LECTION 2 - The Immaculate Conception Of Iesus The Christ
The Immaculate Conception
Of Iesus 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 Ioseph (of the house of David); and the virgin’s name was Mary.
2. Now Ioseph 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 Iesu-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 Agel,
How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her
The Holy Spirit shall come upon Ioseph (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 Iesu-Maria, for he shall save the people from their sins, whosoever shall amend 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 Ioseph in a dream and said unto him,
Hail, Ioseph, 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 Ioseph thought upon these words he was troubled, and the angel (of the Lord) said unto him,
Fear not, Ioseph, thou Son (of David) for thou hast found favour with God, and behold thou shalt beget a child, and thou shalt call his name Iesu-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 Ioseph 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 honor 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 Ioseph 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.