Category: FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES

25 December – The Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Traditional Bible Time From the Creation to The Birth of Jesus
On December 25 in the Latin Breviary’s Martyrology we have a very important time line in the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the year 5199th from the creation of the world, when in the beginning’ God created the heavens and the earth.
In the year 2959th from the flood.
In the year 2015 from the birth of AbrahamIn the year 1510th from the going forth of the people of Israel out of Egypt under Moses.
In the year 1032th from the anointing of David as King.
In the 65th week according to the prophecy of Daniel.
In the 194th Olympiad.
In the 752th from the foundation of the city of Rome.
In the 42nd year of the reign of the Emperor Octavian Augustus.
In the 6th age of the world, while the whole earth was at peace, Jesus Christ, Himself Eternal God and Son of the Eternal Father, being pleased to hallow the world by His most gracious coming, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost, and when nine months were passed after His conception, (all kneel down) was born of the Virgin Mary at Bethlehem of Juda made Man, THE BIRTHDAY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST was born according to the flesh.

The story begins with the simple lines of St Luke’s Gospel “And Joseph also went up from Galilee….to the city of David which is called Bethlehem.”  In Palestine, in the reign of Caesar Augustus, a homeless couple were driven underground to escape the night and the cold.  And there, in silence and wonder a child is born.  A child who was truly a human child but just as truly is God.  That is the mystery we celebrate today and it is belief in that mystery that makes us Christians.

Happy Birthday Jesus!