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flock. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them; and the brightness of God shone round about them and they feared with a great fear.

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And the angel said to them: Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: for this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you: You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will. And it came to pass, that after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem; and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us. And they came with haste: and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger. And all were amazed at what was heard and seen: but Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

CHAP. IV. The Wise Men from the East. The Circumcision,
Presentation, and Flight into Egypt.

BEFORE the manger in which the infant Redeemer was laid, there next appeared three travellers from the countries far to the east of Judea. Throughout the whole

heathen world traditions existed respecting the coming of a Saviour to redeem the world; and when the time for the birth of Jesus was at hand, a miracle had revealed it to these travellers, who, for their learning and piety, are called the Wise Men. A bright light, or star, appeared to them at their home in the East, announcing that Almighty God had wrought some wonderful work, which He thus announced to them. Taught by divine guidance, they instantly concluded that the prophecies respecting the birth of Christ were fulfilled, and they hastened to Jerusalem, as the chief city of Judea, to make inquiries where the child was born. And Herod,

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the king of Judea, hearing of their inquiries, and learning that they called the new-born babe the king of the Jews, filled with jealousy, and supposing that Jesus was about to be set up as an earthly king, assembled the priests and learned men, and inquired of them where the prophecies foretold that Christ should be born. And they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda: for so it is written by the prophet: And thou, Bethlehem, the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda, for out of thee shall come forth the ruler, who shall rule My people Israel. Then Herod, privately calling the wise men, inquired of them diligently the time of the star's appearing to them: and sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go, and search diligently after the child and when you have found Him, bring me word again, that I also may come and adore Him. This he said in hypocrisy, that he might seize the child, and murder Him. And the wise men went their way and behold, the star, which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was. And, seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And going into the house, they found the child with Mary His mother and falling down, they adored Him: and opening their treasures, they offered to Him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being warned by God in a dream, that they should not return and tell Herod the tidings he desired, they silently departed to their own country by another way.

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When He was eight days old, Jesus was circumcised, according to the law of Moses; and as the same law enjoined, forty days after His birth His mother went to Jerusalem to present herself in the temple, for the purification enjoined after child-birth, and to offer her son to the Lord, as the first-born, with a pair of doves, or young pigeons. In Jerusalem dwelt an aged man, named Simeon, devout and just before God, who waited in hope for the coming of the promised Saviour, and to whom the Holy Ghost had revealed that he should not die till he had seen the Christ. And when Joseph and Mary brought the child Jesus into the temple, Simeon

was led thither also by the Holy Ghost; and he took the babe into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word, in peace: because my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of Thy people Israel. And Joseph and Mary wondered at his words; and he blessed them, and said that the child was appointed by Almighty God to be the salvation of many in Israel, and to be the stumblingblock against which many others would fall. And to Mary herself he said, that her soul also should be pierced by a sword, through her share in the sufferings of her Son. Anna also, a devout widow and a prophetess, who worshipped God without ceasing in the temple, with prayers and fastings, came in and confessed that Jesus was the promised Saviour; and she made known His birth to those who, like herself, were waiting for the redemption of Israel. And Mary and Joseph returned with the babe to Nazareth.

Meanwhile, the first token of the enmity of wicked men to the Redeemer of their race was displayed by king Herod. Finding himself mocked by the wise men, and unable to learn where the new-born babe lay, he massacred every male child in Bethlehem and the neighbouring country, hoping thus to destroy the dreaded future king. But already Jesus was safe from his power. An angel had appeared to Joseph, and bade him fly, with Jesus and Mary, into Egypt, and there await the commands of God. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Osee, "Out of Egypt have I called My Son." And another prophecy also was accomplished by the horrible murder of the innocent babes in Bethlehem; the words of Jeremias were fulfilled: "A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning: Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." On Herod's death, an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, saying: Rise, and take the child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead who sought

the life of the child. Then Joseph took the child, and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep, he retired into the parts of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was said by the prophets, that He shall be called a Nazarene.

CHAP. V. Jesus with the Doctors. The Preaching of John Baptist. The Baptism of Jesus.

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EVERY year Joseph and Mary went from Nazareth to Jerusalem, to keep the feast of the pasch, or passover. When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up as usual, and returned again, leaving the child behind them, not regarding His absence, because they imagined that He was travelling in company with some of their friends or kindred. on the journey home He was nowhere to be found, and they returned in haste and fear to Jerusalem; and after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His wisdom, and His answers. And seeing Him, they wondered. And His mother said to Him: Son, why hast Thou done so to us? behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing. And He said to them: How is it that you sought Me? did you not know that I must be about the things that are My Father's? And His mysterious words astonished them; but Mary hid His sayings in her heart, for she knew that they were the words of God, and full of heavenly truth, though for a while incomprehensible to all who heard them. Jesus then returned to His home at Nazareth, where Joseph exercised his trade as a carpenter, and lived unknown to men, an obedient child to His mother and His reputed father. The Scripture records nothing more of His boyhood and youth, but that as He advanced in wisdom and in age, He advanced also in

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