February 2 is an ancient church festival, commonly called the Presentation of Our Lord. Forty days after his birth, Jesus is brought to the Temple in Jerusalem to be dedicated to God with a sacrifice of two turtledoves. While the Holy Family is there, an old man named Simeon, who had had a revelation that he would not die before seeing the Messiah, approaches them, takes Jesus in his arms, and sings a brief song. That song has been part of Christian worship since very early days:
Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.
Known in Western Europe as the Nunc dimittis (after the first two words of its Latin translation), Simeon's song has been arranged countless times. We have been singing one version of it, "You Send Your Servant Forth in Peace," at the end of the liturgy for the last month. Simeon's song was part of the Mass as a private devotion of the priest celebrating the liturgy. During the Reformation, Luther made it to be sung by the whole assembly, as we all acknowledged that we had seen our Savior.
In the daily prayer cycle of the church, Simeon's song became a constant element of Compline, the last prayer service of the day. Around the world it is sung every day. Here's an English translation from a choral Evensong service in England:
In the daily prayer cycle of the church, Simeon's song became a constant element of Compline, the last prayer service of the day. Around the world it is sung every day. Here's an English translation from a choral Evensong service in England:
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