10 Candlemas Things that Caught My Eye Today (Feb. 2, 2016)

Last updated on: February 3, 2016 at 11:55 pm by Kathryn Jean Lopez

10 Candlemas Things that Caught My Eye Today (Feb. 2, 2016) 2016-02-03T23:55:23-05:00 Kathryn Jean Lopez

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A blessed Candlemas to all! @ Dominican House of Studies, Washington DC https://t.co/DD0pcEcwAy

— Fr Lawrence Lew OP (@LawrenceOP) February 2, 2016

Stained glass window in the Dominican church of St Patrick's in Columbus OH of the Presentation of the Lord #op800 https://t.co/7zDM96EWFA

— Fr Lawrence Lew OP (@LawrenceOP) February 2, 2016

2. Now this is something to be enthusiastic for, via Saint Sophronius:

In honor of the divine mystery that we celebrate today, let us all hasten to meet Christ. Everyone should be eager to join the procession and to carry a light.

Our lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendor of the one who comes to expel the dark shadows of evil and to make the whole universe radiant with the brilliance of his eternal light. Our candles also show how bright our souls should be when we go to meet Christ.

The Mother of God, the most pure Virgin, carried the true light in her arms and brought him to those who lay in darkness. We too should carry a light for all to see and reflect the radiance of the true light as we hasten to meet him.

The light has come and has shone upon a world enveloped in shadows; the Dayspring from on high has visited us and given light to those who lived in darkness. This, then, is our feast, and we join in procession with lighted candles to reveal the light that has shone upon us and the glory that is yet to come to us through him. So let us hasten all together to meet our God.

The true light has come, the light that enlightens every man who is born into this world. Let all of us, my brethren, be enlightened and made radiant by this light. Let all of us share in its splendor, and be so filled with it that no one remains in the darkness. Let us be shining ourselves as we go together to meet and to receive with the aged Simeon the light whose brilliance is eternal. Rejoicing with Simeon, let us sing a hymn of thanksgiving to God, the Father of the light, who sent the true light to dispel the darkness and to give us all a share in his splendor.

Through Simeon’s eyes we too have seen the salvation of God which he prepared for all the nations and revealed as the glory of the new Israel, which is ourselves. As Simeon was released from the bonds of this life when he had seen Christ, so we too were at once freed from our old state of sinfulness.

By faith we too embraced Christ, the salvation of God the Father, as he came to us from Bethlehem. Gentiles before, we have now become the people of God. Our eyes have seen God incarnate, and because we have seen him present among us and have mentally received him into our arms, we are called the new Israel. Never shall we forget this presence; every year we keep a feast in his honor.

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which occurs 40 days after the birth of Jesus. pic.twitter.com/w4mkk3AxCx

— Diocese of Toledo (@DioceseToledo) February 2, 2016

What is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord? #feastday #candlemas #infographic pic.twitter.com/qVcopkhHQ5

— Archdiocese of TO (@archtoronto) February 2, 2016

Remembering the startling, prophetic words of Simeon today on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord today pic.twitter.com/tZzjnY2PJF

— Gretchen Crowe (@GretchenOSV) February 2, 2016

6. Fr. Steve Grunow at Word on Fire:

Simeon and Anna can see this revelation and appreciate it. For them the moment is as profound as it is bittersweet, for they know that with the beginning of this new age for Israel, the previous era has ended. Their mission is now complete. The Israel of the covenant, the prophets, the law, the temple, and the kingdom has been brought to its fulfillment. All these divine gifts were foreshadowings of the greatest of all divine Gifts- Christ the Lord- God with us.
The gifts of Israel will be returned to the world, but they will all be transformed in Christ, becoming what we know and experience as the Church.
Candles that are used in the Church’s rituals are often blessed on this day and a procession is recommended with candles to commemorate the entrance of Christ into the temple.
The symbolism of the candle is meant to recall the divine presence, manifested to Israel at the time of the Exodus as a “pillar of fire.” This “pillar of fire” led the Israelites from bondage in Egypt to the land of God’s promise. Christ is this “pillar of fire” who leads humanity from the bondage of sin and death to the promises of resurrection and eternal life.
It is Christ, the divine fire, that leads us still…

Simeon and Anna reveal the power of God’s grace flowing through the wisdom of the elderly.

— Bishop Barres (@BishopBarres) February 2, 2016

8. Pope Benedict XVI:

The “salvation” that Jesus brought to his people, and which he embodies in himself, passed through the Cross, through the violent death that he was to vanquish and to transform with the sacrifice of his life through love. This sacrifice was already foretold in the act of the Presentation in the Temple, an act without any doubt motivated by the traditions of the old Covenant, but that was deeply enlivened by the fullness of faith and love, which correspond to the fullness of time, to the presence of God and of his Holy Spirit in Jesus. Indeed, the Spirit moved over the whole scene of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple and in particular over Simeon, but also over Anna.
The Spirit “Paraclete” brings consolation to Israel and motivates the steps and moves the hearts of those who await him. He is the Spirit who prompted the prophetic words of Simeon and Anna, words of blessing and praise of God, of faith in his Annointed One, of thanksgiving, for at last our eyes could see and our arms embrace “your salvation” (cf. 2:30).

9. Today’s Mass readings.

10.

On the Presentation of the Lord, we pray that His Light may shine always in our lives and inspire those who may be living in darkness.

— Bishop Burbidge (@BishopBurbidge) February 2, 2016

PLUS 12 things from last year on this feast.

And one last thing: Today is the last day of the elongated year of consecrated life. (Everything you need to know about and its relevance my friend Fr. Roger Landry has probably written about.) This is a Q&A I did early on in the year with Sr. Marie Bernadette Thompson, O.P. about it.

And this and this was a highlight of the year I went to St. Louis for in the fall.

Uncategorized

Candlemas

Presentation of the Lord

Previous Post

February 1, 2016

10 Catholic Things that Caught My Eye Today (Feb. 1, 2016)

Next Post

February 3, 2016 10 Catholic Things that Caught My Eye Today (Feb. 3, 2016)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category B16 Christian Persecution Christianity Today Culture Good Links/Must Read HHS Mandate Holy Land Must Reads Prayer Religious Liberty Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian group is known for large-scale missionary work headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Latter-day Saints United Church of Christ Anglican Catholic