Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and Purification of the Virgin Mary
On February 2, the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple and the Purification of the Virgin Mary are celebrated. This festival is also known as “La Candelaria”.
Although this festival is mainly of a Christological nature, it commemorates a very important event in Mary’s life: her purification and the presentation of her son to the priest in the Temple, in fulfillment of his obligation to consecrate him to God. And even more so because this is a festival of light that is what gives it its name. The Candelaria festival is so called because it blesses the candles that will be needed throughout the year, so that both physical and spiritual light are never lacking in homes. The faithful attend the Holy Mass on this day with the candles, which are solemnly blessed by the priest and then a short procession is made between two nearby churches or inside the same church, with the candles lit. This party had great significance when the only light in the houses was that of candles and lamps.
This festival is celebrated exactly forty days after December 25. In the middle of the 5th century it was celebrated with lights and took the name and color of “the festival of lights”
Until the Second Vatican Council it was celebrated as a mainly Marian feast, but since then it has become primarily Christological, since the main mystery that is commemorated is the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and his manifestation or encounter with Simen. The center, then, of this party would not be Mary, but Jesus. Mary becomes part of the party as soon as she carries Jesus in her arms and she is associated with this manifestation of Jesus to Simen and to the old Anna.
It was not until the seventh century that this feast was introduced into the liturgy of the West. At the end of this century it was already widespread throughout Rome and in almost the entire West. At first, as in the East, the Presentation of Jesus was celebrated more than the Purification of Mary.
It is not known with certainty when the Procession began to be celebrated on this day. It seems that in the 10th century this Procession was already celebrated with solemnity and the festival began to be called Purification of the Virgin Mary. For a long time, great importance was attached to the lighted candles and, after being used in the procession, they were taken to the houses and there they were lit for any need.
The law of Moses commanded that every woman who gave birth to a boy, within forty days, had to go to the Temple to purify herself of the legal stain and there offer her firstborn to God. It was logical that the only ones exempt from this law were Jesus and Mary: He for being superior to that law, and She for having miraculously conceived by the work of the Holy Spirit. Despite this, Mara hides this prodigy and … she humbly goes like any other woman to purify herself.
The same angels would be ecstatic before that wonderful procession that crosses one and another atrium until reaching the foot of the altar, to offer in those virginal arms the same Son of God.
Once the rite of offering the five legal shekels had been completed after the purification ceremony, the Holy Family was ready to leave the temple when the prodigy of the Encounter with Simen was performed, first, and with the very old Ana, later. Saint Luke recounts that encounter in rich detail: “Now, Lord, you can let your servant go in peace, because my eyes have seen the Savior… the one who comes to be a light to the nations and glory to your people.” Israel…” And he said to the Mother: “Look, this Child is set for fall and rising for many in Israel… And your own soul will be pierced by a sword…”.
What a contrast in life: The Child Jesus himself is called to be Light and glory and at the same time a scandal and a hard rock against which many will crash.
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