Candlemas.

Feasts and celebrations don't end after Christmas, you know. Ahh the beautiful thing about the Catholic faith! In her wisdom and guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church constantly reminds us to intertwine our secular life with the liturgical year, to have celebrations, to hold dear the joys as well as the sorrows, for there are lessons to be learned in each, especially from the events of our Lord's life, and those of the saints. Today marks the feast of the Purification of our Lady and the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the temple. It traditionally takes the title of "Candlemas", and a special Mass may be said with the use of many candles and a procession, and/or candles may be blessed. This serves to highlight the words of the prophet Simeon, who, as he met the Holy Family in the temple, called the Child a "light to the nations." This is a lovely and informative page on the traditions and character of this feast day. I especially appreciated this bit on the symbolism we may take from the candles, from Dom Prosper Gueranger, OSB in his Liturgical Year:

"The mystery of today's ceremony has frequently been explained by liturgists, dating from the 7th century. According to Ivo of Chartres, the wax, which is formed from the juice of flowers by the bee, always considered as the emblem of virginity, symbolizes the virginal flesh of the Divine Infant, who diminished not, either by His conception of His birth, the spotless purity of the Divine Mother. The same holy bishop would have us see, in the flame of our Candle, a symbol of Jesus who came to enlighten our darkness. St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking on the same mystery, bids us consider three things in the blessed Candle: the wax, the wick, and the flame. The wax, he says, which is the production of the virginal bee, is the Flesh of our Lord; the wick, which is within, is His Soul; the flame, which burns on top, is His divinity."

On this day, we are encouraged to bring candles to be blessed, and Fr. kindly agreed to bless mine after Mass. I love having the secular objects that we use day in and out, blessed. They serve to not only make our homes holy through merit of their blessing, but are visual reminders that we must strive to make our being and doings, holy in His sight, so He will accept our offerings and bless its fruit. Blessed candles are good to have on hand to light as protection against storms, at the beside of the dying, on All Souls' Day, and in the little sacred corners of our home.

This is a prayer we recited after Mass in Florida during the hurricane season for protection, and it may be used during storms and times of trials along with your blessed candle:

Jesus Christ a King of Glory has come in peace + God became man + and the Word was made flesh + Christ was born of a Virgin + Christ suffered + Christ was crucified + Christ died + Christ rose from the dead + Christ ascended into Heaven + Christ conquers + Christ reigns + Christ commands + May Christ protect us from all storms and lightning + Christ went through their midst in Peace + and the Words was made Flesh + Christ is with us in Mary + Flee you enemy spirits because the Lion of the Generation of Judea, the Root David has won + Holy God! + Holy Powerful God! + Holy Immortal God! + Have mercy on us. Amen.