Yesterday, Club 345 made candles (many thanks to Linda Gray, Jan Mitchell, and Patti Wolfe for their help). Candles are a powerful reminder that Christ is the Light of the World, and that we too are called to shine the Light of God’s love in the darkness of the world. Candles are also signs of God’s love and presence with us, and are often used during prayer. They can in fact be lit as symbols of our prayers to God.
February 2 is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the official end of the Christmas cycle in the liturgical calendar, when we remember Mary and Joseph taking the baby Jesus to the Temple to fulfill the obligations of the Law. While there, Simeon and Anna recognized the infant Jesus as the Savior- the Light of the world that would bring all to God. Because of this, this feast is also known as Candlemas, and the church has traditionally blessed candles on this day.
On Sunday, February 5, we will celebrate Candlemas at the 9 am Mass, and bless candles. Please bring any candles that you would like to have blessed for your personal use: votive candles for prayer, candles to light at the dinner table to intentionally raise awareness of Christ’s presence in your home, etc. Christ is our Light, who illumines our path, and shows us the way to be united with God and one another. May we so shine this light in our hearts, that through our lives, those stumbling in darkness looking for God, will find a path that leads to God.
