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'Tht:. Ch.nil.>.tmal.>. Stonll Long before that day a decree had been issued by order of Caesar Augustus that a census of the whole world should be taken. This census was the first to ·take place while Cyrinus was in charge of Syria. Accordingly, the people went, each to the cHyof his ancestor, to be registered; and so Joseph, too, being a member of the house and family of David, went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to David's town in Judea, called Bethlehem" in order to be registered. He was accompanied by his espoused wife Mary, who was with child. '. In the course of their stay there, the time came foil" her delivery; and she gave birth to her first-born son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no accommodation for them an the lodging. In the same region shepherds were camping in the open and keeping watch over their flocks by night. Suddenly, 'an angel of the Lord stood facing them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them,' so that they were struck with terror. liDo not fear," the angel said to them. "Listen: I am bringing 'you good .news of great joy which is in store for the whole no.tion. A Savior, who is the Lord Messias, was born to you today in David's town! . II And this will serve you as a token: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and cradled in a manger. H All of a sudden, the angel was joined by a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God with the strain: "Glory to God in the heavens above, and on earth peace to men of good will." When at last the angels had withdrawn from them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another: "Let us go over to Bethlehem and find OtJt the truth about this thing the Lord has made known to us." So they set off in haste, anq sought out Mary and Joseph and the infant cradled in a manger. And when they saw them, they made known what had been told them about this little child. All those who heard the account given them by the shepherds expressed surprise, while Mary treasured all these incidents and meditated on them in her heart. At last the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising, God for everything they had heard and which afterwards was seen to be j'Ust as they had been told.
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The ANCHOR
---------------------------------------------------ST. LUKE 2: 1-20 (Kleist-Lilly translation)
FAU. RIVER, MASS., DECEMBER 21, 19~n - Yo!. 5., No. ~
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