ction and glory; and He is, therefore, the Redeemer promised to
mankind from the time of Adam.

Q. 352. Where shall we find these prophecies concerning the Redeemer?
A. We shall find these prophecies concerning the Redeemer in the
prophetic books of the Bible or Holy Scripture.

Q. 353. If the Redeemer's coming was so clearly foretold, why did not
all recognize Him when He came?
A. All did not recognize the Redeemer when He came, because many knew
only part of the prophecies; and taking those concerning His glory and
omitting those concerning His suffering, they could not understand His
life.

Q. 354. {73} How could they be saved who lived before the Son of God
became man?
A. They who lived before the Son of God became man could be saved by
believing in a Redeemer to come, and by keeping the Commandments.

Q. 355. {74} On what day was the Son of God conceived and made man?
A. The Son of God was conceived and made man on Annunciation Day--the
day on which the Angel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that
she was to be the Mother of God.

Q. 356. {75} On what day was Christ born?
A. Christ was born on Christmas Day, in a stable at Bethlehem, over
nineteen hundred years ago.

Q. 357. Why did the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph go to Bethlehem just
before the birth of Our Lord?
A. The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph went to Bethlehem in obedience to
the Roman Emperor, who ordered all his subjects to register their names
in the towns or cities of their ancestors. Bethlehem was the City of
David, the royal ancestor of Mary and Joseph, hence they had to register
there. All this was done by the Will of God, that the prophecies
concerning the birth of His Divine Son might be fulfilled.

Q. 358. Why was Christ born in a stable?
A. Christ was born in a stable because Joseph and Mary were poor and
strangers in Bethlehem, and without money they could find no other
shelter. This was permitted by Our Lord that we might learn a lesson
from His great humility.

Q. 359. In giving the ancestors or forefathers of Our Lord, why do the
Gospels give the ancestors of Joseph, who was only Christ's
foster-father, and not the ancestors of Mary, who was Christ's real
parent?
A. In giving the ancestors of Our Lord, the Gospels give the ancestors
of Joseph: (1) Because the ancestors of women were not usually recorded
by the Jews; and (2) Because Mary and Joseph were members of the same
tribe, and had, therefore, the same ancestors