shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.

13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying:

14. Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, good will towards men.

In what manner did Simeon testify his joy, on seeing the child Jesus presented before the Lord in the temple?

26. It was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27. And he came by the Spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law,

28. Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said:

29. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;

30. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31. Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people ;

32. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Was there not some other distinguished char acter, who, on the same occasion, returned thanks to God, and proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah?

36. There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity.

37. And she was a widow, of about fourscore and four years; which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

.

38. And she coming in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

CHAPTER III.

JOHN'S PREACHING AND BAPTISM.-JOHN'S TESTIMONY OF

CHRIST.

To what prophecy do the Evangelists refer, as predicting the call of John the Baptist; and where did John chiefly exercise his ministry ?

2. The word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.

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

4. As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying: The voice of one

crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way the Lord, make his paths straight.

of

5. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6. And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. What was the language of John the Baptist to the Jews, when he saw them eager to partake of his baptism?

7. O generation of vipers! who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8. Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance; and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

9. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree, therefore, which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Did John leave the people in doubt whether he were the Christ or not?

15. As the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not,

16. John answered, saying unto them all: I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am

not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

17. Whose fan is in his hand, and He will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable.

CHAPTER IV.

CHRIST BEGINNETH TO PREACH.-HE HEALETH DIVERS

DISEASES.

What were those passages of the prophecy of Isaiah, which Jesus read in the synagogue to the people of Nazareth, on commencing his ministry?

16. He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and, as his custom was, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17. And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias; and when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the

captives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised;

19. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20. And He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue

were fastened on Him.

Did He offer no commentary on these striking allusions of the prophet?

21. He began to say unto them: This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

22. And all bare Him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of

his mouth.

How were the people of Capernaum affected, when they saw Jesus cast the devil out of the man who had an unclean spirit ?

36. They were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying: What a word is this! for with authority and power He commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

How was that cure performed which He wrought on the mother of Simon's wife?

39. He stood over her, and rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

Were not many others in that city cured in the like miraculous manner?