Candlemas

Candlemas

The Purification of Our Lady & Presentation of Our Lord

The Law of Moses dictated that a mother must remain in private, “unclean”, for forty days after the birth of a son, after which time she would go to the Temple and offer a lamb and a turtledove—or, if the family was poor, simply two turtledoves. The Blessed Virgin Mary, immaculately conceived, had no spiritual need to be purified in this way, but nonetheless, in humility she and St. Joseph submitted to the letter of the law. Forty days after Our Lord’s Nativity, the Holy Family went to the Temple at Jerusalem with the poor offering of two turtledoves, though in truth they did bring a lamb as well—the Lamb of God Himself. There in the Temple the holy Simeon, overjoyed at beholding the Messiah as he was promised, took the Christ-Child into his arms and delivered his Canticle, the Nunc dimittis, and also foretold the sorrows of the Blessed Mother. Today Simeon and the holy widow Anna the Prophetess represent all the faithful of the Old Covenant, and the ancient liturgical blessing of candles and subsequent procession represent the light of revelation to the Gentiles, of which Simeon sang. This feast of Candlemas concludes fully the Christmas season.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for February 2nd

THE Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called by the Greeks Hypapante (meeting) of the Lord.

At Rome, on the Salarian road, the passion of St. Apronian, a notary. Whilst he was yet a Gentile, and was leading St. Sisinius out of prison, to present him before the governor Laodicius, he heard a voice from heaven saying, “Come ye, the blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.” At once he believed, was baptized, and after confessing our Lord, received sentence of death.

Also, at Rome, the holy martyrs Fortunatus, Felician, Firmus and Candidus.

At Caesarea, in Palestine, St. Cornelius, a centurion, whom the blessed apostle Peter baptized, and raised to the episcopal dignity in that city.

At Orleans, the holy bishop Flosculus.

At Canterbury, in England, the birthday of St. Lawrence, bishop, who succeeded St. Augustine in the government of that church, and converted the king himself to the faith.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.