February
2
Commonly
called Candlemas
Day
On
this day the Church solemnly celebrates the presentation of Jesus in
the temple, and the obedience and humility both of Mary and her
divine Son, who, though not subject to the law in regard to
purification and presentation, yet subjected themselves to it. Hence
this feast is called the Purification of the Virgin Mary. In common
speech we call it also Candlemas, because on this day the candles
required for the divine service are blessed and carried in
procession.
What
is the design of this custom?
1.
It is to remind us that Jesus, the light of the world, was offered up
to His heavenly Father, by Mary, in the temple at Jerusalem, where He
was called by Simeon a light for the revelation of the gentiles, and
the glory of the people of Israel.
2.
To remind us, also, of several important truths, to which the priest
refers in the prayers at the blessings. Thus he prays that as the
earthly light dispels the darkness of night, so Jesus, with the light
of His divine doctrine, may clear away our spiritual blindness and
ignorance, and lead us in the way of virtue; that as the Holy Ghost
enlightened Simeon, so He may also enlighten us to acknowledge Jesus
as the true light, to love Him and follow Him, to keep our hearts
from the way of sin, and to guide them in the way of virtue, and to
kindle them with the fire of holy love; finally, that God may
preserve, in soul and body, those who use blessed candles with
devotion, may hear their prayers, and grant them entrance into the
kingdom of the eternal and ever-blessed light.
In
the Introit of the Mass the Church sings:
“We have received Thy mercy, O God, in the midst of Thy temple; according to Thy name, O God, so also is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of justice. Great is the Lord and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain.”
Glory
be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Prayer
Almighty,
everlasting God, we suppliantly beseech Thy majesty that, as Thy
only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the
substance of our flesh, so Thou wouldst grant us to be presented to
Thee with purified souls, Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
Epistle:
Malachi 3:1-4
Thus
saith the Lord: Behold I send My angel, and he shall prepare the way
before My face. And presently the Lord Whom you seek, and the angel
of the testament whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold he
cometh, saith the Lord of hosts: and who shall be able to think of
the day of his coming? and who shall stand to see him? for he is like
a refining fire, and like the fullers’ herb: and he shall sit
refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall purify the sons of
Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, and they shall
offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice. And the sacrifice of Juda
and of Jerusalem shall please the Lord, as in the days of old, and in
the ancient years, saith the Lord Almighty.
Gospel:
Luke 2:22-32
At
that time: After the days of Mary’s purification according to the
law of Mostls were accomplished, they carried Jesus to Jerusalem, to
present Him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord:
Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord; and to
offer a sacrifice according as it is written in the law of the Lord,
a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. And behold there was a
man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout,
waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was in him.
And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not
see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by
the Spirit into the temple. And when His parents brought in the child
Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law: he also took
Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Now Thou dost dismiss
Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word, in peace; because my eyes
have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of
all peoples; a light to the revelation of the gentiles, and the glory
of Thy people Israel.
Explanation
The
Blessed Virgin presented herself and her divine Son at the temple so
as not to give scandal to such as were ignorant of their being exempt
from the law, to show from the first that Jesus was come to redeem
sinners, and to leave us an example of humility and obedience. Mary
offered the gift of a pair of doves, like the poor, because she was
poor, and was not ashamed to acknowledge it before the world.
Instruction
for Women after Childbirth
The
law of purification in the Old Testament, it is true, no longer
applies to Christian women, because the Church has done away with
Jewish ceremonies. But the spirit and intention of that law the
Church would yet have complied with. She permits women, therefore, to
remain at home, with a good conscience, for six weeks after
childbirth, or so long as circumstances may require, without
attending divine service, in order to care for their health. This
permission is, at the same time, an excellent admonition to women,
that, in order to their recovery, they should refrain from anger,
from exposure, from hard labor, from injurious food; to men, not to
refuse their wives during this period, set apart by God Himself under
the Old Law, the rest and attention which their nature requires.
But
when this time is past the Church desires that women should, after
the example of Mary, repair to the church with their children, to
procure the blessing of the priest, to give thanks to God for their
safe delivery, to dedicate their children to Him, and to implore of
Him, with the priest, grace to bring up their offspring in piety and
holiness. In this consists the so-called “churching of women”;
and, from what has been said, it is evident, not only that it
contains nothing to be ashamed of, but that it should by no means be
omitted by such as desire God’s blessing.
The
feeble health of both women and children after child-birth is almost
always owing to their having injured themselves by want of care.
Prayer
for Women after Childbirth
Almighty
and merciful God, Who didst lay upon our mother Eve the fit
punishment for her disobedience that she should bear children in
sorrow, I offer to Thee all the pains of my child-bearing in
propitiation for my sins; and I thank Thee that, through Thy help,
the fruit of my womb has been safely brought forth into the world,
and new-born in Baptism. According to the example of the Mother of
Thy only-begotten Son, I also offer to Thee my child for Thy holy
service, and will earnestly strive to bring it up to Thy honor. To
this end give me, through the intercession of the most blessed
Virgin, Thy grace; bless me and my child, and grant that we may live
according to Thy will here, and hereafter may obtain everlasting
happiness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, etc. Amen.
–
Goffine’s
Devout Instructions
