rejoiced in God my Saviour, because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid, for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His name, and His mercy is from generation to generation to them that fear Him. He hath showed might in His arm, He hath dispersed the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath deposed the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble; He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent away empty. He hath received Israel His child, being mindful of His mercy; as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed for ever.

Lesson Second.

THE BIRTH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.

Who was St. Elizabeth?

She was wife to a holy priest, named Zachary, and was also herself descended from Aaron.

What remarkable circumstances preceded and attended the birth of their son?

Whilst Zachary, in the exercise of his ministry, offered incense in the Temple, the angel Gabriel appeared, standing at the right side of the altar of incense, and announced to him that his wife should give birth to a son, whom he should call John; that he would be filled with the Holy Ghost from his birth, would convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord, and go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias. On Zachary's expressing incredulity, the angel told him that he should lose the use of speech and remain dumb until the fulfilment of the prophecy; he immediately lost the power of utterance,

and continued dumb until his son, at circumcision, received the name foretold by the angel.

Repeat the canticle of Zachary on recovering the use of his speech.

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because He hath visited and wrought the redemption of His people, and hath raised up a horn of salvation to us in the house of David His servant, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who are from the beginning. Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us. To show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father that He would grant to us; that being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve Him without fear, in holiness and justice before Him all our days. And thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation to His people unto the remission of their sins, through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us; to enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet in the way of peace."

Where did St. John pass his youth?

In the desert, until the time for commencing his mission had arrived, when he got the surname of Baptist from his office. He was the precursor of our Lord, foretold by Isaias.

What kind of life did he lead?

One of retirement, prayer, and mortification. His food was locusts and wild honey; his garment was of camel's hair, fastened by a leathern girdle.

Lesson Third.

THE BIRTH OF OUR DIVINE LORD.

Did the Blessed Virgin inform St. Joseph of the wonderful dignity to which God had raised her?

No, she never spoke of what might tend to her own commendation.

How was the mystery of the incarnation made known to him?

By an angel sent by God for that purpose, who removed his anxiety respecting the appearance of his holy spouse, and told him he should give the name of Jesus to the Holy One who would be born of her.

Where was our Blessed Lord born?

In Bethlehem, as foretold by Micheas.

What circumstance caused the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph to go to Bethlehem?

The Roman emperor Augustus published an edict commanding all to repair to the cities of their respective

families in order to be enrolled, on which Mary and Joseph being descendants of David repaired to his city Bethlehem. Unable to procure a lodging on their arrival, the inn being full, they retired to a stable, where Mary brought forth the Redeemer of the world, and laid Him in a manger.

At what season of the year was our Blessed Lord born? In the depth of winter, the 25th of December, and at night.

Who were the first adorers of the infant Saviour?

Poor shepherds, who were at the time keeping the night watches over their flocks.

How was His birth made known to them?

"An angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them, and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people; for this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David; and this shall be a sign to you, you shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will."

What did the shepherds as soon as the angels disap peared?

They went with haste to Bethlehem, where they found all things as the angel had told them, for which they glorified and praised God.

Repeat Isaias's prophecy of our Lord's nativity?

"Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel. * * * A child is born to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace." (Is. vii. 14, ix 6.)

When was the saving name of Jesus given our Divine Lord?

Eight days after His birth, when He was circumcised. This ceremony is commemorated by the Church on the first of January.

What do the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul say of the holy name of Jesus?

St. Peter says, "There is no other name under heaven given to man, whereby we must be saved." (Acts iv. 12.) And St. Paul, "He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross; for which reason God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above all names; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father." (Phil ii. 8.)

Lesson Fourth.

OUR SAVIOUR'S BIRTH MADE KNOWN TO THE GENTILES BY A STAR.

How was our Saviour's birth made known to the gentiles? By a star, whose guidance certain wise men, or as they are sometimes designated kings, followed from the East, until they reached Jerusalem, where it disappeared. Entering the royal city, they thought their journey at an end, and directing their steps to the palace, inquired, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews, for we have seen His star in the East and are come to adore Him."