"NUNC DIMITTIS." - Canticle uttered by the old Simeon (v.) on the occasion of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Lk. 2:29-32). The old prophet, who had received from the Spirit the promise to survive until the coming of the Messiah, moved by the Spirit entered the Temple, took the Child in his arms and praised God, expressing his joy (ibid. 2:29-30) and foretelling the glories of the Savior (ibid. 2:31-32).
Recalling an expression of the old Jacob (Gen. 46:30), he says, with humble gratitude: "Now (that the promise has been fulfilled) you may dismiss your servant, Master (Βίστατα), according to your word, in peace (you may let me die tranquil, like a servant, or a soldier, who has done his duty) because my eyes have seen your salvation (or: your Savior), which you have established for the benefit of all peoples." The universality of messianic salvation had already been foretold by Isaiah (Is. 2:1 ff.), to be brought about especially through the illuminating work of the servant of Yahweh (ibid. 42:6; 49:6). Simeon, taking up this image, praises God who gave us the Savior as "a light to enlighten the nations," to which he will make known the true religious and moral doctrine, and as "glory of your people, Israel," because from the Jews Christ was born according to the flesh (Rom. 9:5), and from Judea his Apostles set out to teach and baptize all nations (Mt. 28:19-20).
The "N. d.," a nostalgic song of farewell to earthly life that fades into the beginning of a supreme light, was quite early taken up by the liturgy in the evening prayers (Const. apost., VII, 48). At present it is recited at Compline (v.).
Pietro De Ambrogio