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The Feast of Candlemas, which derives its origin from the local observance
of Jerusalem,
marks the end of the Feasts included in the Christmas cycle of the liturgy. It is perhaps the most ancient festival of Our
Lady. It commemorates, however, not only the obedience of the Blessed Virgin to the Mosaic Law in going to Jerusalem
forty days after the birth of her Child and making the accustomed offerings, but also the Presentation of Our Lord in
the Temple, and the meeting of the Infant Jesus with the old man Simeon—the Occursus Domini, as the Feast was anciently
termed. This is the principal theme of the liturgy on this day: Jesus is taken to the Temple "to present Him to the Lord. So the Lord comes to His Temple, and is met by the aged Simeon with joy and recognition.
The procession on this day is one of the most picturesque features of the Western
liturgy. The blessing and distribution of candles, to be carried, to be lighted in procession, preceded the Mass today—a
symbolic presentation of the truth proclaimed in the Canticle of Simeon: Our Lord is the "Light for the revelation of the
Gentiles." The anthems sung during this procession, eastern in origin, well express the joy and gladness of this happy festival,
and the honor and praise we give to our Blessed Lady and her Divine Son by this devout observance.
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| Candlemas - February 2, 2008 |
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| St. Peter's Church, Troy, NY |
Gospel Reading for Candlemas
From: Luke 2:22-32
The Purification
of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
[22] And when the time came for their purification according
to the law of Moses, they (Joseph and Mary) brought Him (Jesus) up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord [23] (as it is
written in the law of the Lord, "every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") [24] and to offer a sacrifice
according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons."
Simeon's
Prophecy
[25] Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout,
looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. [26] And it had been revealed to him by the Holy
Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. [27] And inspired by the Spirit he came into the
temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, [28] he took Him
up in his arms and blessed God and said, [29] "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;
[30] for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation [31] which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, [32] a light for
revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory to Thy people Israel."
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