Feast Day: February 2

Also Known As: Candlemas, The Purification of Mary, The Meeting of the Lord

The Final Christmas Mystery

Forty days after Christmas, the Church celebrates a feast that serves as the beautiful finale to the Christmas season. The Presentation of the Lord, observed on February 2, commemorates the day when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem in obedience to the Law of Moses. This seemingly simple act of religious observance became one of the most profound moments in salvation history—a moment when heaven and earth met, when ancient prophecies were fulfilled, and when the light of the world was first publicly recognized.

This feast has been celebrated since the earliest centuries of Christianity and carries multiple layers of meaning, reflected in its various names throughout Church history.

The Biblical Account: Luke 2:22-40

The Gospel of Luke provides the only biblical account of this event:

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 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." (Luke 2:22-24)

This simple passage contains profound theological truths about who Jesus is and what his mission would be.

Three Sacred Obligations Fulfilled

The Presentation of Jesus fulfilled three distinct requirements under the Law of Moses, each revealing something essential about the Holy Family:

1. The Consecration of the Firstborn (Exodus 13:2, 12-15)

According to Jewish law, every firstborn male child belonged to God in a special way, commemorating the night of the Passover when God spared the firstborn sons of Israel while striking down the firstborn of Egypt. Parents were required to "redeem" or buy back their firstborn son through a ritual presentation at the Temple.

The Profound Irony: Jesus, who is God himself, is being consecrated to God. The Creator is being presented to his own Temple. The One who owns everything is being symbolically "bought back" by his earthly parents. This act of obedience reveals the humility of the Incarnation—God submitting to his own law.

2. Mary's Purification After Childbirth (Leviticus 12:1-8)

Forty days after giving birth to a son, a Jewish woman was required to undergo a ritual purification and offer sacrifice at the Temple. The law specified a lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering. However, for those who could not afford a lamb, the law permitted offering two turtledoves or two young pigeons instead.

The Revelation of Poverty: Luke explicitly tells us that Mary and Joseph brought "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons"—the offering of the poor. This detail reveals that the Holy Family lived in genuine poverty. The King of Kings was born into a family that could not afford even a small lamb for sacrifice.

The Beautiful Paradox: Mary, who was conceived without sin and remained ever-virgin, had no need of purification. Yet she submitted to this ritual in perfect obedience and humility. The only truly pure woman who ever lived participated in a purification ceremony. This foreshadows how Jesus himself, though sinless, would submit to John's baptism of repentance.

3. The Public Presentation at the Temple

Though not strictly required by law for all families, it was customary to bring the child to the Temple for blessing. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus not just to fulfill legal obligations, but to present him publicly to God in his own house.

This presentation takes on cosmic significance: the co-eternal Son was presented in the Temple and revealed by the Spirit as the glory of Israel and Light of the Nations.

The Unexpected Prophets: Simeon and Anna

When Mary and Joseph arrived at the Temple with the infant Jesus, they encountered two remarkable figures who had been waiting their entire lives for this moment.

Simeon: The Righteous Man Who Could Finally Rest

The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah. On this particular day, moved by the Holy Spirit, Simeon came to the Temple precisely when the Holy Family arrived.

When he saw the child, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and proclaimed one of the most beautiful prayers in Scripture, known as the Nunc Dimittis (Latin for "Now you dismiss"):

"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel." (Luke 2:29-32)

This canticle reveals several profound truths:

Universal Salvation: Jesus came not only for Israel but for "all peoples"—Jews and Gentiles alike
Light in Darkness: Jesus is described as light, a theme that will dominate this feast's liturgical celebration
Fulfillment of Promise: Simeon's long waiting was over; God's promises were being fulfilled

But Simeon's prophecy did not end with joy. He turned to Mary and spoke words that would pierce her heart:

"This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too." (Luke 2:34-35)

Even at this moment of joy, the shadow of the cross falls across the scene. Simeon prophesied that Jesus would bring division—some would rise through faith in him, others would fall through rejection. And Mary herself would experience profound suffering, a sword piercing her heart as she stood at the foot of the cross watching her son die.

