The Nativity of Our Lord

Today we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord,  taking our text from the first edition of the Douay-Rheims  New Testament, published in 1582. It is followed by the text of the Latin Vulgate.

They found MARIE and Ioseph, and the infant laid in the manger. [J-J Tissot]

1. AND it came to passe, in those daies there came forth an Edict from Cæsar Augustus, that the whole world should be enroled.

2. This first enroling was made by the President of Syria Cyrinus.

3. And al went to be enroled, euery one into his owne citie.

4. And Ioseph also went vp from Galilee out of the citie of Nazareth into Iewrie, to the citie of Dauid that is called Beth-lehem: for because he was of the house and familie of Dauid,

5. to be enroled with MARIE his despoused wife that was with child.

6. And it came to passe, when they were there, her daies were fully come that she should be deliuered.

7. And she brought forth her first begotten Sonne, and swadled him in clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was not place for them in the inne.

8. And there were in the same countrie shepheards watching, and keeping the night watches ouer their flock.

9. And behold, an Angel of our Lord stood beside them, and the brightnes of God did shine round about them, and they feared with a great feare.

10. And the Angel said to them: Feare not; for behold I euangelize to you great ioy, that shal be to al the people:

11. because this day is borne to you a SAVIOUR which is Christ our Lord, in this citie of Dauid.

12. And this shal be a signe to you; You shal find the infant swadled in clothes, and laid in a manger.

13. And sodenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heauenly armie, praising God, and saying,

14. Glorie in the highest to God: and in earth peace to men of good wil.

15. And it came to passe, after the Angels departed from them into Heauen, the shepheards spake one to an other: Let vs goe ouer to Bethlehem, and let vs see this Word that is done, which our Lord hath shewed to vs.

16. And they came with speed; and they found MARIE and Ioseph, and the infant laid in the manger.

17. And seeing it, they vnderstood of the Word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.

18. And al that heard, did maruel; and concerning those things that were reported to them by the shepheards.

19. But MARIE kept al these words, conferring them in her hart.

20. And the shepheards returned, glorifying and praysing God in al things that they had heard, and seen, as it was said to them.

Notes

4. Iewrie. Jewry. The region or province of Judea in ancient Rome; (also sometimes more generally) the land of ancient Israel or Judah. 1526   Bible (Tyndale) John vii. f. cxxixv   Iesus went about in Galile, and wolde not goo about in iewry. [OED]

5. despoused. From despouse: To promise in marriage, to betroth; to give or take in marriage, to marry; = espouse. [OED]

14. men of good wil. The birth of Chrift giueth not peace of minde or faluation but to fuch as be of good Will, becaufe he worketh not our good againft our willes,but our willes concurring. Aug. queft. ad Simplic. Li. i.q.2. to. 4.

19. Kept al.  Our Lady though litle be fpoken of her concerning fuch matters in the Scriptures, becaufe fhe was a woman, and not admitted to teach or difpute in publike of high myfteries : yet fhe knew al thefe myfteries , and wifely noted and contemplated of al thofe things that were done and faid about Chrift , from the firft houre of his Conception til the end of his life and his Afcenfion.

Latin Vulgate

[1] Factum est autem in diebus illis, exiit edictum a Caesare Augusto ut describeretur universus orbis. 

[2] Haec descriptio prima facta est a praeside Syriae Cyrino : 

[3] et ibant omnes ut profiterentur singuli in suam civitatem. 

[4] Ascendit autem et Joseph a Galilaea de civitate Nazareth in Judaeam, in civitatem David, quae vocatur Bethlehem : eo quod esset de domo et familia David, 

[5] ut profiteretur cum Maria desponsata sibi uxore praegnante.

[6] Factum est autem, cum essent ibi, impleti sunt dies ut pareret. 

[7] Et peperit filium suum primogenitum, et pannis eum involvit, et reclinavit eum in praesepio : quia non erat eis locus in diversorio. 

[8] Et pastores erant in regione eadem vigilantes, et custodientes vigilias noctis super gregem suum.

[9] Et ecce angelus Domini stetit juxta illos, et claritas Dei circumfulsit illos, et timuerunt timore magno. 

[10] Et dixit illis angelus : Nolite timere : ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo :

[11] quia natus est vobis hodie Salvator, qui est Christus Dominus, in civitate David. 

[12] Et hoc vobis signum : invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in praesepio. 

[13] Et subito facta est cum angelo multitudo militiae caelestis laudantium Deum, et dicentium : 

[14] Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. 

[15] Et factum est, ut discesserunt ab eis angeli in caelum : pastores loquebantur ad invicem : Transeamus usque Bethlehem, et videamus hoc verbum, quod factum est, quod Dominus ostendit nobis.

[16] Et venerunt festinantes : et invenerunt Mariam, et Joseph, et infantem positum in praesepio. 

[17] Videntes autem cognoverunt de verbo, quod dictum erat illis de puero hoc. 

[18] Et omnes qui audierunt, mirati sunt : et de his quae dicta erant a pastoribus ad ipsos. 

[19] Maria autem conservabat omnia verba haec, conferens in corde suo. 

[20] Et reversi sunt pastores glorificantes et laudantes Deum in omnibus quae audierant et viderant, sicut dictum est ad illos.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.