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 might escape.  So they went by the roughest roads and longest way.  In Egypt they were among strangers, and how could a poor old carpenter like St. Joseph find enough work there!  The Holy Family must at times have suffered greatly from want.  They remained in Egypt for some time.  Afterwards, when Herod died, they returned to Nazareth. (Matt. 2).

At twelve years of age Our Lord went to the Temple of Jerusalem to offer sacrifice with His parents. (Luke 2:42).  He afterwards returned to Nazareth, and then for eighteen years—­called His hidden life—­we do not hear anything of Him.  Most likely He worked in the carpenter shop with His foster-father, St. Joseph.

At the age of thirty (Luke 3:23), Our Lord began His public life; that is, His preaching, miracles, etc.  His public life lasted a little over three years, and then He was put to death on the Cross.

77 Q. Why did Christ live so long on earth?  A. Christ lived so long on earth to show us the way to Heaven by His teaching and example.

Christ went through all the stages of life that each might have an example.  He was an infant:  then a child; then a young man, and finally a man.  He did not become an old man to set an example to the old, because if men follow His example in their youth and manhood they will be good in old age.  Youth is the all-important time to learn.  If you want a tree to grow straight, you must keep it straight while it is only a little twig.  You cannot straighten