1. The Annunciation

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David; He will rule over the house of Jacob for ever and His reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know too this: your kinswomen Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ ‘I am the handmaiden of the Lord’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.

2. The Visitation

Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’ Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.

3. The Birth of Jesus

Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s house and line, in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn. In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manager.’ And suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God and singing: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy His favour’. Now when the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go up to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us’.  So they hurried away and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; it was exactly as they had been told.

 The Word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us.

4. The Presentation

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord- observing what stands written in the Law- Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what the Law required, he took Him into his arms and blessed God; and he said: 'Now master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of Your people Israel.’ As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about Him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, ‘You see this child; He is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected- a sword will pierce your own soul too- so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare’.

5. The Finding in the Temple

Every year his parents used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without His parents knowing it. They assumed He was with the caravan, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for Him among their relations and acquaintances. When they failed to find Him they went back to Jerusalem looking for Him everywhere. Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard Him were astounded at His intelligence and His replies. They were overcome when they saw Him, and His mother said to Him, ‘My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried Your father and I have been, looking for You.’ ‘Why were you looking for me?’ He replied ‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’ But they did not understand what He meant. He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.