Luke 2

¹ Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵ to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

⁶ While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

⁷ She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. CCC

⁸ There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. CCC · Fathers

⁹ Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. CCC

¹⁰ The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. CCC

¹¹ For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. CCC · Fathers

¹² This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” CCC

¹³ Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying, CCC

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” CCC

¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

¹⁶ They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.

¹⁷ When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

¹⁸ All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. CCC

²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them. Fathers

²¹ When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. CCC

²² When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord CCC · Fathers

²³ (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),

²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

²⁵ Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. CCC

²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. CCC

²⁷ He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, CCC

²⁸ then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said,

²⁹ “Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace; Fathers

³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation,

³¹ which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

³² a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.” CCC

³³ Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him.

³⁴ Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. CCC

³⁵ Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” CCC

³⁶ There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,

³⁷ and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day.

³⁸ Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem. CCC · Fathers

³⁹ When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

⁴⁰ The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

⁴¹ His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. CCC

⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast;

⁴³ and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,

⁴⁴ but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.

⁴⁵ When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.

⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

⁴⁷ All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

⁴⁸ When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.” CCC

⁴⁹ He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” CCC

⁵⁰ They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.

⁵¹ And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. CCC

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. CCC

¹ AAnd it came to pass that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

² This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria.

³ And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David.

⁵ To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.

⁶ And it came to pass that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn. CCC

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock. CCC · Fathers

⁹ And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them: and they feared with a great fear. CCC

¹⁰ 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: CCC

¹¹ For, this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. CCC · Fathers

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. CCC

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: CCC

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will. CCC

¹⁵ And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.

¹⁶ And they came with haste: and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

¹⁷ And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.

¹⁸ And all that heard wondered: and at those things that were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. CCC

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Fathers

²¹ And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. CCC

²² And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: CCC · Fathers

²³ As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:

²⁴ And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons:

²⁵ And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon: and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was in him. CCC

²⁶ And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. CCC

²⁷ And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, CCC

²⁸ He also took him into his arms and blessed God and said

²⁹ Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace: Fathers

³⁰ Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,

³¹ Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

³² A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel. CCC

³³ And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him.

³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted. CCC

³⁵ And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed. CCC

³⁶ And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser. She was far advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity.

³⁷ And she was a widow until fourscore and four years: who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.

³⁸ Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord: and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. CCC · Fathers

³⁹ And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.

⁴⁰ And the child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom: and the grace of God was in him.

⁴¹ And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch. CCC

⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast,

⁴³ And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents knew it not.

⁴⁴ And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day’s journey and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance.

⁴⁵ And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.

⁴⁶ And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions.

⁴⁷ And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers.

⁴⁸ And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. CCC

⁴⁹ And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my father’s business? CCC

⁵⁰ And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them.

⁵¹ And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. CCC

⁵² And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace with God and men. CCC