But today, January 14, was once known as Festum Asinorum.
In English, it's known as the Feast of the Ass.
I'll keep the tradition of this feast alive on this blog.
Most widely observed in France, this feast, before it faded away, was to celebrate the Flight into Egypt.
As recorded in Matthew, this is the event in which Joseph, Mary, and Jesus escape to Egypt, after the Epiphany with the Magi, because Joseph had learned of Herod's plan to kill all infants and sought to protect the newborn King and Mary.
Caryll Houselander writes a bit about that moment and how difficult it must have been for Joseph: "But when he was in Bethlehem and Christ was born, one by one his troubles crowded in--the command not to return home, the hardships of the journey into Egypt and being obliged to see Mary and the Infant endure them, the struggle in the foreign country, starting again, trying to build up a trade, to learn the language..."
There is a little mural right by the monastery entrance, just outside the St. Joseph's Oratory, that reads: "The hand of the humble Joseph guides that of the Almighty."
Perhaps I will pay it a visit before the day is over, but here it is for those who are far away enough that a visit is not quite practical or possible:
Happy Feast of the Ass!(And thanks to Southern Fried Catholicism for reminding us here of this feast, which lives on over there too!)
mk
