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 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 showed to us.

And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in a manger.

And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken of them concerning this Child.

And all they 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.-(St. Luke ii.)

Eight days, or a week, after the Infant Jesus was born, He submitted to the painful and humbling ceremony of the Circumvision, which, under the old law, answered to Baptism under the new or Christian law. Our Lord was therefore circumcised, and carried to the temple, to be presented there with an offering of doves or pigeons. We keep the Feast of the Circumcision on the first of January, or New Year's Day; and this ought to

remind us that the opening of every fresh year should be marked by contrition and humiliation for our sins, as well as by joy. For it was at this time, that Our Lord was called Jesus, or Saviour, as the Angel had said. The carrying of the Infant Saviour to the Temple is commemorated in the fourth joyful mystery of the Rosary, called the Presentation in the Temple, and by the Church on the Feast of the Purification. In contemplating this mystery of Our Lord's Infancy, we cannot but dwell also upon the virtues manifested by Our Blessed Lady. Her humility in submitting to be looked upon as all other women; her love of poverty in going to the Temple, as any poor person would go, to present the offering of the poor, which was turtle-doves or pigeons, for the richer class presented a lamb or kid. Poor, and stripped of all, her Divine Son was born into the world, that He might witness against the love of riches and of this world's goods; and His Blessed Mother trod more closely than all others in His footsteps, and was nearest to Him in the love of poverty, suffering, and contempt.

"And after eight days were accomplished that the Child should be circumcised, His Name was called Jesus, which was called by the Angel, before He was conceived in the womb.

And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord.

As it is written in the law of the Lord: That every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:

And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law. of the Lord, a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon; and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him.

And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

And he came by the Spirit into the Temple. And when His parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,

He also took Him 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 the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people of Israel.

And His father and mother were wondering at these things which were spoken concerning Him:

And Simeon blessed them; and said to Mary His mother: Behold, this Child is set for the ruin, and for the resurrection of many of Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted:

And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.

And there was a prophetess, called Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity.

And she was a widow until four score and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.

Now, she at the same hour coming in, gave praise to the Lord; and spoke of Him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.-(St. Luke ii.)

After the Jews had been thus twice called to adore Jesus, in the poverty of His Infancy, the Gentiles also were summoned. A wonderful star suddenly appeared in the East, and three Magi, or perhaps Chaldean kings, were attracted by it and by the light of faith, to seek their Saviour.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of King Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Saying: Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and we are come to adore Him.