The Presentation of the Lord: A Feast of Light and Faith

by Fr. John Granato  |  01/26/2025  |  Words from Fr. John

My Dear Friends,

Next Sunday, February 2nd, the Church celebrates the Presentation of the Lord. This feast is scriptural, meaning that in the Old Testament, the law prescribed that parents would take their newborn child to the Temple forty days after birth. Joseph and Mary are fulfilling the law by bringing Jesus to the Temple, forty days after the Nativity. It is in the Temple that Anna and Simeon both approach the parents and acknowledge that this child is who they were both waiting to see. It is Simeon’s words that give the foundation for blessing candles on this day (commonly called Candlemas). Simeon says, “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 the sight of all the peoples; a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)

Next week, I will be blessing candles for you to take home as a symbol of Christ’s light and the gift of faith. We will have candles supplied by the parish, but you are always welcome to bring your own candles from your home to be blessed at the beginning of the Mass. The blessing is as follows, “O God, source and origin of all light, who on this day showed to the just man Simeon the Light for revelation to the Gentiles, we humbly ask that, in answer to your people’s prayers, you may be pleased to sanctify with your blessing these candles, which we are eager to carry in praise of your name, so that, treading the path of virtue, we may reach that light which never fails. Through Christ our Lord.”

Next week, we will also bless the candles that will be used for the blessing of the throats for St. Blaise, which we will bless at the end of Mass.

God bless.