As they journeyed on to Jerusalem, that future Passover of the sorrowful Passion must have been pictured vividly in their minds. They saw the boy of twelve years at their side, and they loved the Saviour of mankind with a sincere, adoring love; more and more did they love their good Jesus, Who was already making a sacrifice of Himself to His heavenly Father. They remained during the days of the feast in the neighborhood of the Temple, fulfilling the duties of their religion; and when the time came for their departure, Mary and Joseph travelled separately, Joseph with the men and Mary with the women. Mary thought that Jesus was with Joseph, and Joseph thought that He was with Mary. They journeyed a whole day without being aware of His absence; but when evening came and they, on inquiry, found that the Child was not with them, they were overwhelmed with grief. They returned to Jerusalem, and for three days sought Him through the city; at length, on the third day, they went to the Temple, and there they found the divine Child, sitting among the doctors, as the Scriptures say, teaching them, and asking them questions. Prayer. O Heart of Mary, I offer, etc., etc. Sixteenth Day. During the days of His sojourn in Jerusalem, what was the occupation of the Lord? He prayed long and fervently in that Temple, in that Holy of holies, in that house which His Father had chosen as His dwelling‐place on earth. Our Lord’s whole occupation was prayer. He prayed for the people of God, that they might acknowledge Him as the Redeemer of mankind. The doctors of the Law were there, picturing to themselves and to their audience the greatness of the coming Messias, from the very Scriptures which described His humiliations and modesty. Did Our Lord set them right by making them explain the discrepancies which they could not help noticing in the prophecies? The modesty of the Lord won all hearts, and so His time passed in the service of God. Mary and Joseph ran with joy to their beloved Son, and the Mother, embracing Him, remonstrated with Him, saying, “Son, why hast Thou done so to us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee, sorrowing.” Then He answered, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” He then went home to Nazareth with them, there to continue to do the will of His Father. Prayer. O Heart of Mary, I offer, etc., etc. Seventeenth Day.