The flight into Egypt has ever been a fruitful source of meditation for devout souls; it is a beautiful but at the same time a sorrowful event in the life of Christ. We, the descendants of the heathens, date God’s visitation to us from this time, because Our Lord fled from His own people and visited those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death. With His presence He sanctified the heathen country, and with it all the dark continents of the world where God’s name was not known. Amid these benighted people He, at least for a time, found a refuge and found peace. The three Wise Men had departed for their own country without notifying Herod of the success of their search for the King of Jerusalem. This stirred up his cruel spirit, and with a murderous will he tried to destroy the Child. The streets of Bethlehem were stained with the blood of the little ones, but the Child Jesus, as we know, was not harmed. What a sorrow was caused by the coming of Christ! Mary knew of it, for the sound of the wailings of desolate mothers had been carried to her ears, and her heart must have been touched by their cries. But to these children what a happy day it was, on which they gave their lives for the Infant Jesus! It was their baptism of blood; the world was in sorrow, but there was joy in heaven. Prayer. O Heart of Mary, I offer, etc., etc. Tenth Day. At the command of the angel, Mary and Joseph took the Child, and promptly entered upon their journey to Egypt. Without anxiety for the future, they were in no trepidation at leaving Bethlehem. Mary wrapped the Child in clothing to protect Him from the cold and pressed Him to her bosom; they then went forth into the starlit night. Poverty has not many preparations to make. The secret path which they took in this flight was one indicated by Providence. They at length arrived on the way that led to the desert, passed the boundaries of the land of Palestine, and wandered then, quietly on, until they appeared but moving specks on the wide expanse of the sands. Joseph and Mary cared tenderly for the Infant Jesus on their journey. He was the object of their continual love. Only scanty provisions had they taken with them, and water was scarce in such a region. At last they came to the shores of the Red Sea, and saw the waters that rolled between their own country and their destination. The Holy Family remained several years in Egypt, until the cruel tyrant, Herod, had died. Prayer. O Heart of Mary, I offer, etc., etc. Eleventh Day.