What is Candlemas?
Candlemas, also known as Feast of the Presentation of Jesus, is a Christian holiday. It takes place forty days after Christmas, making it take place on February 2. Candlemas is the
blessing of candles, which were traditionally made from beeswax. After the priest sings the five orations prescribed, he will sprinkle the candles three times with holy water. The choir and parishioners sing the hymn "Aspérges Me". The priest will then distribute candles to the clergy and laity while the choir sings "The Canticle of Simeon". Following the procession, the participants carry the lighted candles and the choir sings the hymn “Adorna thalamum tuum, Sion” (“Adorn the bridal chamber, O Zion”) composed by St. John of Damascus.
The solemn procession represents the entry of Christ into the Temple of Jerusalem. Although processions are held inside the church now, during the Middle Ages the clergy left
the church and visited the cemetery surrounding it. Upon the return of the procession, a priest, carrying an image of the Holy Child, met it at the door and entered the church with the clergy. As the church was entering the sanctuary, the choir
would sing a hymn in honor of the Blessed Virgin.
What does Mosaic Law say?
According to the Mosaic law, a mother who had given birth to a son was considered unclean for seven days. On the eighth day, the son was circumcised. The mother continued to stay at home for thirty-three days for her blood to be purified
If a woman had given birth to a daughter, her time outside the temple was doubled, making it eighty days. Once the mother's time was over, the mother and father would come to the temple for the rite of purification. Which included a sacrifice: a lamb for a holocaust (burnt offering) and a pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering. Then the priest would pray for her and she would be cleansed.
Forty days after the birth of Jesus Christ, Mary was complied with this precept of the law. She recovered Jesus from the temple and was purified through the prayer of Simeon and in the presence of Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:22).
The importance of faithful parents.
As we consider the feast of the Presentation, we must remember that our parents offered us at the church for our baptism. We were then dedicated to God and given the
honorable title: Christian. We have also received a lit candle, from the paschal candle, to which the priest said, “You have been enlightened by Christ. Walk always as a child of the light and keep the flame of faith alive in your heart. When the Lord comes, may you go out to meet Him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.” Therefore, as a light, each of us must bear witness to the Lord our God. We must be the beacon that guides our lost brothers and sister to Christ. We must also realize that we reflect a light onto our faith, so we must do good things through Christ and try to live our lives through him.