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

11. THE HOLY FAMILY RESTS BY A STREAM.

[March 5 ^th:] This morning I saw the Holy Family resting in a fertile part of the country and refreshing themselves beside a little stream where there was a balsam bush. The Infant Jesus lay on the Blessed Virgin's knees with His little feet bare. Incisions had been made here and there in the branches of the balsam shrub, which had red berries, and from these incisions a liquid dripped into little pots hanging on the branches. I was surprised that these were not stolen. Joseph filled the little jugs, which he had brought with him with the balsam juice. They ate little loaves of bread and berries which they picked from the bushes growing near. The donkey drank from the stream and grazed near by. On their left I saw Jerusalem high up in the distance. It was a very lovely scene.

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