword will pierce your own soul! -
Ambience is providential and human. After several years of residence in Egypt, Our Lady, Jesus and Saint Joseph had acclimatized. But the Angel ordered to return to Palestine. Without citing pretexts, Mary resumed the journey of return, adoring the designs of God.
What lesson must the devotees of Mary learn!
Life is an intertwining of mishaps and disappointments. Without the light of faith, discouragement might take over. It is necessary to target social events, family and individual, with celestial glasses, that is to see in all things the work of Providence, which disposes everything for the greater good of creatures. The designs of God cannot be scrutinized, but over time, if we reflect, we are convinced of the goodness of God in having allowed that cross, that humiliation, that incomprehension, in having prevented that step and in 'having placed us in unforeseen circumstances.
In every contrariety we try not to lose patience and trust in God and in the Most Holy Mary. Let us conform to the will of God, humbly saying: Lord, your will be done!

EXAMPLE

It is said in the Franciscan Chronicles that two religious of the Order, lovers of the Madonna, set off on a trip to visit a shrine. Full of faith, they had come a long way and finally they went into a dense forest. They hoped to be able to cross it soon, but they did not succeed, the night having come. Taken with dismay, they recommended themselves to God and to Our Lady; they understood that the divine will allowed that mishap.
But the Blessed Virgin watches over her troubled children and comes to help them; those two Friars, who were embarrassed, deserved this help.
The two lost ones still walking, ran into a house; they realized that it was a noble house. They asked for hospitality for the night.
The two servants, who opened the door, accompanied the Friars to their mistress. The noble matron asked: How do you find yourself in this wood? - We are on pilgrimage to a sanctuary of the Madonna; we got lost by chance.
- Since it is so, you will spend the night in this palace; tomorrow, when you leave, I will give you a letter that will benefit you. -
The following morning, having received the letter, the friars resumed their journey. A little further away from the house, they looked at the letter and marveled not to see the address; meanwhile, looking around, they realized that the matron's home was gone; era
disappeared and in its place were the trees. Opened the letter, they found a sheet of paper, signed by the Madonna. The script said: The one who hosted you is your Heavenly Mother. I wanted to reward you for your sacrifice, because you started traveling for my sake. Continue to serve me and love me. I will help you in life and in death. -
After this fact, one can imagine how ardently those two Friars honored Our Lady for a lifetime.
God allowed that bewilderment in the woods, so that those two could experience the goodness and delicacy of the Madonna.

Foil. - In contrarieties, curb impatience, especially by moderating the language.

Ejaculation. - Lord, your will be done!