Anna: The Prophetess Who Never Left the Temple

Immediately after Simeon's prophecy, another figure approached—Anna, described as a prophetess. She is the only woman in the New Testament explicitly given this title, placing her in the line of great Old Testament prophetesses like Deborah and Huldah.

Luke tells us Anna's story in just a few verses, but they reveal an extraordinary life:

She was from the tribe of Asher (one of the northern tribes)
She had been married for only seven years before becoming a widow
She was now 84 years old (or possibly had been a widow for 84 years, making her around 105)
She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying

For decades—perhaps more than sixty years—Anna had devoted her entire life to prayer, fasting, and worship in the Temple. She had been waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem, praying constantly for the coming of the Messiah.

And now, at this precise moment, she arrived just as Simeon was holding the Christ child.

Her response was immediate and powerful:

"Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." (Luke 2:38)

Anna became the first evangelist of the infant Messiah, proclaiming the good news to all the faithful Jews who, like her, were waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled.

Why "Candlemas"? The Blessing of Light

The most popular name for this feast in Christian tradition has been "Candlemas," derived from the custom of blessing candles on this day. But why candles?

The Symbolism of Light

The connection comes directly from Simeon's prophecy, in which he called Jesus "a light for revelation to the Gentiles." Jesus himself would later declare, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12).

Light is one of the most powerful symbols in Christianity:

Light dispels darkness (ignorance, sin, evil)
Light reveals truth (what is hidden becomes visible)
Light guides (showing the way forward)
Light warms (providing comfort and life)

The Ancient Tradition

From very early in Church history, Christians have taken their candles to their local church on this day, where they are blessed and then used for the rest of the year. These blessed candles serve multiple purposes:

Liturgical Use: Lighting candles during family prayer, especially during storms, illness, or times of spiritual warfare
Sacramental Moments: Holding candles during baptisms, being present at deathbeds, accompanying prayer during emergencies
Symbolic Reminder: Keeping blessed candles in the home as a reminder that Christ is the Light who dispels all darkness

The Candlelight Procession

The traditional liturgy for this feast includes a beautiful procession. The priest blesses candles, often incense is used, and then everyone processes into the church holding lighted candles while singing the Nunc Dimittis—Simeon's canticle. This procession symbolizes:

Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus into the Temple
Christ the Light entering into the darkness of the world
Our own journey toward Christ, carrying his light
The triumph of light over darkness

Many parishes encourage families to bring candles from home to be blessed and then take them back for use throughout the year.

The Liturgical Bridge: From Christmas to Easter

The Feast of the Presentation serves as a crucial liturgical bridge in the Church's calendar. It is the final feast of the Christmas cycle, occurring 40 days after December 25, but it also points forward to the Paschal Mystery.

The End of Christmas

In traditional Catholic practice, manger scenes should not be put away until Candlemas, which is the last feast of the Christmas cycle. This feast provides a fitting conclusion to our celebration of the Nativity, as we see the Christ child publicly recognized and proclaimed in the Temple.

The Foreshadowing of Easter

Yet even as we celebrate Christmas, the liturgy directs our gaze toward Calvary:

Simeon's Sword Prophecy: Mary is warned that suffering will pierce her heart
The Offering of the Poor: The two birds foreshadow the sacrifice Jesus himself will make
Entry into the Temple: Just as Jesus entered the Temple as an infant, he will later enter Jerusalem to make his body the true Temple through his death and resurrection

The connection becomes even more explicit in the liturgical year. The same procession with candles on February 2 will be echoed by:

Palm Sunday: Procession with palms as Jesus enters Jerusalem
Easter Vigil: Procession with the Paschal Candle, celebrating Christ's resurrection

All three processions involve movement from darkness to light, from outside to inside, from death to life.

World Day for Consecrated Life

In 1997, Pope St. John Paul II instituted the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life, to be celebrated annually on the Feast of the Presentation. This was no arbitrary choice.

Why This Connection?

He attached it to "Candlemas Day" because the consecrated men and women are to be the light in the world, imitating Jesus, the Light of the World.

Additionally, the connection runs deeper:

Simeon and Anna as Models: These two faithful servants represent the vocation to consecrated life. They spent their lives in the Temple, devoted to prayer, fasting, and worship. Their whole existence was oriented toward God and waiting for his promises. They are images of religious life—the complete dedication of oneself to God.

The Symbolism of Burning Candles: The burning wax of a candle is a symbol of purity and of a whole, undivided offering that is consumed in its entirety. This perfectly represents the consecrated life, in which a person offers themselves completely to God, holding nothing back.

Mary's Own Consecration: Mary herself represents the perfection of consecrated life—her complete fiat, her total self-gift to God, her virginal consecration. In presenting Jesus at the Temple, she presents the fruit of her own consecration.

On this day, the Church gives special thanks for:

Consecrated religious (monks, nuns, brothers, sisters)
Those in religious institutes
Members of secular institutes
Consecrated virgins
Hermits
All who have made vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience

In many parishes, this day of prayer is transferred to the following Sunday so that the entire parish community can honor and pray for those living the consecrated life.

Popular Traditions and Customs

Throughout the centuries, various beautiful customs have developed around this feast:

Christmas Decorations

Many Catholic families observe the tradition of leaving Christmas decorations up until Candlemas, particularly the Nativity scene (crèche). This custom recognizes that the Christmas season liturgically extends to this feast. When the decorations are taken down on February 2, it marks a definitive transition from Christmas to Ordinary Time (or, if later in some years, to the beginning of Lent).

Blessing Throats

In some regions, the blessing of throats (the Blessing of St. Blaise, whose feast is February 3) is moved to Candlemas or combined with it, creating a day of multiple blessings.

Crepes and Candlelight

A charming French tradition calls Candlemas "La Chandeleur" (The Feast of Candles) or even "Crepe Day." Families make crepes—both savory for dinner and sweet for dessert. Some families observe the tradition of eating by candlelight only on this evening, using no electric lights.

Home Blessing

It's traditional to light blessed candles during family prayer throughout the year, especially during:

Storms and natural disasters
Times of illness
When someone is dying
During spiritual attacks or times of fear
Family prayers and rosary

Many families keep blessed Candlemas candles near their crucifix, icon, or home altar.

The Groundhog Connection

Interestingly, the American tradition of Groundhog Day on February 2 has its roots in Candlemas! The German conclusion that if the sun appeared on Candlemas, a hedgehog would cast a shadow, making a "second winter," was the origin of the modern American festival of Groundhog Day, as many of Pennsylvania's early settlers were German.

Old European weather lore held that:

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another flight
If Candlemas Day be cloudy and grey, winter soon will pass away

German immigrants to Pennsylvania transferred this tradition from hedgehogs to groundhogs, creating the secular custom we know today.

Theological Reflections: The Deeper Meanings

The Humility of God

Throughout this feast, we see God's stunning humility on display:

God submits to his own law
The Eternal Word is carried in human arms
The One who owns the Temple is presented in it as if he needed consecration
The Creator allows himself to be "bought back" with birds

This humility would reach its culmination on the cross, when God himself would die at human hands.

The Obedience of Mary and Joseph

Mary and Joseph's faithful observance of the Law, even when technically unnecessary (neither Mary nor Jesus needed purification or consecration), demonstrates perfect obedience. They model for us:

Humble submission to God's will
Faithful observance of religious duties
Trust in divine providence despite poverty
Public witness to their faith

The Recognition by the Faithful Remnant

Neither the priests nor the powerful recognized Jesus when he was presented in the Temple. Instead, recognition came from:

An elderly man who had waited his whole life
An ancient widow who spent decades in prayer and fasting

This pattern would repeat throughout Jesus' ministry. The proud, the powerful, and the self-sufficient missed him. But the humble, the waiting, the prayerful recognized God when he came.

