Hac die sese congregans, Ecclesia, a generatione in generationem, ipsum Zachariae stuporem adipiscitur, cum ad Christum oculos convertit, qui ab ea declaratur «sol oriens ex alto, illuminare his, qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent» (Lc 1,78-79), atque eodem exilit gaudio quo gavisus est Simeon, cum accipit in ulnas divinum Puerum, qui venit sicut «lumen ad revelationem gentium» (Lc 2,32).
From generation to generation as she gathers on this day, the Church makes her own the wonderment of Zechariah as he looked upon Christ, seeing in him the dawn which gives "light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death" (Lk 1:78-79), and she echoes the joy of Simeon when he takes in his arms the divine Child who has come as the "light to enlighten the Gentiles" (Lk 2:32).vatican.va vatican.va