Feast of the Circumcision

On this the eighth day since the Birth of our Emmanuel, let us consider the great mystery which the Gospel tells us was accomplished in his divine Flesh: the Circumcision. On this day the earth sees the first-fruits of that Blood-shedding which is to be its Redemption, and the first sufferings of that Divine Lamb who is to atone for our sins. Let us compassionate our sweet Jesus, who meekly submits to the knife which is to put upon him the sign of a Servant of God.

From The Liturgical Year by Dom Prosper Guéranger

Veni, Creator Spiritus

According to the Fisheaters website, a plenary indulgence is available on the Feast of the Circumcision, under the usual conditions, by reciting the prayer Veni, Creator Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit).

The "usual conditions" are:

• Sacramental confession, usually within a week before or after obtaining the Indulgence.
• Eucharistic Communion (preferably the same day).
• Prayer in keeping with the intention of the Supreme Pontiff.
• Having the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin (that is, renouncing all sin).

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Come Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father,
Thou Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen.

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Veni, Creator Spiritus

Veni, Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia
quae tu creasti pectora.

Qui diceris Paraclitus,
altissimi donum Dei,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
et spiritalis unctio.

Tu, septiformis munere,
digitus paternae dexterae,
Tu rite promissum Patris,
sermone ditans guttura.

Accende lumen sensibus:
infunde amorem cordibus:
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.

Hostem repellas longius,
pacemque dones protinus:
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.

Per te sciamus da Patrem,
noscamus atque Filium;
Teque utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore.

Deo Patri sit gloria,
et Filio, qui a mortuis surrexit,
ac Paraclito,
in saeculorum saecula. Amen.

Circumcision of the Lord

Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring."

Genesis 17:9-12

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When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

Luke 2:21

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Today, on the octave of Christmas, the Feast of the Circumcision is traditionally celebrated. In the New Order, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is observed on this day. The intent of both solemnities is the same, I think: to emphasize that our Lord, immortal God, truly became man, with a human mother, and with human flesh that could be cut like all flesh.

In His circumcision, we can observe a faithful observance of the law, and perhaps a foreshadowing of of the shedding of our Lord's blood on Calvary.

Our Lord received His name on this day, as noted by St. Luke. In 2006, His holy name is particularly honored by the Latin Church on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

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Circumcision was the sign of the old covenant between God and Israel. Through Christ Jesus all nations are offered a covenant with our Father in Heaven and the sign of the new covenant is baptism.

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In [Christ] you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the flesh, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:11-14

Is any man called, being circumcised? Let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

1 Corinthians 7:18