The LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:25-27)
The Church offers us this ancient blessing for the solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, on the eighth day after Christmas, New Year’s Day. Jesus, like all Jewish boys, was circumcised and named eight days after birth, so the Lord’s reference to "my name" in the blessing is fitting for this feast, and the prayer also asks for a glimpse of the Lord’s face.
