ON THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2019
This year the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord falls on Sunday, February 2nd. Some have inquired, therefore, concerning the appropriateness of blessing candles during Sunday Masses.
There are two forms for the Blessing of Candles in the Roman Missal, not unlike the Blessing of Palms on Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.
THE FIRST FORM
As on Palm Sunday, the first form includes a Procession from “a smaller church or other suitable place other than inside the church to which the procession will go,” where all are gathered with unlighted candles.
When the Priest (wearing a chasuble or cope) arrives with the ministers, the candles are lit as an appropriate chant is sung. He then makes the sign of the Cross, and greets them in the usual way and addresses them with the address provided or using similar words. The address recalls the origin of the feast, in commemoration of the fortieth day since the Nativity of the Lord, when Mary and Joseph presented him in the temple in fulfillment of the Law, how “in reality [Christ] was coming to meet his believing people.” The priest then recalls the story of Simeon and Anna and invites all present to be led by the Holy Spirit into the house of the Lord to encounter the Christ “in the breaking of the bread, until he comes again, revealed in glory.”
Then the Priest blesses the candles with his hands extended, using an ancient prayer recalling how God, “the source and origin of all light” became for Simeon the “Light for revelation to the Gentiles.” The prayer goes on to ask God to bless the candles “which we are eager to carry in praise of your name,
so that, treading the path of virtue, we may reach that light which never fails.” A shorter alternate prayer of blessing of modern composition is also provided.
so that, treading the path of virtue, we may reach that light which never fails.” A shorter alternate prayer of blessing of modern composition is also provided.
He then sprinkles the candles with holy water and imposes incense for the procession. Taking a candle himself, the Priest (if there is no deacon) announces: “Let us go in peace to meet the Lord.” as an appropriate chant is sung.
As the procession enters the Church, the Entrance Antiphon may be sung. He reverences the Altar in the customary fashion, incenses it, if it is the custom, and then goes to the chair and exchanges the cope (if worn) for the chasuble, as the Mass continues with the Gloria.
THE SECOND FORM
The second form (The Solemn Entrance) is simpler, and might be employed at other Masses. It begins in “a suitable place” either outside the front door or inside the Church, as either the whole assembly or a representative group hold unlighted candles. The Priest (wearing the chasuble) and ministers go to meet them. At the Cathedral we are gathering at the cross aisle. When the ministers arrive, the candles are lit, as an appropriate song is sung. There he greets the people and blesses the candles, as above, and the procession to the altar takes place with appropriate singing.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Is the blessing of candles on Sunday required?
No. The Blessing of Candles is an optional rite. It may be appropriate to do one of the forms at one Mass or all Masses, but this depends entirely on pastoral circumstances.
Should candles be given to all the people present and blessed?
Candles may be given to everyone or to a representative group of the faithful, who would take part in the procession. Any kind of candles may be used, even the small assembly candles used at the Easter Vigil. Cost will be a factor.
If everyone receives candles, what do they do with them afterward?
Families might be encouraged to take the candle home and put it in the same location which the Christmas crib occupied or even on the dining room table. A simple prayer like “Christ, light of the world, bless our family” might be incorporated into their blessing before meals for as long as the candle lasts.
Our parish usually blesses throats on the Sunday closest to the feast of Saint Blaise. Can we bless both candles and throats at this Mass?
If the blessing of throats on a Sunday has been the custom, preference should be given to the blessing of candles on the feast of the Presentation and throats might be blessed on the following Sunday.
What is the origin of the Feast of the Presentation?
Jesus’ presentation in the Temple, as described in Luke 2:22–39, was in fulfillment of the Mosaic law, whereby the mother of a male child concluded her period of purification forty days after his birth, just as the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates her ritual purification by presenting Jesus in the Temple. The Feast of the Presentation of the the Lord dates to at least the fourth century in Jerusalem where the pilgrim Egeria describes a procession on “the fortieth day” after the feast of the Nativity of the Lord in Jerusalem. Two hundred years later, in the midst of a terrible plague, great processions with candles were ordered on this day in every town asking for the deliverance from evil and the plague abated. From that time, the feast also came to be known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin and The Meeting of the Lord.
What should the homily be about?
The themes for the homily might center around encountering Christ, recalling the story of Simeon and Anna, or the coming of Christ our light into a world darkened by sin. Among those homilies which might be reviewed are a 1997 homily by Pope Saint John Paul II and a 2011 homily by Pope Benedict XVI.
