This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 12. On the eastern side of the town of Bethlehem, say S. Justin, S. Jerom, and so forth there was a cave cut in the side of a rock, in which was a manger used by the people of those environs; so that these shepherds easily understood the angel, who told them they should find him laid in a manger. SS. Jer. Greg. Naz. Cyril, say that they found the child between an ox and an ass, according to the version of the Septuagint. Habac. 3:2.: You shall find him laid between two beasts. In the place where this crib was, S. Helen built a magnificent church in honour of the blessed Virgin Mary. Ven. Bede says that she built another in honour of the tree shepherds; whence Saint Bernard concludes, that there were only three shepherds that came to adore the divine infant in the manger. Tirinus.—It might be necessary to give them notice of this humble appearance of the Messias, to encourage them to go and pay him their homage. Barradius.