In Cebu, Bacolod and Aklan, this event has become a revelry or a version of the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The latter also attracts many tourists but is celebrated only, like the last hurrah, before the penitential Lenten season begins in March.
If one refers to the true history of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the events after His Nativity were not all accompanied by boisterous celebration. Although man has the tendency to lengthen Christmas, we must be reminded that our Lord God, who became man and stepped down on earth, has a different version of joy in life.
If God His Father so wished He could have easily enthroned Jesus like a king. All kings including Herod as well as kings from afar would have been made to pay homage to Him. But this was not God’s way. Pomp and circumstances were not decreed for the King of Kings, for His kingdom is not of this earth. Homage, however, was made to the Holy Child by a selected few, the Shepherds, the Wise Kings, the priest Simeon and the former teacher of Mary in the temple, Ana. Kings are considered above the laws of the land, yet the Holy Family submitted to all Hebrew laws including the circumcision and the purification of a mother after her child’s birth.
After St. Joseph had hurriedly packed their few belongings on the donkey that had traveled with them from Nazareth, the Holy Family left Jerusalem shortly before midnight on their long and dangerous trip to Egypt. Mary held in her arms the Infant Jesus, who was well wrapped in swaddling clothes and supported by a large piece of linen, which was tied around His mother’s neck. The Blessed Virgin wore a long cloak that covered her and her child.
All the splendid angel protectors of the Mother of God again appeared in bright human form and changed the night into day for them. Then, with St. Joseph’s permission, she sent one of the angels to warn St. Elizabeth to hide with her son, John, in the desert around the town of Hebron, where they were then living.
The Holy Family spent their first night in a cave in the hills south of Bethlehem, off the regular caravan route. They were thirsty and exhausted and Mary was so sorry for her Child that she wept. But, at her prayer a spring of clear water suddenly gushed forth, and a wild goat came to them and allowed Joseph to milk it.
St. Elizabeth and little John were then hiding in a cave on a hill nearby. Suddenly, John felt that His Lord was close and was suffering. He fell on his knees and prayed fervently with his arms extended.
During the first night in the desert, the Holy Family rested at the foot of a small sand dune. After they had eaten and Mary had nursed her Babe, St. Joseph made a sort of tent with his cloak and some sticks in order to protect the mother and Child from the wind. He slept near them on the ground, resting his head on the sack that contained their belongings. Mary now perceived that Jesus was offering up to His Father all their hardships, so she did likewise, praying with Him and with her angels most of the night.
Within a few days, the poor travelers had exhausted all their small provisions of fruit, bread and water, although they tried to make their supply last longer by not eating several times until nine o’clock at night. While they were thus suffering from hunger and thirst and fatigue, a strong wind and sandstorm arose.
During the long journey, while Mary walked or rode on the donkey always holding her Divine Son in her arms she often thanked Him for having made her His Mother. Three times a day she nursed Him, and whenever they stopped for a rest she caressed Him tenderly. A few times the Infant Jesus wept tears of love and compassion for mankind, and then Mary would weep, too. Often Mother and Son conversed mystically.
At other times St. Joseph would talk with Mary frequently asking her what he could do for her or Jesus. Sometimes he would humbly and devoutly kiss the feet of the Divine Child, take Him in his arms and beg Him for His blessings. Thus, the Holy Family passed the ten days of their flight across the barren desert, consoling and cheering one another in mutual kindness and love.
Heliopolis is the "city" sacred to the God Ra, Lord of the Sun, and to Horus, God of the Sky — the falcon-headed god (son of Osiris, god of the underworld, and Isis, mother of the earth) who slew the evil Seth in combat, and was consumed in fire only to rise again from his own ashes. Some of the sarcophagi of the ancient Pharaohs were fashioned in the shape of Horus and his falcon head — for he is the symbol of resurrection and life after death in which the Egyptians of antiquity devoutly believed.
In the ’80s, my husband and I were official guests of Egypt Air. One of our requests was to visit the residential area of the Holy Family. According to our guide, the Heliopolis district, near the Cairo International Airport where we were billeted, was where Joseph and Mary fled with Jesus.
Legend says that to tend her gardens of sycamore and fragrant balsam, Cleopatra "imported" a colony of Hebrew gardeners. It was only logical, therefore, for Joseph and Mary to seek refuge among this settlement of Jews.
Today, the lone sycamore tree is enclosed in a small courtyard. Children of middle-class Egyptian families were busy playing when the caretaker unlocked the gate. The century-old tree had fallen on its side but was still alive. The caretaker pointed to a small old stone tub which he says was used by Mary to bathe Jesus.
The French Jesuits, years ago, built a lovely little church a few meters away from this garden. This is where we went. It had been pouring rain all day – a novelty for desert rimmed Cairo, and desert sand had turned into desert mud.
When we entered the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Family, however, despite the drizzle, birds greeted us with happy snatches of song as they flitted through the branches. It was as though the noise and turmoil of the crowded streets outside had faded away, while here was an oasis of peace and tranquility. Over the entrance to the church were inscribed the words: "Sanctae Familiae in Aegypto Exsult" (The flight of the Holy Family into Egypt).
During the next three days the Holy Family was so completely destitute that they had to live on whatever St. Joseph could beg for them. Then, he succeeded in obtaining work in his trade as a carpenter. But, he was not well treated by the person who employed him. Looking upon him as a foreigner and a refugee, they paid him whatever they pleased. Sometimes after a whole day’s work he was not able to bring any money home. As the house was without furniture, he soon made a couch for Mary and a cradle for Jesus, as well as some low tables and stools. Of the three rooms, they assigned one to the Mother and Child, and the other two to St. Joseph as his bedroom and workshop.
The Holy Family adjusted themselves to their poverty calmly and even joyfully. However, Mary decided to help in earning their living. She therefore began to do needlework for some good women in the Jewish colony, and soon her reputation for skill and quality of work spread, so that she was never in want of employment. However, she always refused to do any frivolous fashion pieces — this attitude aroused criticism among some of her customers. While she sewed, the Infant Jesus lay quietly in His cradle beside her.
"My Mother, I wish to make a rule for your daily life and work. For nightfall you will take some sleep and rest. From midnight until dawn, We will praise the Eternal Father together. Then prepare the necessary food for yourself and Joseph. Afterwards give Me food and hold Me in your arms until noon, when you will place Me in the arms of your husband to give him some refreshment in his labors. Then retire and return to your work until it is time to prepare the evening meal. Pray continually to the Eternal Father for sinners."
Mary and Joseph had the Infant Jesus with them as they took their meals. Whenever St. Joseph wished to caress the Divine Child, he humbly asked Mary’s permission. Taking the little Jesus in his arms, he was so filled with tender joy and love that he forgot all his hardships and even considered them easy and sweet. Both Mary and Joseph often received such heart-warming consolations from Jesus that they gladly accepted all trials for love of Him.
I wholeheartedly agree with this point of awareness.
(Reference: Brown, Raphael. The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics. USA: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1951)
(For more information or reaction, please e-mail at exec@obmontessori.edu.ph or pssoliven@yahoo.com)