It is a source of wonder that the first few pages of the Gospel according to Saint Luke present three prayer/canticles that have framed and oriented the Church's day for almost two thousand years:

"Benedictus:" "The dawn from on high shall break upon us.""Magnificat:" "My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.""Nunc dimittis:" "My eyes have seen your salvation."

The last one, of course, associated with today's feast.Here is Fra Angelico's depiction in a cell in the Convento di San Marco (with thanks to JRP): 

Robert P. Imbelli, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, is a longtime Commonweal contributor.

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