31/01/2026
Annual Blessing of Candles
The feast of the Presentation of the Lord was first observed in the Eastern Church as “The Encounter”, the encounter between the Messiah and the Chosen People. In the sixth century, it began to be observed in the West: in Rome with a more penitential character, and in Gaul (France) with solemn blessings and processions of candles, popularly known as “Candlemas.”
The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple concludes the celebration of the Nativity and with the offerings of the Blessed Mother and the prophecy of Simeon, the events now point toward Easter. In obedience to the Old Law, the Lord Jesus, the first-born, was presented in the Temple by his Blessed Mother and his foster father. This is another ‘epiphany’ celebration insofar as the Christ Child is revealed as the Messiah throughout the canticle and the words of Simeon and the testimony of Anna the prophetess. Christ is the light of the nations, hence the blessing and procession of candles on this day.
