The Merit Colouring Book

They set off on two small saddled donkeys very early in the morning whilst the rest of Nazareth is still asleep. They stop to take shelter from a sudden downpour from a very thick dark cloud, hiding under the mountain, against a protruding rock. At Joseph’s insistence, Mary wears his waterproof mantle that frames Her face, reaches Her feet, making Her look like a little monk. They set off again when the rain slackens to a drizzle. At first, it’s a hard trot for the donkey’s on the muddy road but the spring sun soon dries off the mud and the donkeys trot more easily. In Jerusalem, Joseph goes out and comes back with a little old man. ‘This man will accompany You some of the way. You will not have to travel a long way by Yourself to get to Your relatives. I know him, so You can trust him’ he says to Mary. The little old man is as talkative as Joseph was silent and Mary, in Her habitual quiet tone, answers him patiently but has to raise Her voice because the old man is deaf but has many questions and much news. Finally, the old man dozes off and Mary seizes the moment to pray, singing in a low voice, looking at the sky with Her face bright and happy.