Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/455

 of the  Messias,  the  Holy  Spirit  having  revealed  to  him  that  he should  not  die  till  he  had  seen  the  Christ  of  the  Lord. Led by the  Spirit,  he  came  that  day  to  the  Temple,  and  seeing  the  Child brought in  by  Mary  and  Joseph,  he  took  Him  in  his  arms,  and blessed God,  saying:

“Now Thou  dost  dismiss  Thy  servant,  O Lord,  according  to Thy  word  ,  in  peace  : because  my  eyes  have  seen  Thy  salvation , which Thou  hast  prepared  before  the  face  of  all  peoples;  a light  to the  revelation of  the  Gentiles  and  the  glory  of  Thy  people  Israel.”

He then  blessed Joseph  and  Mary,  who  wondered at  these things, and  to  Mary  he  said: “Behold,  this  Child  is  set  for  the fall and  for  the  resurrection  of  many  in  Israel,  and  for  a sign which shall  be  contradicted. And thy  own  soul  a sword  shall pierce, that  out  of  many  hearts  thoughts  may  be  revealed.”