Light in the Darkness

The image of light pervades this feast. Jesus is:

The light that shines in darkness (John 1:5)
The light of the world (John 8:12)
The light for revelation to the Gentiles
The glory of Israel

We who follow Christ are called to be lights as well (Matthew 5:14-16). The blessed candles we carry are symbols of our own vocation to bear Christ's light into the world.

Practical Ways to Celebrate

Here are some ways to observe this beautiful feast:

Attend Mass

If possible, attend Mass on February 2, especially if your parish celebrates with the blessing and procession of candles. The liturgy for this feast is particularly beautiful and meaningful.

Bring Candles for Blessing

Bring candles from home (taper candles, vigil candles, or devotional candles) to be blessed. Keep them in a special place at home for use during:

Family prayer times
Storms or emergencies
Times of illness
Spiritual warfare

Have a Candlelight Dinner

Follow the French tradition—turn off all electric lights in the evening and eat dinner entirely by candlelight. This helps us appreciate how much Christ's light means in a dark world.

Make Crepes

Try the traditional French crepes—savory ones for dinner (filled with cheese, ham, vegetables) and sweet ones for dessert (with fruit, chocolate, whipped cream).

Take Down Christmas Decorations

If you've kept your Christmas decorations up, make February 2 the day you finally pack them away, using it as a moment to reflect on the Christmas season and transition to Ordinary Time.

Pray for Consecrated Religious

Remember in prayer all those who have consecrated their lives to God—priests, religious brothers and sisters, consecrated virgins. If you know someone in religious life, send them a note of appreciation and promise of prayer.

Meditate on the Nunc Dimittis

Pray Simeon's canticle slowly and meditatively, perhaps by candlelight:

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.

Read Luke 2:22-40 as a Family

Gather the family and read the biblical account together. Discuss:

What must it have been like for Simeon to finally see the Messiah after waiting so long?
How did Anna spend all those years in the Temple?
What does it mean that Jesus is "a light to the nations"?
Why did Mary need to hear about the sword that would pierce her heart?

Family Prayer

Create a small home celebration with this simple outline:

Light blessed candles
Read Luke 2:22-40
Pray the Nunc Dimittis together
Offer prayers of thanksgiving for Christ the Light
Pray for those in consecrated life
Enjoy a special meal or treat by candlelight

A Prayer for the Feast of the Presentation

Eternal Father, on this day you fulfilled the longing of Simeon and Anna, allowing them to see with their own eyes the salvation you prepared for all peoples. As Mary and Joseph presented the child Jesus in your Temple, heaven and earth met in that sacred place.

We thank you for sending your Son as the Light of the World, dispelling the darkness of sin and revealing the path to eternal life. Like Simeon, may we recognize your presence in our lives and embrace your salvation with joy. Like Anna, may we dedicate ourselves to constant prayer and proclaim the Good News to all who seek you.

Bless the candles we have brought to your altar today. May they remind us that we are called to be light-bearers in a world that still struggles with darkness. When we light these blessed candles in our homes, may they be a sign of your presence, a protection against evil, and a reminder of our baptismal call to be children of the light.

We pray especially for all those who have consecrated their lives to you—for priests, religious brothers and sisters, consecrated virgins, and all who have chosen to offer themselves entirely to your service. Like the burning candles that consume themselves in giving light, may they continue to offer their whole lives for the glory of your name and the salvation of souls.

Blessed Virgin Mary, you who presented your Son in the Temple with such faith and humility, even knowing the sword that would pierce your heart, help us to offer our lives to God with the same generous love. Teach us to recognize Christ in every circumstance and to present ourselves daily to the Father as living sacrifices.

Through Christ our Lord, the Light of the World, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

May the light of Christ shine in our hearts and in our world!

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined." (Isaiah 9:2)

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Feb 2, 2016

⛪ The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord: When Heaven Met Earth in the Temple