I have been praying and pondering the sorrows of Mary—particularly the Flight into Egypt. It had not occurred to me to share it as a topic until a friend gently pointed out how closely it resonates with my current season of life.
To begin, let us recall the Flight into Egypt. We are all familiar with the account of how Saint Joseph, prompted by a warning from an angel, took Mary and the Infant Jesus and fled by night to Egypt to escape Herod. There was no time for preparation or planning. They possessed little in terms of material security, and Scripture does not dwell on their emotional state or practical concerns. What we do see, however, is unwavering trust in God’s will, deep love, and a decisive urgency to protect the Child entrusted to them.
As I reflect on this passage, one word rises strongly in my heart: preservation—the preservation and protection of Jesus, the Son of God.
Scripture tells us in Matthew 2:13–15 (Douay-Rheims 1899 Catholic Edition):
And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.
Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod:
That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Herod, having learned of the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, responded not with wonder but with fear and hostility. His intentions were clear, and his actions reflected a desire to eliminate what he perceived as a threat.
This past week has been unusually intense for me, both practically and spiritually. We were required to relocate due to a significant termite infestation in our home. The experience was sudden, disruptive, and exhausting. What struck me was that neighboring homes—even the adjoining unit—were unaffected, prompting me to reflect deeply on the timing and circumstances of this disruption. I had the impression that I was in a strong spiritual battle, where the enemy did not want me to work on preserving the Catholic Church in any way.
Over the past several years, I have quietly and prayerfully set aside provisions and items with the intention of serving what I believe to be God’s purposes for His Underground Church and His faithful remnant, should the Church’s future come to that. I had put my angels in charge of all the food and provisions. Due to the termite infestation, quite a bit of our furniture and personal belongings were damaged or lost beyond repair. Cereal boxes were eaten into, and our daily-use groceries were also destroyed. Yet, quite remarkably, the items I had stored with prayer and intention—even food!—absolutely all of it remained untouched and was safely transferred to our new home.
The process itself was not easy. It involved moments of uncertainty, disagreement, and sincere prayer for discernment. I questioned the Lord, asked for clarity, and even reached a place of surrender—willing to let go of everything, if that was His will. What mattered most to me was obedience and fidelity, not the outcome itself.
As I write this now, I can say with gratitude that everything that needed to be preserved has arrived safely. My angels have been extremely wonderful. I made multiple trips to ensure all items were transported, guided by a strong interior sense of responsibility and peace. Through it all, I have felt called to trust that God is at work, quietly preserving and protecting His people in ways that are often hidden from view. I kept talking to my angels through the entire process of transporting everything that was stored for the Church, telling God to seal our acts (my angels’ and mine together) for all eternity as an act of praise.
At times, I find myself wondering why such preparation is needed—why the Lord invites us to act, plan, and prepare, when He is fully capable of providing instantly, as He did for the Holy Family. I do not have an answer to this mystery. I simply hold the question before Him in prayer, trusting that understanding may come in time.
What I do pray for is the grace to respond with a willing heart—to say Fiat, just as Mary did, and as Joseph did, placing their trust entirely in God’s will and timing.
Fiat. His Will be done.
