The feast of Candlemass celebrates the "purification" of Mary, and dedication of the firstborn to God, as was the Jewish custom.
The tradition of a candle-lit procession for this day is based on the words of Simeon proclaiming Jesus as "a light for revelation to the Gentiles."
The procession commemorates the journey of Joseph and Mary bringing this "light" into the temple.
My happiest memory of this feast was last year, when I attended a high Latin mass for the occasion. It wasn't too difficult to follow the rite with the books we had.
It was an event of much beauty, celebrated in an old Gothic-style church.
The ornate ophreys of the celebrants cope glinted gently as the choir sang their chants. The sweetness of their voices entwined with the perfumed smoke from the censer, drifted upwards as though whispering our prayers into the ear of God.
The altar and tabernacle glowed with medieval richness; Everything seemed to twinkle beneath a gossamer veil of natural light from the rose window. It was a peaceful half-light, whose shadows caused the candles to burn all the brighter.
The faces of the small children, men and women glowed in the light of the flame they held; glimpsing the dignity of hearts illumined by honouring the Holy Virgin and child...
An atmosphere of peace and calm purveyed.
But this year was different, the snow fell, and I walked with the children to school because the car would have preferred to ice-skate than drive.
My modern parish church was empty by the time I got there; a small dish of fourteen candles had been left to smoulder by the now absent parishoners.
But it smelled like the church of my childhood. Candle wax and incense.
And what's more, the Jesus of my childhood and of today was there - as always, so I asked Him and His mother if they would bring his light once again into the temples of our hearts and homes, to make those smouldering lamps shine brightly again.
Whether our Churches are built simply, or in some grand manner - our priority is to see what Simeon saw; to fix our eyes on the Saviour.
Here's what the scripture says:
Luke 2: 22 - 40
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
(The following prayer of Simeon is known as the "Nunc Dimitis")
29 "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31 which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him;
34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against
35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
37 and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
IMAGES: 1. Composite Candlemass 2. Simeon rosary 3. Our Lady of Fernyhalgh plaque(c)gnettesart2006
