Every so often the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord falls on a Sunday. The feast falls 40 days after the birth of Christ and celebrates the occasion of Mary and Joseph presenting their first born son in the temple in Jerusalem in fulfillment of the Law of Moses. In the story, we meet Simeon and Anna who bless the child. For some cultures, this marks the end of the Christmas season. It’s also a traditional day to bless candles. Because it falls the day before the feast of St. Blaise, the newly blessed candles are often used in the blessing of throats.
This Sunday is also observed as World Day for Consecrated Life. Its purpose is to help the entire Church esteem even more greatly the witness of those persons who have chosen to follow Christ by means of the evangelical counsels (chastity, poverty and obedience). Many consecrated religious renew their vows this day. I would suggest we offer a personal prayer of thanks for all the Religious who have formed and shaped our faith life over the years.
Peace,
Fr. Ron
