Octave Day of Christmas, Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord - January 1st

Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ
In the ceremony of the Circumcision, the Child begins to shed His blood, and at the same time He receives the name Jesus, which means Savior.

Table of Contents

Considerations

Circumcision was a sacrament of the Old Law, and the first legal observance required of the descendants of Abraham by Almighty God. It was a sacrament of initiation in the service of God, and a promise, an engagement, to believe and act as He had revealed and directed. The law of circumcision continued in force until the death of Christ. Our Saviour having thus been born under the law, it became Him who came to teach mankind obedience to the law of God,to fulfill all justice, and to submit to it. He was circumcised that He might redeem those who were under the law, by freeing them from the servitude of it, and that those who were formerly in the condition of servants might be set at liberty and receive the adoption of sons in Baptism, which, by Christ's institution, succeeded to circumcision. (Cf. Gal. 4:5)

On the day when the divine Infant was circumcised, He received the name of JESUS, which was assigned to Him by the Angel before He was conceived, and which signifies SAVIOUR. 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 SAVIOUR by shedding for us that blood of which a single drop is more than sufficient for the ransom and salvation of the whole world.

Let us profit by the circumstance of the New Year, and of the wonderful renewal wrought in the world by the great mystery of this day, to renew in our hearts an increase of fervor and of generosity in the service of God. May this year be one of fervor and of progress! It will go by rapidly, like the one which has just ended. If God permits us to see its end, how happy we shall be to have passed it in a holy manner!

(Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894)

Liturgy of the Mass

Introit

(Is. 9:6) A child is born to us, and a Son is given to us: Whose government is upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called the Angel of great counsel. — (Ps. 97:1). Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because He hath done wonderful things. Gloria Patri.

Collect

O God, Who by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary hast bestowed upon the human race the rewards of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may experience the intercession of her, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the Author of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son. Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Epistle

Reading of the Epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul to Titus (2:11-15)
Dearly beloved: The grace of God our Savior hath appeared to all men, instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly and justly and godly in this world, looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to Himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things speak and exhort: in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gradual

(Ps. 97:3-4 and 2) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Sing joyfully to God, all the earth. ℣. The Lord hath made known His salvation: He hath revealed His justice in the sight of the Gentiles.
Alleluia, alleluia. ℣. (Hebr. 1:1-2) God, Who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all, in these days, hath spoken to us by His Son. Alleluia.

Gospel

The Sequel of the holy Gospel according to saint Luke (2:21).
At that time after eight days were accomplished, that the Child should be circumcised, His name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Sources: Daily Traditional Latin Mass Readings, 1962