Study Desk

And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.

And the people were waiting for Zachary: and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple.

And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.

For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt, go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:

And she brought forth her first born 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 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 the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

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 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,

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted.

Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord: and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.

And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins.

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance: and do not begin to say, We have Abraham for our father. For I say unto you that God is able of these stones, to raise up children to Abraham.

For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire.