Part 18 - Life of Mary
Marida Ignacio
DISCLAIMER: This compilation was based on saints, blesseds,
visionaries (4 in all) accounts of the "Life of Mary" as
"revealed" to them. It is NOT officially approved by the
Church as essential to our faith and belief. It is up to
individual reader's discretion to believe it or not.
This is here for simple contemplation on what "Holy life of
Our Blessed Virgin Mother" was and what virtues we can derive
from it.
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>From the book:
The Life of Mary as Seen by Mystics
Compiled by Raphael Brown
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Summary:
Chap. 18. The Flight to Egypt
St. Joseph and Mary decided to stay for 9 days in Jerusalem after the
Purification. They spent these days humbly praying ina nobscure corner
of the Temple from noon until midnight each day. This was so as to
renew their offering of the Child Jesus and to give thanks to God
for all the blessings He had given them.
On the 5th day, the Lord said to Mary:
"My Spouse and My Dove, you cannot finish the nine days' devotion.
Herod is seeking the life of the Child. In order to save your Son's
life, you must flee with Him and Joseph into the land of Egypt. The
journey is long, hard and very tiring. Suffer it all for My sake
for I am and always will be with you."
The Mother of God answered meekly:
"My Lord, dispose of me according to Thy Will. I ask only that Thou
permit not my Son to suffer and that Thou turn all pains and hardships
upon me."
Mary, with the Babe, went home to their rented 2 rooms. She was troubled
but she did not tell St. Joseph about this latest revelation for she did
not have permission from God. Joseph noticed her apprehension but he
thought it was just because of Simeon's prophecy.
That night, in Joseph's sleep, an angel told him, "Arise, and take the
Child and His Mother, and flee into Egypt, and remain there until I
tell thee. For Herod will seek the Child to destroy Him!"
The angel took St. Joseph's hand to raise him up from sleep. St. Joseph
hurriedly dressed. Then he went to knock at the door of his wife's
room and asked her if he could come in. Once inside, He said to Mary,
"My Lady, God wills that we should be tried further for His holy angel
has announced to me that we must flee to Egypt with the Child, because
Herod is planning to take His life. Prepare yourself, my dear wife,
to bear the hardships of the journey, and tell me what I can do to
alleviate them." Mary replied, "My husband and master, if we have
received from God such great blessings and graces, it is fitting that
we should joyfullly accept temporal sufferings. Wherever we go, we
carry our Lord with us, and He is our comfort and our country. So
let us proceed to fulfill His holy Will."
Mary woke the sleeping Jesus in His crib at the foot of her bed. The
holy Babe wept but when Mary and St. Joseph asked for His blessing on
this journey, He gave it to them visibly.
With their modest belongings all packed-up, the Holy Family left
Jerusalem before midnight and set out for Egypt. The Holy Parents
were worried for the Child Jesus but they received encouragement
for when they exited the city gatae, the angels of Mary once again
becamse visible and appeared in bright human forms that changed
the night into day for them.
The 10 days of events and itinerary to Egypt included:
-Passing by Bethlehem where Mary longed to visit the place of Nativity
but she was discouraged by an angel because its resulting delay would
cause trouble.
-Mary, concerned about St. Elizabeth and her son, sent out one of her
angels to warn them. St. Elizabeth took John and fled to the desert
around the town of Hebron which was were they then lived.
-On the first night, the Family was thirsty and exhausted, and Mary
wept for feeling sorry for the Child. Then a spring of clear water
miraculously gushed forth and a goat came to them and allowed St.
Joseph to milk it.
-across the desert near Hebron, St. John felt that His Lord was suffering
nearby and he fell on his knees and prayed. St. Elizabeth immediately
sent out one servant to bring them money, food and clothing. The
servant overtook the Holy Family and gave them the provisions. On their
rest stops, Mary shared these gifts to the poor and she healed some
sick and crippled.
-The Family came across a land filled with snakes but these did not hurt
them.
-One night, Mary perceived that the Infant Lord was offering their
sufferings to God and so Mary prayed fervently with Him.
-Food supply ran out again even if they tried hard to minimize eating
during the day until 9 o'clock at night.
-All fatigued, thirsty and hungry, Mary prayed fervently for her Son and
her husband and so God sent out His angels to serve them nourishing food
and drinks.
-Mother and Son often conversed mystically with each other.
-She nursed the Babe at least three times a day.
-The Family consoled and cheered one another with kindness and love
throughout this travel in the desert.
-Mary's friends, a great number of birds, sometimes flew by while the
Holy Family rested. They perched on Mary's hands and shoulders.
She urged them to thank God for their lovely plumage and the food they
get on the ground.
-One time, they got lost and Mary and Joseph prayed fervently for help.
Then some wild animals arrived and in a friendly manner, ran off to
guide them in the direction which they perceived was right.
-They came across a camp of robbers. At first the robbers were intent
on harming them. But when their chief viewed the Infant Jesus' face,
he was converted and he told his people to treat them nicely.
After a while Mary asked for a large container with water from the wife
of the leader. She obliged and Mary gave Baby Jesus a bath.
The leader observed and perceived that there was some kind of holiness
in Infant Jesus.
And so, he asked St. Joseph that his son, who had leprosy, be bathe
with the water Mary used on Jesus.
Mary, without being informed of the leader's request, told the wife to
wash her sick son in the water. The robber's son had advanced leprosy
that covered his face and body. After bathing in the water used for
Jesus, the son's leprosy miraculously disappeared and his skin turned
smooth and healthy.
This miraculous news spred across camp and people came to see the
miracle.
Later, Mary talked with the mother and the woman promised to turn from
crime as soon as she could.
The Holy Family left the camp the next morning with some provisions and
the chief gave his thanks and good-bye saying: "Remember me, wherever
you are."
[Thirty-three years later, his robber son said to the Man crucified
beside him on Calvary: "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy
Kingdom!" And that time - again due to Mary's prayers - Jesus healed
his soul.]
-They experience a few more instances of exhaustion and sufferings from
hunger and thirst but with Mary's fervent prayers, they were miraculously
provided for all the time.
Finally, they reached the fertile land of Egypt after these 10 days of
torture.
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Our Lord said to St. Bridget of Sweden:
"By My flight to Egypt, I showed the infirmities of My Humanity and
fulfilled the prophecies. I gave too an example to My disciples that
sometimes persecution is to be avoided for the greater future glory
of God. That I was not found by My pursuers, the counsel of My Divinity
prevailed over the counsel of man, for it is not easy to fight against
God."
and the Blessed Virgin to Venerable Mother Mary of Agreda:
"I was not alarmed in my exile and prolonged journey. Since I trusted
in the Lord, He provided for me in the time of my need. Even when help
is somewhat delayed, it will always be at hand at a time when it will
do most good. Thus it happened with me and my husband in the time of
our distitution and necessity."
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(__ \/ ) His Peace through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Marida
* )XxXx/
* | / "Human-kind: Where protection of valuable life starts and
* ) / takes off."
* \/ Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."
*