Fragmenda

Scripture

Luke 1:1–56

Book Introduction

St. Luke was a native of Antioch, the capital of Syria. He was by profession a physician; and some ancient writers say, that he was very skillful in painting. He was converted by St. Paul and became his disciple and companion in his travels, and fellow-labourer in the ministry of the Gospel. He wrote in Greek, about twenty-four years after our Lord’s Ascension.

Luke 1

The conception of John the Baptist, and of Christ. The visitation and canticle of the Blessed Virgin. The birth of the Baptist and the canticle of Zachary.

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us,
2 

According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:

3 

It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

4 

That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.

5 

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

6 

And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.

7 

And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren: and they both were well advanced in years.

8 

And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,

9 

According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.

10 

And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.

11 

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 

And Zachary seeing him, was troubled: and fear fell upon him.

13 

But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard: and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son. And thou shalt call his name John.

14 

And thou shalt have joy and gladness: and many shall rejoice in his nativity.

15 

For he shall be great before the Lord and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

16 

And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

17 

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias: that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.

18 

And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.

19 

And the angel answering, said to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God and am sent to speak to thee and to bring thee these good tidings.

20 

And behold, thou shalt be dumb and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass: because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.

21 

And the people were waiting for Zachary: and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple.

22 

And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them and remained dumb.

23 

And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

24 

And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived and hid herself five months, saying:

25 

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.

26 

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,

27 

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 

And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29 

Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.

30 

And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

31 

Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

32 

He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.

33 

And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34 

And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

35 

And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36 

And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren.

37 

Because no word shall be impossible with God.

38 

And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

39 

And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.

40 

And she entered into the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth.

41 

And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

42 

And she cried out with a loud voice and said: Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43 

And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 

For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

45 

And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

46 

And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.

47 

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 

Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.

50 

And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

51 

He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

52 

He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble.

53 

He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 

He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.

55 

As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

56 

And Mary abode with her about three months. And she returned to her own house.

Catechism

Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part 3, Chapter 7, Sections 8-10

Desire Of Stealing Forbidden

But, besides actual theft, that is, the outward commission, the will and desire are also forbidden by the law of God. The law is spiritual and concerns the soul, the source of our thoughts and designs. From the heart, says our Lord in St. Matthew, come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies.

Gravity Of The Sin Of Stealing

The grievousness of the sin of theft is sufficiently seen by the light of natural reason alone, for it is a violation of justice which gives to every man his own. The distribution and allotment of property, fixed from the beginning by the law of nations and confirmed by human and divine laws, must be considered as inviolable, and each one must be allowed secure possession of what justly belongs to him, unless we wish the overthrow of human society. Hence these words of the Apostle: Neither thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God.

The long train of evils which this sin entails are a proof at once of its mischievousness and enormity. It gives rise to hasty and rash judgments, engenders hatred, originates enmities, and sometimes subjects the innocent to cruel condemnation.

What shall we say of the necessity imposed by God on all of satisfying for the injury done? Without restitution, says St. Augustine, the sin is not forgiven. The difficulty of making such restitution, on the part of those who have been in the habit of enriching themselves with their neighbour's property, we may learn not only from personal observation and reflection, but also from the testimony of the Prophet Habacuc: Woe to him that heapeth together what is not his own. How long also doth he load himself with thick clay? The possession of other men's property he calls thick clay, because it is difficult to emerge and extricate one's self from (ill­gotten goods).

The Chief Kinds Of Stealing

There are so many kinds of stealing that it is most difficult to enumerate them all; but since the others can be reduced to theft and robbery, it will be sufficient to speak of these two. To inspire the faithful with a detestation of such grievous crimes and to deter them from their commission, the pastor should use all care and diligence. Now let us consider these two kinds of stealing.