And on the third day after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the most blessed Mary went forth out of the cave, and entering a stable, placed the child in the stall, and the ox and the ass adored Him. Then was fulfilled that which was said by Isaiah the prophet, saying: The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib. [1645] The very animals, therefore, the ox and the ass, having Him in their midst, incessantly adored Him. Then was fulfilled that which was said by Abacuc the prophet, saying: [1646] Between two animals thou art made manifest. In the same place Joseph remained with Mary three days. Footnotes: [1645] Isaiah 1:3. [1646] Habakkuk 3:2, according to the LXX. reading, snym tyys two living creatures, for snym tyyv years make alive. |