Legal Observances Regarding the Christ Child

Our Lord submitted to the circumcision: (a) to prove the reality of his human nature; (b) to lend approval to a ceremonydivinely instituted; (c) to show his descent from Abraham who first received the law of circumcision; (d) to remove an obstacle that would prevent Jews from believing in him; (e) to give us an example of obedience; (f) to indicate that sin is to be cured by pain of sense; (g) to take up the burden of the ceremonial law that he might relieve others of it.

Our Lord was called Jesus by divine command(Luke 1:31). The name means Savior, and it signifies the gratuitousgrace bestowed on Christ as man that through him all might be saved, that is, brought safe to heaven.

Our Lord was presented to God in ceremonious function in the Temple at Jerusalem. This was in fulfillment of the law(Exod. 13:2) which reads, “Sanctify unto me every first-born.” The presentation was a kind of officialconsecration or dedication of the first-born to God. Our Lord wasnot bound by the ceremonial law requiring the presentation, for heis God as well as man, and his divine Person is not obligated bycreatural regulations, even those of divine origin. But our Lordwilled to be obedient to the law, for the benefit and edificationof mankind.

And Mary was obedient, in imitation of her divine Son,to the ceremonial law. She submitted to the requirements of the Purification, although she had no need of purifying, since therewas no conveying of original sin in the conception and birth of her Son. St. Luke (2:22) says that the days of Mary’s purification”according to the law of Moses” were accomplished.St. Luke thus pointedly indicates that the requirement for the purification was on the part of the law, and not because of any need in Mary.