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1. The
Annunciation
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called
Nazareth. And coming to Mary, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is
with you.” (Lk 1:26-28)
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The
time for the Incarnation is at hand.
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Of all women God
prepared Mary from her conception to be the Mother of the
Incarnate Word.
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The Angel Gabriel
announces: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with thee.”
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Mary wonders at this
salutation.
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The Angel assures her:
“Fear not . . . you shall conceive in your womb, and give
birth to a Son.”
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Mary is troubled for
she has made a vow of virginity.
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The
Angel answers that she will conceive by the power of the Holy
Spirit, and her Son will be called the Son of God.
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The Incarnation awaits
Mary’s consent.
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Mary answers: “Behold
the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your
word.”
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The Word was made
flesh and dwelt among among us.
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2. The
Visitation
Mary set out and traveled to the house of Zechariah and greeted
Elizabeth. When Eliz-abeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in
her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a
loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is
the fruit of your womb.” (Lk 1:39-45)
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Mary’s
cousin Elizabeth conceived a son in her old age . . . for
nothing is impossible with God.
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Charity
prompts Mary to hasten to visit Elizabeth in the hour of her
need.
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The
journey to Elizabeth’s home is about eighty miles requiring
four or five days.
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Though
long and arduous, the journey is joyous, for Mary bears with
her the Incarnate Word.
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At
Mary’s salutation, John the Baptist is sanctified in his
mother’s womb.
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Elizabeth exclaims: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed
is the fruit of your womb.”
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“How
have I deserved that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
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“Blessed is she who believed that the Lord’s words to her
would be fulfilled.”
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Mary
replies: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my
spirit finds joy in God my Savior.”
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Mary
serves her cousin in all humility for three months until the
birth of John the Baptist.
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3. The Birth
of Our Lord
And Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling
clothes and laid him in a manger . . . And suddenly there was a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God
in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
(Lk 2:1-20)
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Joseph
and Mary go to Bethlehem to comply with the decree of Caesar
Augustus.
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The
hour for Mary to give birth is near, but there is no room in
the inn.
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In the
stillness of the night, the Savior is born in a cave, Mary
remaining a Virgin.
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She
wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays Him in a manger.
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In
unspeakable joy Mary gathers to her bosom the Flower of her
virginity.
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Jesus
enters the world in poverty to teach the lesson of detachment
from earthly things.
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The
angel announces to the shepherds: “Today there is born to you
in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.”
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The
angelic chorus sing: “Glory to God in the highest, and peace
to His people on earth.”
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The
shepherds come to the stable to pay homage to the Infant
Jesus.
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The
Magi come to adore the Holy Child and offer Him gifts.
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4. The
Presentation in the Temple
Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the Temple to present him to
the Lord. At the temple Simeon and Anna came forward, gave thanks to
God and spoke about Jesus to all who were present. (Lk 2:22-38)
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Observing the law of Moses they take Jesus to the temple to
present Him to the Lord.
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According to the Law the firstborn male child of every family
should be consecrated to the Lord.
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Mary
offers her Son to the Father, then ransoms Him back at the
price paid by the poor.
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Jesus
is not subject to the law of Moses, yet to teach obediance,
submits to it.
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Mary is
not subject to the law of purification, yet in humility she
submits to it.
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God had
revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had
seen the Messiah.
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Recognizing the Child, he prays: “Now you can dismiss your
servant in peace. You have fulfilled your word.”
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“This
Child is destined to be the downfall and rise of many in
Israel, a sign that will be opposed.”
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And to
Mary Simeon reveals: “And your own soul a sword shall pierce.”
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After
they fulfill all the Law requires they return to Nazareth.
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5. The
Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
The boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not
know it. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the
midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
(Lk 2:41-50)
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When
Jesus is twelve years old, He goes with His parents to
Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.
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After
the feast of the Passover, Joseph and Mary unknowingly set out
for Nazareth without Jesus.
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At the
end of the first day’s journey they discover Jesus is missing.
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His
parents return immediately looking for Him.
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This
loss causes grief and anxiety beyond our understanding to the
hearts of Mary and Joseph.
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On the
third day they find Jesus in the Temple among the Doctors who
were astonished at His wisdom.
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Mary:
“Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have
been searching for you in sorrow.”
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Jesus:
“Why did you search for me? Did you not know that I must be
about my Father’s business?”
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Jesus
goes down with them to Nazareth, and is subject to them.
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Mary
keeps all these things in her heart.
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