A Most Blessed Feast of Candlemas!

Today we celebrate the feast of the Purification of Our Lady, or Candlemas, on which we commemorate the obedience of Our Lady to the customs of the Mosaic Law 40 days after Our Lord’s Nativity. We also commemorate the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple and His meeting with Simeon, who proclaims Him to be “the light of revelation to the Gentiles.” The liturgy of this day includes the tradition of blessing and distributing candles, which are lighted and carried in procession before the Mass.

Suscépimus, Deus, misericórdiam tuam in médio templi tui: secúndum nomen tuum, Deus, ita et laus tua in fines terræ.

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.

Psalm 47:10-11, from the Gradual for today

February 2, 2018