Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/434

 therefore also,  the  Holy  which  shall  be  born  of  thee  shall  be called  the  Son  of  God. And behold,  thy  cousin  Elizabeth,  she also hath  conceived  a son  in  her  old  age,  because  no  word  shall be impossible  with  God.”

Then Mary  said:  “Behold  the  handmaid  of  the  Lord;  be  it done  to  me  according  to  thy  word!”  The  angel,  having  thus delivered his  message,  and  having  obtained  the  consent  of  Mary, departed from  her.

Joseph knew  not  yet  that  Mary  was  the  chosen  Mother  of the  Saviour,  but  an  angel  of  the  Lord  appeared  to  him  also  in his  sleep,  and  said: “Joseph,  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 thou  shalt  call  His  name  Jesus,  for  He shall  save  His  people  from  their  sins.”

The Incarnation  of  the  Son  of  God  (the  third  article  of  the  Creed). The Son  of  God,  who  is  also  called  “the  Word”,  became  incarnate, i. e.  flesh  or  man  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  being  “conceived of the  Holy  Ghost”,  i.  e.  having  no  human  father — St.  Joseph  being only his  foster-father  or  legal  father  [in  the  eyes  of  the  law] —, and “born of  Mary  the  most  pure  Virgin”. St. John  (i,  18)  says:  “The Word was  made  flesh  and  dwelt  among  us.”  When  the  Son  of  God became man,  He  did  not  cease  to  be  God,  for  that  would  have  been quite impossible,  but  He  assumed  the  human  nature  unto  His  Divine