The term of nine months being then ended, a decree went forth from the Emperor, that all the world should be taxed, each in his own city. Then Joseph, purposing to go into his own city, Bethlehem, and knowing that the time of his wife’s delivery was at hand, took her with him. Here, again, the Virgin undertakes a long journey, for Bethlehem is but five or six miles distant from Jerusalem. They took with them, tradition says, an ox and an ass, and travelled as poor cattle-dealers. And when they reached Bethlehem, because they were poor, and the place was crowded by those who had come for the same purpose, M there was no room for them in the inn.”1 Here compassionate the Virgin and regard her, young and delicate, as one at the age of fifteen would be, fatigued with the long journey, abashed in the midst of the crowd, and in vain seeking a shelter ; and being everywhere roughly rejected, she and her husband obliged to take refuge in a sort of wayside shed, the mere shelter of persons who are overtaken by the rain. There we may suppose that Joseph, who was by trade a carpenter, might perhaps have constructed a kind of enclosure. But now most carefully attend to all I am about to relate, for these things are reported to have been revealed by the Virgin herself to a certain holy man, and one, I think, worthy of credit of our order, who told them to me.
When the hour of her delivery had arrived, on Sunday at midnight, the Virgin, rising from her seat, rested herself against a pillar which was there; Joseph sat, perhaps grieving that it was not in his power to provide what was ^ fitting for such a time. Then he arose and took some hay out of the manger and laid it at the feet of the Virgin, and thereupon withdrew himself to another part Then the Son of the Eternal God was born, without pain or hurt to His mother, having passed from her in an instant to the bed of hay, prepared for Him at her feet His mother quickly stooped down and took Him into her arms, and sweetly embracing Him, laid Him on her lap ; then, through the suggestion of the Holy Spirit, she began to wash and bathe Him, and her breasts were distended through the blessing of heaven ; after this, she perhaps wrapt Him in her veil, and placed Him in the manger. And now the ox and ass, with bended knees, and with their heads placed over the manger, breathed upon Him, as if they were gifted with reason, and knew that their warm breath would be of service to ah infant so slightly protected from the severity of the season. But His mother, kneeling down, adored, and gave thanks to God, saying, “I thank thee, Lord, Holy Father, for that Thou hast given to me Thy Son, and I adore Thee, Eternal God, and Thee — the Son of the Living God, and mine.” And Joseph likewise adored Him ; and taking .the ass’s saddle, he drew, we may imagine, away from it the pillion of wool or leather, and placed it by the manger, that the Virgin might sit upon it. But she, seating herself there, used it for a support ; and so remained that mother, who is blessed above all, gazing on the manger, having as it were no thought or love for any but for her dearest Son. Thus far we have been following the account of this revelation. After the Blessed Virgin departed, an angel is said to have lingered behind, in order to speak words in her praise, which I could neither understand nor repeat.
You have seen, then, the birth “of the Highest,” you have also contemplated the delivery of the blessed mother, and you must have observed how conspicuous in both was their extreme poverty — how even necessaries were wanting to them. This exalted virtue the Lord first brought into prominence. This is that pearl in the Gospel,2 to purchase which all was sold. This is the first foundation of the whole spiritual house; for with a load of temporal goods, the spirit cannot ascend up to God. Of this S. Francis said, “Learn, brethren, that poverty is the spiritual way of salvation ; the nourishment of lowliness, and the root of perfection, the fruit of which is manifold yet hidden. Therefore it is a great shame to us that we do not embrace it with all our strength, but instead thereof we burden ourselves with unnecessary things, when the Lord of the whole world and His mother most strictly and most studiously observed it” Concerning which S. Bernard thus says, “On earth this virtue abounds, and man knows not the price thereof. This, the Son of God, desiring, came down from heaven, to choose for Himself, and to teach us how precious it is in His estimation. Adorn thy heart as a chamber for the Spouse, with lowliness and poverty. In these swaddling clothes He delights, as His mother testifies ; in these He wills to be wrapt as though they were silks. Sacrifice the abominations of the Egyptians to thy God .”3 Thus far S. Bernard. The same writer, in a sermon on the Nativity,4 thus begins : “Blessed be our God and Father. At length He consoles His people. Would you know who ‘ His people ’ are ? The man after God’s own heart tells us ‘ the poor committed himself to Thee.’ And Christ, in the Gospel, says, ‘ Woe unto you that are rich, for ye have your consolation .’5 But what can yet console those who already have their consolation? The infancy of Christ affords no consolation to the talkative ; the tears of Christ are no comfort to gigglers, the swaddling clothes are no consolation to the gaudy; the stable and manger are no comfort to those who love the first seats in the synagogue. To the poor shepherds, keeping watch over their flocks, the joyful light was first announced, and unto them the Saviour was born ; to the poor, to labouring men, and not to you rich, who have already your consolation and your possessions.” Thus far S. Bernard.