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Alethe, Attendent of the Sacred Ibis, Edwin Long |
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| 7 The Flight into Egypt
Mary, Joseph and Jesus escape from Herod’s rage
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Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow which was brought upon me, whom the Lord has afflicted. Lamentations 1:12
Now when (the magi) had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more."
Matthew 2:13-18
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Papyrus |
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Sub tuum or Memorare (opposite column)
Our father …
We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP collect for the Holy Innocents December 28)
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Flight Into Egypt, Giotto, 1304-6 |
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Sub tuum
We fly to your protection,
O holy Mother of God;
Despise not our petitions
In our necessities,
But deliver us always from all danger,
O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen
3rd Century
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
That never was it known
That anyone who fled to your protection implored your help,
or sought your intercession
was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly to you, O virgin of virgins, my Mother,
To you I come,
Before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
Despise not my petitions,
But in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
15th Century
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