“21 Eight days later, the time came for the boy to be circumcised and given the name of Jesus, a name that had been given to him by the Angel before his conception.
22 When the day set by the Law of Moses for purification came, they took the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
23 as it is written in the Law: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord.”
24 They were also to offer a sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or young pigeons, as the Law of the Lord commands.
25 Then there was living in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, who was just and devout, and was waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was in him
26 and had revealed to him that he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord.
27 Led by the same Spirit, he went to the Temple, and when the parents of Jesus brought the child to fulfill with him the prescriptions of the Law,
28 Angel took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Now, Lord, you may let your servant die in peace, as you have promised,
30 because my eyes have seen salvation
31 which you have prepared before all the peoples:
32 light to illuminate the pagan nations and glory of your people Israel».
33 His father and mother were amazed at what they heard about him.
34 Simeon, after blessing them, said to Mary the mother, “This child will cause many in Israel to fall and rise; he will be a sign of contradiction,
35 and yourself a sword will pierce your heart. In this way the intimate thoughts of many will be clearly manifested.
36 There was also a prophetess named Ana, daughter of Phanuel, of the family of Asher, a woman already advanced in years, who, house in her youth, had lived seven years with her husband.
37 Since then she had remained a widow, and was eighty-four years old. She did not depart from the Temple, serving God night and day with fasts and prayers.
38 He showed up at that very moment and began to thank God. And he spoke about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 After fulfilling everything that the Law of the Lord commanded, they returned to their city of Nazareth, in Galilee.
40 The child grew and grew strong, full of wisdom, and the grace of God was with him.” (Luke 2:21-40)
This biblical episode of the childhood of Jesus is celebrated on February 2, during the Candelaria festival, and corresponds to the fourth joyful mystery of the Rosary. In fact, the prophetic words spoken by Simeon, a just and pious man who awaited the consolation of Israel, are repeated when reciting Simeon’s canticle, especially during the Office of Compline, which is prayed at night.
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