Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes

The evangelist Luke recounts the way Mary and Joseph searched in vain for an inn before finding refuge in a stable in these poignant words (II;7):

   And she brought forth her firstborn Son and wrapped Him up

   in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger : because

   there was no room for them in the inn.

This stark verse depicts Mary as a woman who scorned to exhibit hysteria and distress and tackled the task at hand with the resources at her disposal, regardless of their paucity. Angels sang in the sky above Bethlehem and shepherds arrived at the stable to pay homage to the newborn King and she held her tongue, while she "kept all these words, pondering them in her heart." (II:19)

Eight days later, claiming no preferential treatment on account of Christ's divinity, Mary took Him to Jerusalem for His presentation to God in terms of the Law of Moses. The holy Simeon took the Christ Child in his arms and praised God for His gift of salvation. Simeon then forecast that this Gift was a Light of Revelation to the Gentiles. He then warned Mary, saying (II;35):

   ... thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many
   hearts thoughts may be revealed.

*Photograph taken by Catherine