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The Immaculate Conception Of Jesus The Christ
1. AND in the
sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God, unto a city of Galilee,
named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the
house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
2. Now Joseph was a just and rational Mind, and he was skilled in all manner
of work in wood and in stone. And Mary was a tender and discerning Soul, and
she wrought veils for the temple. And they were both pure before God; and of
them both was Jesu-Maria who is called the Christ.
3. And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail, Mary, thou that art highly
favoured, for the Mother of God is with thee: blessed art thou among women
and blessed be the fruit of thy womb.
4. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind
what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear
not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God and, behold, thou shalt conceive
in thy womb and bring forth a child, and He shall be great and shalt be called
a Son of the Highest.
5. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and
he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall
be no end.
6. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her The Holy Spirit shall come upon Joseph
thy Spouse, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, O Mary, therefore
also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Christ,
the Child of God, and his Name on earth shalt be called Jesu-Maria, for he
shall save the people from their sins, whosoever shall repent and obey his
Law.
7. Therefore ye shall eat no flesh, nor drink strong drink, for the child shall
be consecrated unto God from its mother's womb, and neither flesh nor strong
drink shall he take, nor shall razor touch his head.
8. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her
old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with
God no thing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the
Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
9. And in the same day the angel Gabriel appeared unto Joseph in a dream and
said unto him, Hail, Joseph, thou that art highly favoured, for the Fatherhood
of God is with thee. Blessed art thou among men and blessed be the fruit of
thy loins.
10. And as Joseph thought upon these words he was troubled, and the angel of
the Lord said unto him, Fear not, Joseph, thou Son of David, for thou hast
found favour with God, and behold thou shalt beget a child, and thou shalt
call his name Jesu-Maria for he shall save his people from their sins.
11. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was written in the
prophets saying, Behold a Maiden shall conceive and be with child and shall
bring forth a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted
is, God Within Us.
12. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel had bidden him, and
went in unto Mary, his espoused bride, and she conceived in her womb the Holy
One.
13. AND Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Judea and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
14. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary,
the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the power of the
Spirit and spake, with a clear voice and said, Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
15. Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For,
lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped
for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall. be a performance
of those things which were told her from the Holy One.
16. And Mary said: My soul doth magnify Thee, the Eternal, and my spirit doth
rejoice in God my Saviour. For thou hast regarded the low estate of thy handmaiden;
for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
17. For Thou that art mighty hast done to me great things; and holy is Thy
Name. And Thy mercy is on them that fear Thee from generation to generation.
18. Thou hast shewed strength with Thy arm; thou hast scattered the proud in
the imagination of their hearts.
19. Thou hast put down the mighty from their seats and exalted the humble and
the meek. Thou hast fill the hungry with good things and the rich Thou dost
send empty away.
20. Thou dost help thy servant Israel, in remembrance of thy mercy: as Thou
spakest to our ancestors to Abraham and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode
with her about three months and returned to her own house.
21. And these are the words that Joseph spake,, saying: Blessed be the God
of our fathers and our mothers in Israel: for in an acceptable time Thou hast
heard me, and in the day of salvation hast Thou helped me.
22. For Thou saids't I will preserve and make thee a covenant of the people
to renew the face of the earth: and to cause the desolate places to be redeemed
from the hands of the spoiler.
23. That thou mayest say to the captives, Go ye forth and be free; and to them
that are in darkness, Show yourselves in the light. And they shall feed in
the ways of pleasantness; and they shall no more hunt nor worry the creatures
which I have made to rejoice before me.
24. They shall not hunger nor thirst any more neither shall the heat smite
them nor the cold destroy them. And I will make on all My mountains a way for
travellers; and My high places shall be exalted.
25. Sing ye heavens and rejoice thou earth; O ye deserts break forth with song:
for Thou O God dost comfort Thy people; and console them that have suffered
wrong.
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