9781644135945

The Light of the World
us to long joyfully for the return of the Lord and for the blessed eternity that will follow. This
hope sustains us and gives us the strength to conquer. The sacrifices and the good works
which we undertake at the beginning of the new year will increase our merit for eternity if
we persevere in them.
Shun all ungodliness and worldliness; “live soberly and justly and godly,” sustained by the
loving hand of a devoted Father; long for the blessed day of eternity with holy hope. This is the
program the Church sets before us at the beginning of the new year.
The liturgy shows us also where we shall find the strength to do these things. “A child is
born to us and a Son is given to us, whose government is upon His shoulders; and His name
shall be called the Angel of great counsel” (Introit). Christ, the Lord of all things, is born to us.
He, the Son of God, has assumed a human nature and in the Mass has become our sacrificial
meal and at the same time the spotless oblation which we offer to God. With His help we shall
be able to accomplish our program. “I am the vine, you the branches. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me” ( Jn 15:5, 4).
On New Year’s Day we should renew the promises we made at our baptism. “I renounce
Satan and all his works and pomps. I believe in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
and in the Holy Catholic Church.” We should resolve that all we do, we will do for God and in
accordance to the holy will of Jesus. Lord, take me to Thyself, take me to Thyself.
Prayer
Protect us, O Lord, who dedicate ourselves to Thy service, that we who have received divine
things may faithfully serve Thee with body and soul throughout this new year.
“Thine are the heavens, and Thine is the earth. The world and the fullness thereof Thou hast
founded” (Offertory). Thine I am also, and Thine I wish to be every moment of the new year.
I place the entire coming year, with all its duties, trials, difficulties, sufferings, and sacrifices, on
the paten today and unite them to Thy sacrifice in honor of God for the good of the Church,
for the salvation of souls, and for an increase of grace and virtue. Amen.
January 1, Feast of the Circumcision
Today the Church celebrates the octave of the birth of Christ and the feast of the Circumcision.
At the Circumcision the child received the name Jesus, Savior and Redeemer, and for the first
time shed blood for the redemption of men.
Although He was Lord of the Sabbath and in no way subject to the law of Moses, Christ freely and
willingly submits to the prescriptions of the law. Although entirely sinless, He who is the Holy
of Holies desires to appear before men as a sinner and to bear the mark of sin on His own holy
body. He conceals the fullness of grace and holiness which He possesses, and subjects Himself
to the law of circumcision, to which the other children of Israel were obliged. What sublime
humility He shows by this act of submission! Such is the way of eternal wisdom.
“His name was called Jesus.” He humiliates Himself by submitting to circumcision, and
God exalts Him because of this sublime humility. At the moment of this humiliation, when
He is being circumcised, He receives the name of Jesus, “the Savior.” “For which cause God
88