Candlemas: The Feast of Light and Hope

On February 2, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, forty days after Christmas.
In the 1962 calendar the feast is called the “Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary” and commonly referred to as Candlemas.

The liturgy focuses on the meeting of Christ with the elderly Simeon. With Simeon we rest our hope in the Lord.
The Gospel includes the beautiful Canticle of Simeon, which is said at the Church’s Night Prayer.

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.

 

Even the popular name Candlemas hints at the “light to reveal you to the nations“ that we celebrate at Easter, the ultimate feast of Light. The blessing and procession of candles is more than a strong indicator of the upcoming Paschal Candle. There is also a link to the bees—candles for church use were traditionally required to be at least 51% beeswax, and the new Roman missal translation brings back the honor of bees in the Exultet in the Easter Vigil.


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