December 22

And after she had weaned him, she carried him with her, with three calves, and three bushels of flour, and a bottle of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord in Silo. Now the child was as yet very young: ²⁵And they immolated a calf, and offered the child to Heli. ²⁶And Anna said: I beseech thee, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord: I am that woman who stood before thee here praying to the Lord. ²⁷For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath granted me my petition, which I asked of him. ²⁸Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord all the days of his life, he shall be lent to the Lord. And they adored the Lord there. And Anna prayed, and said:

¹My heart hath rejoiced in the Lord, and my horn is exalted in my God: my mouth is enlarged over my enemies: because I have joyed in thy salvation. ⁴The bow of the mighty is overcome, and the weak are girt with strength. ⁵They that were full before have hired out themselves for bread: and the hungry are filled, so that the barren hath borne many: and she that had many children is weakened. ⁶The Lord killeth and maketh alive, he bringeth down to hell and bringeth back again. ⁷The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich, he humbleth and he exalteth. ⁸He raiseth up the needy from the dust, and lifteth up the poor from the dunghill: that he may sit with princes, and hold the throne of glory. For the poles of the earth are the Lord’s, and upon them he hath set the world.

℟ My heart hath rejoiced in the Lord.

And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. ⁴⁷And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. ⁴⁸Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. ⁴⁹Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. ⁵⁰And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. ⁵¹He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. ⁵²He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. ⁵³He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. ⁵⁴He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy: ⁵⁵As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever. ⁵⁶And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.