On February 2—forty days after Christmas—the Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, calling to mind the Holy Family’s observance of the Mosaic Law (see Leviticus 12:1–8). Mary comes to the Temple forty days after giving birth to Jesus, and she and Joseph offer for her purification a sacrifice of two turtledoves, the offering prescribed for the poor. In addition, Mary and Joseph present and dedicate Jesus to God, as he is Mary’s firstborn Son (see Exodus 13:2–16).
Candlemas and the Presentation of the Lord
We read about Jesus’ presentation in Luke’s Gospel, where we also learn of the Holy Family’s encounter with a man named Simeon, who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. Simeon recognizes in this ordinary-looking baby the Son of God, and as he takes him in his arms, he utters the canticle prayed during Night Prayer by millions of faithful throughout the world:
Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel. (Luke 2:29–32)
In this canticle we see the origins of the other name for this feast: Candlemas.
What happens during Candlemas
On February 2, all of the candles to be used in the church for the coming year are blessed, and the faithful are invited to bring their own candles so that they can be blessed and used in the home for prayer throughout the year.
In some churches, a candlelight procession takes place as part of the blessing; in others, people simply stand in their pews holding their lit candles. In both cases, the warm, soft beauty of candlelight serves as a lovely reminder of the Christmas celebration, when the darkness of sin was scattered by the “true light who was coming into the world” (John 1:9). Moreover, it is a much-needed reminder during the remaining dark, long days of winter that, no matter how grave things may be, “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
In the feast of the presentation, we see that Jesus Christ is God’s light to the nations, “the light of the world” (John 8:12). We see Mary and Joseph humbly obeying the Law in offering Jesus to the Father, foreshadowing the offering he himself will make on the Cross. We see that, even when we experience times of darkness in our own lives, if we persevere in fidelity to the Gospel and to God’s commandments, if we allow our lives to reflect the light of Christ, then we, too, will become a light to others.
Ways to observe Candlemas
To celebrate this feast, consider purchasing (or even making!) special candles to keep and use in your home. If possible, bring these candles to your parish’s Candlemas celebration so that they can be blessed during Mass. If this isn’t possible, ask your priest to bless your candles at an alternate time. Then, throughout the year, light your blessed candles during dinner on special occasions (Sundays, feast days of favorite/patron saints, birthdays or anniversaries of baptisms, weddings or other sacraments), during times of prayer (especially if you pray at night alone or with your family) or during times of vigil (perhaps awaiting the birth of a child, caring for a sick family member or mourning the loss of a loved one).
The glow of a flickering flame may help rekindle your love for God in times of difficulty, or it may be a reflection of your joy. Regardless, it will serve as a sign of the One who is God’s light to the nations, God’s salvation to all people.
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Featured image: The Last Supper, Monreale Cathedral; PD.
Photo credit: Иерей Максим Массалитин, 2009/WikimediaCommons, some rights reserved
