“The story of every human life begins with birth and ends with death.  In the person of Christ, however, it was his death that was first and his life that was last.  The Scripture describes him as the Lamb slain as it were, from the beginning of the world.  He was slain in intention by the first sin and rebellion against God.  It was not so much that His birth cast a shadow on His life and thus led to his death; it was rather that the Cross was first, and cast its shadow back to His birth.”  Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Life of Christ)