Mary, the Child and Joseph Went to Egypt on a Camel / Pt. 1

The following was a dream I had that seemed real. This was not a vision for I am certainly no mystic; this was just a dream. It all started with a strange question I had…   (May 2, 2008).

Me: So Mary did you really ride a camel to Egypt? What happened to the Donkey?

The Blessed Mother: My dear child did you think that I could ride a donkey over all that desert area? Donkeys even though loyal are not very secure on the sand. Their hoofs sink in. Camels have large padded feet just for travel in sand and deserts like the Sinai. If you wish to be in a caravan for protection you need to travel on a camel.

Me: How did you get a camel?

The Blessed Mother: Do you have the time for an explanation?

Me:  Of course! I do not often have an interview with the Mother of God. Can I call you Mary?  I often do in my prayers.

The Blessed Mother: You can also call me Mother for that is what I am to you.

Me: To tell you the truth Mary, I mean Mother, I am not sure whether this is real or a dream. 

The Blessed Mother: Let it be real

Me: Where are we now?

The Blessed Mother: You are now in my home in Nazareth.

Me: Where is Joseph? Is he around?

The Blessed Mother: He’s at his work at his bench outside.  We don’t want to disturb him because he has a lot of work to do.

Me: Where’s Jesus?

The Blessed Mother: He’s with Ishmael tending Ishmael’s sheep. They are probably on a hill not far from here.  They are good friends and he enjoys being a shepherd.  He’s too young to start working with Joseph. He’s only eight and children should learn to play before they grow up.

Me: This is amazing! I feel that this is real. How much time do we have?

The Blessed Mother: Right now by the sun, it is early morning. I will soon have to go down to the town well for water for cooking, washing and drinking Let’s make it for a little while. I’ll tell you when I have to leave.

Me: Are you all over the world? I guess if it is God’s will, you can appear and speak to as many people as you want.

The Blessed Mother: Yes! It is wonderful and it is true! Why don’t we get back to your original question about me and my camel.

Me: Oh Yes. Yes. I have the Bible with me. In the second chapter of Matthew it says “After they had left (that is the Magi) an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said Get up, take the child and run away to Egypt and stay there until I tell you to leave. Herod will be looking for the child to kill him."

Wow! That must have been very frightening for you! What did you do?

The Blessed Mother: Yes It was very frightening. Now, you must remember that we had by that time moved away from the stable and were living in a small house. Joseph found it for us and we were more comfortable That is where we received the three kings. Then we had Jesus circumcised.

Me: Yes it says here in Luke Chapter 2  “A week later, when the time for the baby to be circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name which the angel gave to him before he had been conceived"  That circumcision must have hurt for a little baby and I suppose you felt it.

The Blessed Mother: Well, that was part of the tradition of Israel and my child was to suffer much more for the people of God. The Three Kings afterwards had left with all their retinue. They had been told in a dream to leave by another route and not report back to Herod. It was quite a scene and they left us with gifts of gold, Frankincense and myrrh

We were planning to stay in Bethlehem when Joseph had another dream. In the middle of the night he came to me very disturbed. “Get up," he said. “We are going to have to leave immediately. Herod has discovered that the three kings avoided returning to him because of a warning in a dream. He is furious and he plans to kill the child and if necessary every two year old child or under in the area of Bethlehem."

Me: I am sorry—let me interrupt—but wouldn’t you think that God The Father, The Holy Ghost or Saint Michael the Archangel might zap Herod and not force you to go, on a journey into a foreign land in the middle of the night with a newborn?

The Blessed Mother: I did think about that but it seemed to be the will of God that this child should suffer from the sins and rages of evil men.

Now, let me talk about Joseph. He was a very able man.  He knew that we had to get on our way immediately. He took my wonderful donkey into the outskirts of Bethlehem, found a caravan that was just getting ready to start. Sadly he sold the donkey to some kind man and bought a camel.  It wasn’t cheap but remember we had the gold from the wise men. We had given the frankincense and myrrh to the temple. I was very frightened, especially when Joseph put me on the back and hump of the camel.  Have you ever gotten on a camel? It was quite an experience. Would you like me to explain this experience?

Me:  Oh! Yes! Sure! Great!

The Blessed Mother: Well, there I was holding the baby and Joseph was carrying all our small possessions including things for the baby. The camel and its previous driver were struggling. He was shouting in Arabic camel language and tapping with a stick this towering animal. It was very restless. Its head was raised very proudly on high and it snorted. Joseph put down everything; went over to the animal and put his hands on his neck and was sort of singing to him, trying to calm him.  It sounded like he was praying a psalm. The camel calmed down with head alert as if listening to the melody. Joseph said “Down Samuel" He suddenly has given the camel a name!

Then he said: “The Mother of God with her child Jesus wants you to carry them." I couldn’t believe it!  The camel, that is Samuel, knelt down with his front knees— that is the usual way you get on to a camel—but this was different. It was an act of worship. With some apprehension, I got on with my baby and it rose with quiet majesty. I really felt safe and we were ready for our journey.  Wasn’t that wonderful!

Me: Fantastic! Then what?

The Blessed Mother: With Joseph guiding Samuel we practiced riding him, with Joseph walking rapidly at our side. We then joined the caravan before dawn and we were on our way for the 150 mile journey to Egypt.  We followed the trade route along the coast where they had a lot of oases. There we could have water, eat, refresh ourselves and take care of my baby.

In answer to the question, yes I did ride on a camel when we went into Egypt.  This is not in the writings of Luke or Matthew. It was not essential for the story of salvation.  You can believe this or not.  It may be a dream and yet it may have happened.

I think that I had better go now, I have a lot of tasks to do and Jesus and Joseph will be coming in a little while for lunch.  God bless you my dearest child!

Me: Wow! This is unbelievable! I wonder if this really happened? Is it real or is it a dream? Maybe I ought to write a gospel according to “Robertus Aloysius." They probably wouldn’t believe it and would classify it as some sort of modern apocrypha. However at least I am convinced that Mary, the Child and Joseph went to Egypt on a camel.