Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/119



Previous to  the  coming  Christ,  time  was  reckoned  A.U.C.,  — that  is, Ab urbe condita, or  in  English, "From the  building  of  the  city  ” (Rome); but  since Christ’s  time  we  compute  the  years  as  a.d.,  Anno Dominu  or  “ year  of  the  Lord.”  The  years  754  A.u.c. and  1 A.D.  coincide.  But  it  is  most  probable  that Christ  was  born  on  December  25,  747  A.u.c.,  or six  years  previous  to  the  opening  of  what  we  call the  Christian  era.  He  certainly  was  not  born  later than  750  A.u.c.,  for  St.  Matthew  says  He  was  born during  the  reign  of  Herod  the  Great,  and  Herod,  we know,  died  in  750  A.u.c.  Neither  was  He  born previous  to  746  A.u.c.,  for  all  the  early  writers  tell us  He  was  born  in  time  of  peace,  and  the  only  period of  peace  about  that  time  began  in  746,  and  lasted  six years.  That  He  was  born  in  747  A.u.c.  is  highly probable  from  the  fact  that  the  census  spoken  of  in the  Gospel  was  made  by  Sentius  Sauterninus,  propraetor of  Syria,  in  his  last  year  of  office; and  he,  we know,  held  office  from  744  A.u.c.  to  the  beginning of the  year  748  A.u.c.  Hence  Christ  was  born December 25,  747  A.u.c.,  or  six  years  before  the opening of  our  present  calendar.

Q.  How long  did  Christ  live  on  earth?

A.  Christ lived  on  earth  about  thirty-three  years, and  led  a most  holy  life  in  poverty  and  suffering.

It being  most  probable  that  Our  Lord  was  born on December  25,  747  A.u.c.,  and,  as  we  shall  see