Nativity


Matthew 1, 16 - 25

And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Luke 2, 6 - 7

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Protoevangelium of St. James

XIX.

1. And behold a woman coming down from the hillcountry, and she said to me: Man, whither goest thou? And I said: I seek a midwife of the Hebrews. And she answered and said unto me: Art thou of Israel? And I said unto her: Yea. And she said: And who is she that bringeth forth in the cave? And I said: She that is betrothed unto me. And she said to me: Is she not thy wife? And I said to her: It is Mary that was nurtured up in the temple of the Lord: and I received her to wife by lot: and she is not my wife, but she hath conception by the Holy Ghost. And the midwife said unto him: Is this the truth? And Joseph said unto her: Come hither and see. And the midwife went with him.

2. And immediately the cloud withdrew itself out of the cave, and a great light appeared in the cave so that our eyes could not endure it. And by little and little that light withdrew itself until the young child appeared: and it went and took the breast of its mother Mary.





171 photos
The manuscript of the world's most famous Christmas
song "Silent Night,holy night" on the desk of composer
and school teacher Franz Gruber in his house in
Hallein,Austria.
#23010220

The manuscript of the world's most famous Christmas song "Silent Night,holy nigh...

The manuscript of the world's most famous Christmas    
song "Silent Night,Holy Night" on the desk of composer 
and school teacher Franz Gruber in his house in        
Hallein near Salzburg,Austria.
#24010269

The manuscript of the world's most famous Christmas song "Silent Night,Holy...

Italian organ grinders used to play in Luebeck around  
Christmas; in his novel "The Buddenbrooks", German     
writer Thomas Mann describes the scene. An Italian     
hand-organ of 1880 stands in one of the narrow streets 
of Old Luebeck. A Christmas tree is seen in the window.
#26010363

Italian organ grinders used to play in Luebeck around Christmas; in his novel...

Christmas Eve of a wealthy bourgeois family            
in Luebeck, Germany, as described by Thomas            
Mann in his novel "The Buddenbrooks".
#26010364

Christmas Eve of a wealthy bourgeois family in Luebeck, Germany, as...

Christmas Eve of a wealthy, bourgeois family           
in Luebeck, Germany, as described by writer            
Thomas Mann in his novel "The Buddenbrooks".
#26010365

Christmas Eve of a wealthy, bourgeois family in Luebeck, Germany, as...

Christmas morning of a wealthy Luebeck family, as      
described by German writer Thomas Mann in his novel    
"The Buddenbrooks".
#26010366

Christmas morning of a wealthy Luebeck family, as described by German writ...

Creche with the Adoration of the Magi, early 19th,     
in the house of Franz Gruber, composer of the world-   
famous Christmas song "Silent Night,holy night".
#26010367

Creche with the Adoration of the Magi, early 19th, in the house of Franz Gr...

Franz Gruber, schoolteacher in Arnsdorf, Austria.      
When the old organ broke down one Christmas, the Parish
priest Joseph Mohr wrote a few verses and asked Gruber 
to compose a simple melody that could be accompanied on
the guitar.The song "Silent Night,holy night" was born.
#26010368

Franz Gruber, schoolteacher in Arnsdorf, Austria. When the old organ broke...

The manuscript of the world's most famous Christmas    
song "Silent Night,holy night" on the desk of composer 
and school teacher Franz Gruber in his house in        
Hallein,Austria.
#26010369

The manuscript of the world's most famous Christmas song "Silent Night,holy...

Winter night in the village of Arnsdorf, Austria. It   
was here that the organ broke down before Christmas and
school teacher Gruber composed a simple melody that    
could be accompanied on a guitar.The world's best loved
Christmas song "Silent Night, Holy Night" was born.
#26010370

Winter night in the village of Arnsdorf, Austria. It was here that the organ...

Adoration of the Magi, detail from a triptych,         
French. 2nd half 14th.                                 
Ebony panel, H: 14,9 cm
#30010416

Adoration of the Magi, detail from a triptych, French. 2nd half 14th....

Psalter of Ingeburg of Denmark,France,around 1210.
MS 9/1695, fol.16 verso
Annunciation to the shepherds;
Presentation in the Temple.
#320104 6

Psalter of Ingeburg of Denmark,France,around 1210. MS 9/1695, fol.16 verso Annun...