Sunday February 2nd : Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Also known as Candlemas, this feast commemorates three distinct but related historical events in the life of the Holy Family. It marks the day when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem, exactly 40 days after his birth. The Mosaic Law required them to consecrate their firstborn son to God (Exodus 13). Additionally, the law required Mary to submit to ritual purification forty days after childbirth (Leviticus 12:2-8). The ritual involved making a sacrificial offering in the temple. The Gospel of Luke tells us that as Mary and Joseph were poor, they took the option provided for those who could not afford a lamb, sacrificing “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:22-24). Neither Mary (perfectly pure and conceived without sin) nor Jesus (God himself) were in need of being purified and consecrated to God; however, they submitted themselves in perfect obedience to God and to the Law of Moses.
Our current church calendar focuses this day on the Presentation but in previous eras the Church highlighted the Purification of Mary. (There’s also a Church custom of “churching” or blessing women forty days after childbirth. It reintroduced the woman to society after her period of recovery at home. Today, churching is now usually replaced by the blessing of the mother takes place at the baby’s baptism ceremony, but can be done here at SMV on request.)
Today’s feast also commemorates the encounter in the temple between the Holy Family and Saint Simeon the prophet and Saint Anna the prophetess. This is the third and final infancy epiphany of Jesus (the first was to the Hebrew shepherds; the second to the Gentile kings; this third one to the elders of the Israelites).
Today’s feast is known by the title Candlemas because of the words of Saint Simeon when he met the child Jesus in the temple: “For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32). Jesus is the Light of the World. On this feast day, the Church blesses candles for use throughout the year on the altars and votive stands and vigil/tabernacle lights (this has been a church tradition at least since the seventh century).
Traditionally, families also bring their own candles to church to be blessed on this feast. These family candles are usually regular white Dining Room Candles, and once blessed, represent the fact that the light of the world is here; the light is coming into a dark world as the Church calendar progresses towards the brightness of Easter.
Please remember to bring FAMILY CANDLES this year for the Candlemas Blessing. These family Candles will be blessed at all three Masses
The church will NOT be providing those marketed as so called “Candlemas Candles” by religious supply houses (at a significantly higher price than plain white dinner candles, (which are more historically accurate)
Look to the Bulletin on Sunday, February 2nd for information about celebrating Candlemas after Mass in your homes
Faithfully, Your Friend and Pastor, Fr. Christopher C. Stainbrook, KHS