FEBRUARY 2: THE PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
White Double 2 Class
The Feast of Candlemas, which derives its origin from the local observance of Jerusalem, marks the end of the Feasts included in the Christmas cycle of the liturgy. It is perhaps the most ancient festival of Our Lady. It commemorates, however, not only the obedience of the Blessed Virgin to the Mosaic Law in going to Jerusalem forty days after the birth of her Child and making the accustomed offerings, but also the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, and the meeting of the Infant Jesus with the old man Simeon --- the Occursus Domini, as the Feast was anciently termed. This is the principal theme of the liturgy on this day: Jesus is taken to the Temple “to present Him to the Lord.” So the Lord comes to His Temple, and is met by the aged Simeon with joy and recognition.
The procession on this day is one of the most picturesque features of the Western liturgy. The blessing and distribution of candles, to be carried lighted in procession, preceded the Mass today ---- a symbolic presentation of the truth proclaimed in the Canticle of Simeon: Our Lord is the “Light for the revelation of the Gentiles.” The anthems sung during this procession, Eastern in origin, well expressed the joy and gladness of this happy festival, and the honor and praise we give to our Blessed Lady and her Divine Son by this devout observance.
Prayer for the blessing of the candles
O Lord Jesus Christ, the true Light who enlightenst every man that cometh into this world: pour forth Thy blessing + upon these candles, and sanctify + them with the light of Thy grace, and mercifully grant, that as these lights enkindled with visible fire, dispel the darkness of night, so our hearts illumined by invisible fire, that is, the splendor of the Holy Spirit, may be free from the blindness of all vice, that the eye of our mind being cleansed, we may be able to discern what is pleasing to Thee and profitable to our salvation; so that after the perilous darkness of this life we may deserve to attain to neverfailing light: through Thee, O Christ Jesus, Savior of the world, who in the perfect Trinity, livest and reignest, God, world without end. Amen.
- from The New Marian Missal (c. 1950)
by Sylvester P. Juergens, S.M.
(Doctor of Sacred Theology)
The Canticle of Simeon
Now, Master, You can let Your servant go in peace, just as You promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared for all the nations to see, a Light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel. – Luke 2:29-32
Let us pray,
Lord, we adore You for great mercy for us.
Thank You for revealing to us Your Son, Jesus Christ
to be the light of our salvation.
By Your grace, help us to be obedient to Your
Divine will as Mother Mary was.
May we trust in Your promises as Simeon did.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, purify our hearts
And inflame them with the fires of Thy love.
We ask these through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.
White Double 2 Class
The Feast of Candlemas, which derives its origin from the local observance of Jerusalem, marks the end of the Feasts included in the Christmas cycle of the liturgy. It is perhaps the most ancient festival of Our Lady. It commemorates, however, not only the obedience of the Blessed Virgin to the Mosaic Law in going to Jerusalem forty days after the birth of her Child and making the accustomed offerings, but also the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, and the meeting of the Infant Jesus with the old man Simeon --- the Occursus Domini, as the Feast was anciently termed. This is the principal theme of the liturgy on this day: Jesus is taken to the Temple “to present Him to the Lord.” So the Lord comes to His Temple, and is met by the aged Simeon with joy and recognition.
The procession on this day is one of the most picturesque features of the Western liturgy. The blessing and distribution of candles, to be carried lighted in procession, preceded the Mass today ---- a symbolic presentation of the truth proclaimed in the Canticle of Simeon: Our Lord is the “Light for the revelation of the Gentiles.” The anthems sung during this procession, Eastern in origin, well expressed the joy and gladness of this happy festival, and the honor and praise we give to our Blessed Lady and her Divine Son by this devout observance.
Prayer for the blessing of the candles
O Lord Jesus Christ, the true Light who enlightenst every man that cometh into this world: pour forth Thy blessing + upon these candles, and sanctify + them with the light of Thy grace, and mercifully grant, that as these lights enkindled with visible fire, dispel the darkness of night, so our hearts illumined by invisible fire, that is, the splendor of the Holy Spirit, may be free from the blindness of all vice, that the eye of our mind being cleansed, we may be able to discern what is pleasing to Thee and profitable to our salvation; so that after the perilous darkness of this life we may deserve to attain to neverfailing light: through Thee, O Christ Jesus, Savior of the world, who in the perfect Trinity, livest and reignest, God, world without end. Amen.
- from The New Marian Missal (c. 1950)
by Sylvester P. Juergens, S.M.
(Doctor of Sacred Theology)
The Canticle of Simeon
Now, Master, You can let Your servant go in peace, just as You promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared for all the nations to see, a Light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel. – Luke 2:29-32
Let us pray,
Lord, we adore You for great mercy for us.
Thank You for revealing to us Your Son, Jesus Christ
to be the light of our salvation.
By Your grace, help us to be obedient to Your
Divine will as Mother Mary was.
May we trust in Your promises as Simeon did.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, purify our hearts
And inflame them with the fires of Thy love.
We ask these through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.
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