'Gloria in Excelsis Deo' - 'Glory to God in the highest', for today is born for us baby Jesus.

There is a long story behind the birth of Jesus. Let me narrate it to you.

It was many, many, years ago.

The land of Palestine was part of the great Roman Empire.

The Governor of the country was Herod and the Emperor was a man named Caesar Augustus.

At that time Augustus had issued a decree - a sort of an order - that all the people should have their names registered so that he could know how many people there were in his empire. It was a Census - like the one held in Malta and Gozo some years ago.

So all the people who lived in Palestine had to go to their cities and give their names to be registered and counted.

It happened that among the people who lived not far from the city of Bethlehem there was a couple named Joseph and Mary, who had to go to Bethlehem where there was an office with officials to write down the names of those who went to be registered.

It occurred that at that time Mary was going to have a baby and in a few days her baby would be born.

However, Joseph packed up some clothes, prepared the donkey he had for travelling with, and asked Mary to accompany him to Bethlehem to be registered in the Census.

Mary rode the donkey and Joseph walked side by side, all the long way to the city of Bethlehem.

When they arrived Joseph started to look for a room in one of the small hotels in Bethlehem.

There were several hotels in the city. They were not like the large hotels we have today. They had small rooms, with beds and jars filled with water. But there was no running water, or hot water, and no comfortable baths, and no heaters. Light, in the rooms, was provided with oil-lamps.

Still they were good enough for people who were passing through the city, to rest for a day or two.

Joseph knocked at the main door of a hotel. All rooms were occupied.

He went and knocked at the door of another hotel. This hotel was full, too.

He went on, knocking at the door of the few other hotels. They were all full.

It was in vain that he asked for a bed for his pregnant wife.

The people who had come to the city to be registered were many, and they filled all the rooms in all of the small hotels that could be found in Bethlehem.

Joseph was worried, very worried. Where would he find a place for Mary to rest?

He and his wife had been travelling for so long. Mary was tired and the time to give birth was very near. Where are they going to rest for the night?

It was late in the evening.

It was winter. In that country, the nights are very cold.

A hotel-keeper told Joseph that in his fields he had in the vicinity, there was a cave where he kept some animals; he could go and spend the night over there, if he liked.

In those days there were many people who lived in caves. Even in Malta, up to some years ago there were people who lived in caves. And in those days, many poor people lived in caves.

Joseph asked his wife to ride the donkey again and, together, they walked to the cave.

When they found the cave, they entered. Joseph cleaned an area and brought some straw from a manger close by and put it on the ground. He placed the lantern he had near the rocks and asked Mary to rest on the straw.

Their donkey lay down near Mary. A cow came and sat near the donkey, behind Mary, too. And then Joseph sat near his wife and lay down to have some sleep.

But in the middle of the night, Mary woke him up. 'Joseph, Joseph, wake up,' she cried.

She was feeling that the baby she was carrying was about to be born.

Joseph woke up and hugged Mary.

Soon, in the cave, there was the crying of a baby. Baby Jesus was born.

Jesus was born for us all. He loves us like his brothers. He is our Saviour.

After a while, the cave was full of light.

Some shepherds, holding brightly lit lanterns, came to see the new baby.

It was a choir of angels who appeared to the shepherds who were looking after their sheep that told them to go and see Baby Jesus.

'Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men of good will,' they sang. 'For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the baby wrapped in clothes, lying in a manger.'

This was how Baby Jesus was born, many, many, years ago.

Since then, we Christians keep remembering that event, by celebrating Christmas, which is a festivity of the birth of Jesus.

That is why we feel happy in this time of the year. And that is why we build beautiful cribs with Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus in a cave, with shepherds and goats and sheep on their way to see the new-born baby.

And that is why we give presents, and send Christmas Cards and messages with Christmas greetings wishing our relatives and friends a Happy Christmas.

Thank you Jesus for coming among us and teaching us how to be good.

Jesus, we adore you.

Jesus I love you; we all love you.

Jesus, I pray you to come and stay with us.

We love you all, Jesus. Glory be to you among us!

Happy Christmas to us all.