Course 2, Chapter 3: Hidden Life of our Lord Jesus Christ

1. What did the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph do after the circumcision?

After the circumcision the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph remained in Bethlehem till the adoration of the Magi. They then went to Jerusalem to present the child Jesus in the temple.

2. Why did they present the child Jesus in the temple of Jerusalem?

They presented the child Jesus in the temple of Jerusalem, to comply with a command of the law of Moses, which ordered that every first born, if a male, should be presented in the temple, as belonging to the Lord.

3. Why did the Blessed Virgin present herself in the temple?

The Blessed Virgin presented herself in the temple to comply with the law which required that every woman who had iriven birth to a child, should come to purify herself before the Lord. The Blessed Virgin and our Lord, who were not bound to submit to these laws,

wished to fulfil them, to teach us humility and obedience.

4. What happened whilst they were in the temple?

Whilst they were in the temple, it happened that a holy old man, named Simeon, also came into the temple. Having received the infant Jesus in his arms, he announced the future greatness of the Messiah, and the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin.

5. Whither did the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph then go?

The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph then went into Egypt. Herod finding that the Magi did not return to Jerusalem, as he had directed them, ordered all the children in Bethlehem and around it, of the age of two years and under, to be put to death, thinking to include in this massacre the new King of the Jews; but St. Joseph, warned by an angel, had fled to Egypt with the infant and his mother.

6. What did St. Joseph do after the death of Herod?

After the death of Herod St. Joseph returned to Palestine, and fixed his abode in Nazareth in Galilee. He did not venture to reside in Judea proper, because Arehilaus, the son of Herod, was reigning there. He went, nevertheless, every year to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.

7. What happened on one of these annual visits?

It happened that Christ, then twelve years of age, separated from St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin. He remained in the temple in the midst of the doctors, whom he astonished by the wisdom of his questions and answers. It was there his parents found him on the third day.

8. What did the Blessed Virgin say to him?

The Blessed Virgin having asked him why he had quit them, he gave them this answer, replete with instruction: Did you not know that I must be about the things that are my Father's f By this he teaches us that we must prefer the will of God to all things. He

142 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

returned then to Xazareth with St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin, and icas subject to them.

9. What do you remark on these last words, and wax subject to them f

I remark on these words, that they contain the whole life of our Lord till he was thirty years old. Our Lord wished to live in obedience to two of his creatures, in order to teach us that virtue and confound for ever our pride.