Summary of comments of this office by Dom Schuster, in his work L'année liturgique.

In this feast, the Church discovers to us the grandeurs of the Word Incarnate by singing the glories of His Name. It was on the occasion of the rite of circumcision that the Jews gave a name to their children; that is why the Church today repeats the Gospel of the feast of the Circumcision, while giving emphasis to its conclusion: “...His name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.” The name Jesus means “Savior,” and there is no other name, says St. Peter, given to men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

The origin of the feast goes back to the 16th century, where it was celebrated by the Franciscan Order. In 1721, Pope Innocent XIII extended the solemnity to the whole world.

The Introït comes from St. Paul (Phil. 2:10-11): “In the name of Jesus, let every knee bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.” The psalm verse is from the eighth, and sings the glory of the name of the Lord throughout the world.

The Gradual is taken from Psalm 105: it is an exhortation to the praise of the eternal God. The versicle is from Isaias (63:16).

The antiphon of the Offertory (Ps. 85:12,15) is imbued with serene gentleness: “For Thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild: and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon Thee.”

The antiphon of the Communion (Ps. 85) prefigures the coming feast of the Epiphany: “All the nations Thou hast made shall come and adore before Thee, O Lord, and they shall glorify Thy name, alleluia!”