The Days of Candles and Light

This week, we have 2 feast days that have to do with candles. Today is Candlemas. Many churches will bless any candles that you bring to Mass today.

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Blaise when Catholics get their throats blessed using 2 crossed candles.

Thankfully the days are getting longer this time of year and Light seems to be on the horizon. The Church uses the seasons and physical symbols to remind us of greater truths.

Light a Candle for Candlemas

Today is the feast with many names. The Presentation of Christ in the Temple is also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, because traditionally, women went to the temple on the 8th day after birth of a son to be purified. In Eastern Orthodoxy, it is known as Hypatante which means "Meeting" in Greek.

Today's feast is also known as Candlemas because, traditionally, it is when the bees wax candles are blessed for use in the church year. Many parishes ask parishioners to bring in their own candles and have them blessed for use in the next year.

If you can't get to Mass today to have your candles blessed, or even if you can, light a few candles today and say a prayer in honor of Christ, His Mother, and of Candlemas.

My eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared 
in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.


~From the Gospel for Candlemas; 
the Book of Luke

God bless you all!

Happy Candlemas!!

Today is Candlemas Day--the day when all the candles used for the upcoming year are traditionally blessed. Candlemas marks the day when winter is halfway over. We are now midway between the shortest day of the year and the Spring Equinox. For those of us who think that having a Christmas season that lasts until January 6 is a long time, there are some cultures who celebrate it until Candlemas!

Candlemas is also the origin of Groundhog Day. Here is the nursery rhyme that we still follow (albeit in a more secular context) today:

If Candlemas day (2 February) be dry and fair
The half o' winters to come and mair
If Candlemas day be wet and foul
The half o' winter's gane at Yule.

Here is a more modern version:

If Candlemas day be bright and fair,
There’ll be two winters in a year.
If Candlemas be fair & bright,
winter will have another flight.

On the church calendar it is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple, also known as the Purification of Mary. On this day, Jesus was circumcised in the temple and given His Name, and Mary, as a new mother, went through the ritual of purification. It is also when the prophet Simeon and Prophetess, Anna recognized that the Baby in Mary' arms was indeed the promised Christ Child.  Simeon also prophesied that "a sword will pierce your (Mary's) soul," which is the origin of many works of art of the Sorrowful Mother.

Christ, be our Light! 

Happy Candlemas

Today is the feast of Candlemas--The Presentation of Christ in the Temple. (The 4th Joyful Mystery of the Rosary).

Forty days after the birth of Christ, Our Lady followed Mosaic law and presented Him in the temple, along with a sacrifice of two turtle doves or young pigeons.

Around the 11th century, the custom of blessing candles came into practice. Catholic Encyclopedia describes it this way:

According to the Roman Missal the celebrant after Terce, in stole and cope of purple colour, standing at the epistle side of the altar, blesses the candles (which must be of beeswax). Having sung or recited the five orations prescribed, he sprinkles and incenses the candles. Then he distributes them to the clergy and laity, whilst the choir sings the canticle of Simeon, "Nunc dimittis". The solemn procession represents the entry of Christ, who is the Light of the World, into the Temple of Jerusalem.

Nunc Dimittis

Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace:

Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum

Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum:

Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.

Now, Lord, 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.