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The Nativity Stories

A presentation by Greg Kozak that uses the most recent scriptural scholarship regarding the Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke, especially that of Fr. Raymond E. Brown, to help unpack the rich meaning present in these memorable stories. While they make up only a small percentage of the New Testament, these stories capture the imagination and the heart in a way that dominates most people's knowledge of Jesus and his life. This talk will help us understand why these narratives are so powerful for us. In addition, it explores how some of the other traditions surrounding the birth of Jesus came to be, for example, the names of the magi, where they traveled from, the meaning of their gifts, the names of Mary's parents, the animals associated with the nativity, and the date of Christmas. It also presents great works of art as a visual aid throughout, so be sure to download the Slide Show File to watch as you listen to the talk.

Download the transcript     Download the Slide Show File     Listen Now
(Please note that multimedia files can be large and may take some time to download, depending on your internet connection speed.)

A high quality CD of this talk is available in the parish library.

To better understand the Catholic approach to the Scriptures, the following talk may also be of interest:
Scripture: An Overview