Merovingian kings, which Adrian Valois, Henschenius, Le Cointe,
Pagi, Louguerue and others have taken great pains to clear up.

{337}

FEBRUARY II.

THE PURIFICATION,

COMMONLY CALLED CANDLEMAS-DAY.

THE law of God, given by Moses to the Jews, to insinuate both to us and
to them, that by the sin of Adam man is conceived and born in sin, and
obnoxious to his wrath, ordained that a woman, after childbirth, should
continue for a certain time in a state which that law calls unclean;
during which she was not to appear in public, nor presume to touch any
thing consecrated to God.[1] This term was of forty days upon the birth
of a son, and the time was double for a daughter: on the expiration of
which, the mother was to bring to the door of the tabernacle, or temple,
a lamb of a year old, and a young pigeon or turtle-dove. The lamb was
for a holocaust, or burnt-offering, in acknowledgment of the sovereignty
of God, and in thanksgiving for her own happy delivery; the pigeon or
turtle-dove was for a sin-offering. These being sacrificed to Almighty
God by the priest, the woman was cleansed of the legal impurity, and
reinstated in her former privileges.

A young pigeon, or turtle-dove, by way of a sin-offering, was required
of all, whether rich or poor: but whereas the charge of a lamb might be
too burdensome on persons of narrow circumstances, in that case, nothing
more was required than two pigeons, or two turtle-doves, one for a
burnt, the other for a sin-offering.[2]

Our Saviour having been conceived by the Holy Ghost, and his blessed
Mother remaining always a spotless virgin, it is most evident from the
terms of the law,[3] that she was, in reality, under no obligation to
it, nor within the intent of it. She was, however, within the letter of
the law, in the eye of the world, who were as yet strangers to her
miraculous conception. And her humility making her perfectly resigned,
and even desirous to conceal her privilege and dignity, she submitted
with great punctuality and exactness to every humbling circumstance
which the law required. Pride indeed proclaims its own advantages, and
seeks honors not its due; but the humble find their delight in obscurity
and abasement, they shun all distinction and esteem, which they clearly
see their own nothingness and baseness to be most unworthy of: they give
all glory to God alone, to whom it is due. Devotion also and zeal to
honor God by every observance prescribed by