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and the Infant lying in the manger.
And seeing, they understood
of the word that had been spoken
to them concerning this Child.
And all that heard, wondered, and
at those things
that were told them by the
shepherds. But Mary
kept all these words, pondering
them in Her heart.
And the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God, for
all the things they had heard
and seen, as it was told unto them.
The Gospel according to
St. Luke chapter 2:verses 1-20

city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the
house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with Child.

                                                And it came to pass, that when they were there, Her days were accomplished, that She should be
                                                delivered. And She brought forth Her firstborn 4 Son, and wrapped Him up in swaddling clothes, and
                laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

                                            And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their
                                                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.
                                        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 Savior, 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 army, praising God, and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will."

And it came to pass, 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 showed to us."

        And they came with haste, and they found Mary and Joseph,

                                    till you grow old." Who dare infer that God should then cease to be? Also in the first book of
                                        Machabees 5:54, "And they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, and offered holocausts,
                                    because not one of them was slain till they had returned in peace." That is, not one was slain
                                           before or after they had returned. God saith to His divine Son: "Sit on My right hand till I make
                                            Thy enemies Thy footstool." Shall He sit no longer after His enemies are subdued? Yea and for all
                                            eternity. St. Jerome also proves by Scripture examples, that an only begotten son was also called
                                    firstborn, or first begotten, because according to the law, the firstborn males were to be
                                                consecrated to God: "Sanctify unto Me [saith the Lord] every firstborn that openeth the womb among
the children of Israel" (Exodus 13: 2).

                                    4 Her firstborn: Again, the meaning is, not that she had afterward any other child; but it is a
                                    way of speech among the Hebrews, to call them also the firstborn, who are the only children.