The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

XVI. THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT AND ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST IN THE DESERT [146]

[On Saturday, February 10 ^th, 1821, Catherine Emmerich, who was ill at the time, was worried by material cares about where she was to live. She fell asleep full of these cares, but soon woke up quite happy. She said that a good friend of hers who had lately died (a pious old priest) had just been with her and had comforted her. How wise that wise man now is, and how well he can now speak! He said to me: "Do not be anxious about a dwelling for yourself; take care only that you are swept and garnished within to receive Our Lord when He comes to you. When Joseph came to Bethlehem, he sought a lodging for Jesus, not for himself, and swept the Cave of the Nativity till it was beautifully clean." ' She told of several other profound utterances of this friend, all characteristic of one who knew her temperament so well. She added that he said to her: When St. Joseph was told by the angel to flee into Egypt with Jesus and Mary, he did not worry about a dwelling-place, but set off at once as he was told.' As she had seen something of the flight into Egypt the year before at this time, the writer thought that this was happening again, so asked her: Was it today that Joseph started for Egypt?' She answered very clearly and decisively: No, the day he started on the flight was what is now February 29 ^th.']

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