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 (8), when the promise of God and the predictions of the prophets were accomplished. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Redeemer of the world, was born, in a stable at Bethlehem, of Mary, a virgin, descended from the royal family of David. His birth was announced by angels to the shepherds at Bethlehem, and by a star to the Wise Men in the East. The cruel Herod made every effort to discover the Divine Infant, that he might put Him to death; but by the Lord's command, Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus, fled with Him and His mother to Egypt, and did not return till after the death of Herod. Jesus ,then led a retired life at Nazareth in Galilee, was subject to His parents, and 'advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men' (Luke ii. 52). When He was twelve years old. He went with His parents to Jerusalem to celebrate the Pasch, or Passover, and remained there three days in the temple, astonishing even the Scribes, or doctors of the law, by His wise questions and answers. At the age of thirty He went to the river Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist. When He came out of the water, the Holy Ghost descended upon Him in the shape of a dove, and a voice came from Heaven, saying: ' This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am. well pleased ' (Matt. iii. 17).

22. Jesus then retired into the desert, and after having fasted and prayed there forty days and forty nights,