Merry Candlemas Day!
Candlemas is the 40th day after Christmas, and was traditionally the end of the Christmas Season. (It’s also the midpoint of the winter season, which would connect with the legend of Groundhog Day.) It is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Luke 2:22-40 recounts how the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph brought the Baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. There, a godly man named Simeon praised God when He saw Jesus, the Messiah, with these words:
“Now, Master, You may let Your servant go in peace, according to Your word,
for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You prepared in sight of all the peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for Your people Israel.
Luke 2:29-32 NABRE
These words are regularly prayed by priests and religious brothers and sisters in the Nighttime Compline Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. It’s a great prayer to offer right before you go to bed as you give thanks to God for another day and the ways you encountered His Presence and seek His blessing for a peaceful night of sleep.
February 2 is traditionally a day when candles are blessed at Church, hence the name Candlemas. As a gift, you are getting a small tea light candle, which received a special priestly blessing. Please take it home and light it, in a candle holder or something similar, like when you have dinner with your family, and be reminded of Christ, the Light of the World, and the Light you have received from Christ in baptism.
Because it is blessed, you must be sure the wick is burned down completely before it goes in the garbage. It should stay lit for a total of 30-40 minutes of burn time.
Also, there is a window in Ascension Church that depicts the scene of Christ's Presentation in the Temple. It is above the side entrance doors near the sacristy, around the corner from the Virgin Mary's altar, and at the far end of the parking lot, close to the Ascension School building.
We look forward to the upcoming celebration of Confirmation this coming weekend.
God's blessings,
Debbie Lopez
Paul Rubio
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