The Eighth Day Of Christmas, New Year's Day 2014

Happy New Year!

In  much of Western Christianity today is celebrated either as the Solemnity of Mary or the Festival of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. The Gospel for the day is simply one verse from Luke:

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.

Our music is Johann Sebastian Bach's cantata for New Year's Day, Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, ("Jesus, now be praised."), BWV 41. Those who would enjoy an English translation will find one here.