Next Sunday, the Presentation of the Lord, commonly known as Candlemas, holds a special place in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. Celebrated annually on February 2, this feast recalls the Jewish rite of purification for Mary and the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, which also serves as a profound moment of revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Israel as prophesied by Simeon. It is a day imbued with themes of light, purity, and the meeting of God with His people.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal contains an entire section devoted to the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar. It states the following: “If several celebrations fall on the same day, the one that holds the highest rank according to the Table of Liturgical Days is observed.” In the hierarchy of liturgical celebrations contained within the Universal Norms, Feasts of the Lord outrank Sundays in Ordinary time. As February 2 falls on a Sunday this calendar year, the Church will celebrate this feast at all of the weekend Masses on February 1-2.
When you come to Mass that weekend, there will be unblessed beeswax candles at each of the entrances. Please take one as they will be blessed at the beginning of Mass. You are invited to take these sacramentals home with you. If you have other beeswax candles that you wish to have blessed, bring them with you to Mass, as well.
To begin Mass, while wearing a cope, the Priest and ministers gather just outside the main church, while everyone holds unlit candles, symbolizing the anticipation of Christ’s light. This act recalls the prophecy of Malachi about the Lord coming to His temple. The white vestments symbolize purity and joy.
As candles are lit, an antiphon is sung setting a tone of solemnity and anticipation. This echoes the moment of recognition by Simeon and Anna, who were led by the Holy Spirit to witness the Messiah. The Priest blesses the candles with prayers that ask for sanctification through divine light. These prayers are laden with symbolism, asking that the light of Christ might guide the faithful in virtue and towards eternal light.
The procession into the church is a liturgical act symbolizing the journey of the faithful toward Christ, and it emphasizes the joy of Christ’s entry into the world and the Temple. The procession culminates at the altar, where the Mass begins with the Entrance Antiphon, also integrating the themes of light and salvation. After incensing the altar, the Priest takes off the cope and wears a chasuble followed by the singing of the hymn, Gloria in excelsis. Mass then continues in the usual manner.
The Presentation of the Lord is not a mere remembrance but an active participation in the mystery of Christ’s revelation, purification, and the ongoing encounter with God through the liturgical life of the Church. It invites the faithful to see themselves as part of this divine narrative, carrying the light of Christ into the world. May we always walk in the light of Jesus and serve Him faithfully.