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
February 2nd is the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, forty days after his birth when Mary and Joseph went up to Jerusalem to ransom him according to the Law of Moses.
The feast used to be known as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is more often known as Candlemass Day as tradition holds that all the candles to be used in the church for the coming year are blessed on this day.
Previous posts on Candlemass Day available HERE.
And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him."
Candlemass is also the World Day for Consecrated Life and this weekend just passed marked the closing events of the Year for Consecrated Life and also the special jubilee event for religious in Rome.
(Vatican Radio) - Pope Francis has called on consecrated men and women to make courageous and prophetic choices, to not be afraid of getting their hands dirty and of walking the geographical and existential peripheries of mankind today. The Pope was speaking to consecrated men and women during Mass in St. Peter's Basilica marking the end of the Year of Consecrated Life.
Continue reading here.
(VIS) - Extensive extracts of the Holy Father's extemporaneous address to the participants in the Jubilee of Consecrated Life, which took place on 1st February 2016 in the Paul VI Hall are available here.
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