The reason is two-fold: first, the Christ child is circumcised according to the Law of Moses, thus fulfilling the ancient tradition passed down through the Covenant made between God and Abraham. Secondly, it was upon this day – the eighth day of birth – that a child received his or her name: “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” (St. Luke 2:21). Interestingly, or perhaps – more appropriately – “providentially,” Jesus is the Aramaic version of the Hebrew name, Joshua, which means, “Savior.”
