Holy Day of Obligation: OCTAVE DAY OF THE NATIVITY–W (I)

CIRCUMCISION was a sacrament of the Old Law, and the first legal observance required by Almighty God of the descendants of Abraham. It was a sacrament of initiation in the service of God, and a promise and engagement to believe and act as He had revealed and directed. The law of circumcision continued in force until the death of Christ, and our savior being born under the law, it became Him, who came to teach mankind obedience to the law of God, to fulfil all justice, and to submit to it. Therefore, He was circumcised that He might redeem them who were under the law, by freeing them from the servitude of it; and that those who were in the condition of servants before might be set at liberty, and receive the adoption of sons in baptism, which, by Christ’s institution, succeeded to circumcision. On the day that the divine Infant was circumcised, He received the name of Jesus, which signifies savior, which had been given Him by the angel before He was conceived. That name, so beautiful, so glorious, the divine Child does not wish to bear for one moment without fulfilling its meaning; even at the moment of His circumcision He showed Himself a savior by shedding for us that blood a single drop of which is more than sufficient for the ransom and salvation of the whole world.