The Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Lord each year on February 2, a date that is forty days after Jesus’ birth. This feast day is traditionally known as Candlemas day, since the blessing and procession of candles is included in today's liturgy.
As declared by Pope John Paul II in 1997, today is the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. He attached it to Candlemas Day because the consecrated men and women in religious life are to be a light in the world, imitating Jesus, the true light of the world. In the Church’s liturgical calendar prior to the Second Vatican Council, this feast was referred to as the "Purification of Mary." This is known as a "Christmas feast,” since this feast day points back to our celebration of Christmas. Even though the Christmas season officially ended on January 8 this year in our celebration of the feast the Baptism of the Lord, the Vatican practices the tradition of keeping out the Nativity creche until this feast day.
In today’s first reading, we gain insight into the profound mystery of the Lord’s Presentation in the Temple by Mary and Joseph, which adhered to the canons of Mosaic Law. The Prophet Malachi states: “I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord who you seek.” The Gospels tell us that the precursor, St John the Baptist, was born 6 months before Jesus. God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Savior. Malachi’s words foretell the coming of the Lord. God promised that he would send a precursor to prepare the way. Since there is only 6 months between the birth of St John the Baptist and Jesus, it is clear that Malachi’s prophecy meant that suddenly after the precursor, the Lord himself will come. Jesus’ presentation signifies God’s entrance into his temple. Jesus, God-made-man, entered his temple, presenting himself to those who were intently searching for him.
St. Anselm (1033-1109), the Archbishop of Canterbury, spoke about the mystery of the Feast of the Presentation, considering three aspects of the blessed candles. He says, “The wax of the candles signifies the virginal flesh of the Divine Infant, the wick figures his soul, and the flame his divinity.”
We will use the following prayer for blessing the candles:
V: Our help is in the name of the Lord
R: The maker of heaven and earth.
V: The Lord be with you
R: And also with you.
Let us pray: O Gracious Father, almighty and eternal God, you created all things out of nothing, and by your command caused the labor of bees to be revealed in the perfection of wax. You commanded your servant Moses to keep lamps continually burning before you. Bless and sanctify these candles that their light may be for us a visible reminder of the true light who enlightens everyone coming into the world. As these candles, kindled with a visible flame, scatter the darkness of night, so also may our hearts be enlightened by the invisible fire of the Holy Spirit that we might avoid the darkness of sin, see your salvation, and attain to the Light that never fades away. All this we ask through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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