men or kings, called Magi, came from the
East--perhaps from Persia or Arabia--to adore Him. They saw a strange
star, and leaving their own country came to Palestine. When they came as
far as Jerusalem, they went to King Herod and asked him where the young
King was born. Herod was troubled, for he was afraid the new King would
deprive him of his throne. He called together all the priests and asked
them about this royal child. They told him and the Magi that, according
to the prophecies, the Saviour should be born in Bethlehem. The Wise Men
saw the star once more, and followed it to Bethlehem, where it stood
over the stable in which Our Lord lay. They entered, and adored the
Infant Jesus, and offered Him presents. Now, Herod told them to come
back after they had found the newborn King, and tell him where He was,
that he too might go and adore Him. But such was not Herod's real
intention. He wished not to adore but to kill Him. See, then, how the
wicked pretend at times to do good, that they may deceive us and lead us
astray. Be always on your guard against a person if you suspect his
goodness. But Herod could not deceive God, who, knowing his heart,
warned the Wise Men not to return to Herod, but to go back to their own
country by another way, which they did. We celebrate the day on which
the Wise Men adored the Infant Jesus on the feast of the Epiphany (six
days after New Year's Day). When the Magi did not return, Herod knew
that they had avoided him. He was very angry indeed, and in order to be
sure of killing the poor little Infant Jesus, he had all the infants or
children in or near Bethlehem who were not over two years old put to
death. We honor these first little martyrs who suffered for Christ on
the feast of Holy Innocents--three days after Christmas.

After the departure of the Wise Men, God sent an angel to St. Joseph
warning him of Herod's evil designs, and telling him to fly with Jesus
and Mary into Egypt. Then St. Joseph, with the Blessed Virgin and the
Infant, set out for Egypt. St. Joseph did not ask the angel how long he
would have to stay there; nor did he ask to be allowed to wait till
morning. He obeyed promptly; he arose in the night, and started at once.
What an example of obedience for us! They must have had many hardships
on the way. They must have suffered much from hunger, cold, and fear.
They dare not go on the best roads, for we may well suppose that Herod
had his spies out watching for any that