The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord has been celebrated on February 2nd in the Latin (Western) Church since the fifth century. This year, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord falls on a Sunday. This occurs approximately four times every 25 years.
This feast marks the ritual Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem, as described in Luke 2:22-40. The Gospel story includes the offering by Mary and Joseph of a pair of turtle doves and the encounters with Anna and Simeon.
At the end of Simeon’s prayer (which is prayed each day at Night Prayer as the Gospel Canticle), he describes the Christ Child as “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” For this reason, this rite also has included the blessing of candles.
As the Virgin Mother carried in her arms the Light Himself who came to dispel the darkness of the world with God’s love, so candles for liturgical and devotional purposes have come to be blessed on this day since at least the Middle Ages.
Indeed, the day has frequently been referred to as “Candlemas” throughout the English-speaking world.
The Church prescribes a particular entrance rite for this special day during which you will be invited to hold lit candles until the conclusion of the opening prayer.
For those of you reading this online prior to coming to this celebratory Mass, please feel free to bring with you any candles you wish to have blessed.