Holy Family

1A Canticle in steps. Blessed are all those who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.

2For you will eat by the labors of your hands. Blessed are you, and it will be well with you.

3Your wife is like an abundant vine on the sides of your house. Your sons are like young olive trees surrounding your table.

4Behold, so will the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

5May the Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see the good things of Jerusalem, all the days of your life.

12Therefore, clothe yourselves like the elect of God: holy and beloved, with hearts of mercy, kindness, humility, modesty, and patience. 13Support one another, and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive one another. For just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also must you do. 14And above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection. 15And let the peace of Christ lift up your hearts. For in this peace, you have been called, as one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ live in you in abundance, with all wisdom, teaching and correcting one another, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing to God with the grace in your hearts. 17Let everything whatsoever that you do, whether in word or in deed, be done all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them. 20Children, obey your parents in all things. For this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21Fathers, do not provoke your children to indignation, lest they lose heart.

22And after the days of her purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem, in order to present him to the Lord, 23just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “For every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,” 24and in order to offer a sacrifice, according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and God-fearing, awaiting the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was with him. 26And he had received an answer from the Holy Spirit: that he would not see his own death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. 27And he went with the Spirit to the temple. And when the child Jesus was brought in by his parents, in order to act on his behalf according to the custom of the law, 28he also took him up, into his arms, and he blessed God and said: 29“Now you may dismiss your servant in peace, O Lord, according to your word. 30For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared before the face of all peoples: 32the light of revelation to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” 33And his father and mother were wondering over these things, which were spoken about him. 34And Simeon blessed them, and he said to his mother Mary: “Behold, this one has been set for the ruin and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and as a sign which will be contradicted. 35And a sword will pass through your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36And there was a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was very advanced in years, and she had lived with her husband for seven years from her virginity. 37And then she was a widow, even to her eighty-fourth year. And without departing from the temple, she was a servant to fasting and prayer, night and day. 38And entering at the same hour, she confessed to the Lord. And she spoke about him to all who were awaiting the redemption of Israel. 39And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city, Nazareth. 40Now the child grew, and he was strengthened with the fullness of wisdom. And the grace of God was in him.