Bring your own candles to 12:15 Mass on Friday to have them blessed. Small vigil candles will be available if you wish to take one home.

Forty days after Christmas, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. You may know it as the Fourth Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary. On this day the Church blesses candles for use throughout the year, both for the liturgy and for private use at home.

What's the connection between the Presentation and candles?

On that day, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the Temple to perform the redemption of a firstborn son prescribed by the Law (Exodus 13:12-15; Numbers 18:15-16). The Gospel of Luke mentions that Mary and Joseph took the option to sacrifice two turtledoves or pigeons, the alternative for poor families who could not afford a lamb.

While they were in the Temple, they encountered the old man Simeon, who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that "he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord" (Luke 2:26). Seeing the Holy Family, Simeon gave thanks to God in the canticle that became known as the Nunc Dimittis:

Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.

Perhaps Simeon wondered, as he awaited the Messiah, how he would know him when he came. But when he saw him, he knew: Christ himself is the light. The Church prays the Nunc Dimittis every day at Compline (Night Prayer): if today we see Christ, the light that enlightens all peoples, we could die in peace like Simeon!

The Presentation is an "enlightment"-type feast, like Christmas, Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord, or the Transfiguration. In these feasts, we are taught how to recognize Jesus. We learn that whenever we discern the presence of Jesus Christ, it is because he has revealed himself to us.

Do you still have any Christmas decorations up? February 2 is a good day to finally take them down. Lent is right around the corner!