In the town of Bethlehem everything was quiet. All the people were asleep. No one knew of the wonderful thing that had happened.In the town of Bethlehem everything was quiet. All the people were asleep. No one knew of the wonderful thing that had happened.
In the hills outside of Bethlehem shepherds were watching their flocks. Suddenly there was a brilliant light. The shepherds saw an angel appear before them,and were afraid. But the angel said, "Fearnot. For I bring you joyful news. A and were afraid. But the angel said, "Fearnot. For I bring you joyful news. A not. For I bring you joyful news. A Saviour is born, Christ the Lord. Go and see Him. You will find the Child in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
A multitude of angels then appeared, praising Gcd and singing, "Glory be to God in the highest. and on earth peace to men of good will."
They filled the still night with the sweet sound of their joyful message to earth. After a while the angels disappeared, the brilliant light died out, and the hills the brilliant light died out, and the hills were quiet and dark once more.
The shepherds locked at each other in wonder. They said, "Let us go to see our new-born Lord."
They hastened to Bethlehem. There they found the cave where Mary and Joseph had taken shelter. Entering softly and with great devotion, they saw Mary, Joseph, and the newly-born Child.
The shepherds knelt and adored Jesus. Then they went home, praising and thanking God. To all the friends and neighbors that they met they told all the wonderful things that they had heard and seen that night.
After forty days. Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem. Mary offered Him to God, in obedience to the commandment of the Law.
In the Temple Mary and Joseph met a holy man named Simeon. He had gone there that day because the Holy Spirithad told him he would see the Saviour had told him he would see the Saviour that had been promised. Simeon took Jesus in his arms. and thanked God for letting him see the Redeemer.
In the Temple also was Anna, a very old prophetess. How happy she was to see Jesus: She told everyone that He was the Saviour, the Messias long promised the Saviour, the Messias long promised and awaited.
- from My Bible History in Pictures, by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., 1934; it has the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael J O'Doherty of Manila, Philippines