Chapter 6 

The Divine Childhood 

The Eighth Day 

     And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel 

before he was conceived in the womb.  (Lk 2:21). 

    Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day from His birth according to Jewish Law and custom. Since Christ 

was born about midnight at the beginning of Nov. 25, the first day would be Nov. 25. The eighth day would 

then be December 2. Sacred Scripture specifies that the circumcision took place  at the end of eight days,  but 

this does not mean at the end of the eighth day, but rather at the end of an eight day period of time. 

    The Circumcision of the Christ child took place on the last of the eight days in accordance with Jewish Law. 

The eighth day was also the earliest practical date for any circumcision, because Jewish women were 

considered unclean for the first seven days from the birth of a male child (Lev 12). People could not gather for 

this ceremony, which must of course involve the mother, during the days when she was considered unclean. 

    Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich received visions from God about this event in Christ's life. She tells us 

that Jesus was circumcised at dawn on Sunday, Dec. 2.

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    Even though the angel gave him the name Jesus before He was conceived, He was not formally given His 

name until the eighth day (Lk 2:21). Thus the ceremony on the 8th day was not only for circumcising the 

child, but also for giving the child a name. The same practice of waiting until the 8th day to give the child his 

name is also seen with the circumcision of John the Baptist (Lk 1:59 63). This Jewish practice is not so 

different from the Christian practice of giving the child a name at the time of the ceremony of Baptism 

(sometimes called a  Christening ). Similarly in the Jewish faith, the eighth day was both the day for 

circumcision and the day for naming the child. (See chapter 9 for details about a similar naming ceremony for 

female children.) 

The Presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple 

     And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to 

Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, `Every male that opens the womb 

shall be called holy to the Lord') and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, `a pair 

of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.'   (Lk 2:22 24). 

    Although the Gospel of Luke does not explicitly say that this event occurred on the 40th day from the Birth 

of Christ, it is clear that Joseph and Mary went to the temple with the infant Jesus in fulfillment of Jewish law 

(Lk 2:22, 23, 27). And, according to Leviticus 12, the time for the purification of a woman who gave birth to a 

son was 40 days from his birth (Lev 12:1 4). Also, particularly for a first born son, Jewish law required that the 

son be consecrated to God (Ex 13:1 2,12 16). The Church, too, celebrates the Presentation of the Lord Jesus 

Christ on the 40th day (inclusive) from the celebration of Christ's Birth. Therefore, the Presentation of Jesus 

Christ in the temple occurred on the 40th day from His Holy Birth. 

    Jesus was born on Sunday, November 25 of 15 

B.C.

 The 40th day would then have to be Thursday, January 

3 of 14 

B.C.

 The reason the Church currently celebrates the Presentation on February 2 is because that date is 

the 40th day from Christmas (Dec. 25). The count of the 40 days is inclusive, in other words, the day of the 

Birth is counted as day one, and the day of the Presentation is counted as day 40. 

    The words of Blessed Anne Catherine lend some support to this date for the Presentation.  In the night of 

Sunday, December 30th, to Monday, December 31st, I saw Joseph and Mary with the Child visiting the Cave 

of the Nativity once more and taking leave of that holy place. 

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 She further states that the Virgin Mary and 

Saint Joseph set out from the Cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem,  At dawn on Monday, December 31st .  to 

travel to Jerusalem for the Presentation. Although she received the visions of these events about the time of the 

Church's celebration of the Presentation of the Lord (Feb. 2), she clearly states that the trip from Bethlehem to 

Jerusalem for the Presentation began on the morning of Dec. 31. After describing the beginning of their 

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