(Franciscan Media) Today Christians celebrate the ‘Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple’ occurring 40 days subsequent to the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ — This day is also known as ‘Candlemas’ which Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated in 2013 marking the ‘World Day for Consecrated Life’ thousands attended the Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
We process in with lit blessed candles, writes EWTN and the light of our blessed candles, symbolizes Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world–It symbolizes the Infant Savior, entering into the temple with Mary and Joseph–God our Father who is the source of all light, revealed to Simeon the light of revelation to the nations. It symbolizes also, that we are to always bring that light of Christ we received at our own baptism to those who live in darkness.
Coinciding with this Feast, it is also a special day of all consecrated Women and Men throughout the world. Of course, all baptized persons are truly consecrated to God, the moment we were baptized, we were consecrated to God, becoming separated from the world, yet being in the world especially to fulfill the mission God gave to us but this day is particularly highlighting those who consecrate themselves more radically through their profession of the evangelical counsels–like out dearest Sisters here and others who profess the vows of purity, chastity and obedience as their permanent state of life.
There are indeed many forms of consecrated life that exist today within the Church, as the Catechism (starting with paragraphs 914 — stating at 917) its ‘One great tree with many branches.’ Our dearest Sisters (mentioned earlier) are living one of the many forms of consecrated life, that is the form of ‘religious life’ — specifically, religious life who has the privilege of ‘Solemn Vows and Papal Enclosure’ this is just one form within the main branch of religious life within the bigger branch of consecrated life.
At the end of the 4th Century, a Woman named Etheria made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, her journal discovered in 1887 provides an unprecedented glimpse of liturgical life there. Among the celebrations she describes is the ‘Epiphany’ the observance of the Birth of Jesus Christ and the gala procession in honor of His ‘Presentation in the Temple’ 40 days later–This Feast emphasizes Jesus’ first appearance in the Temple.
At the beginning of the 8th Century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession and at the end of the same century, the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day, became part of the celebration.
Related: Feast of Presentation of the Lord (Most Holy Scripture Readings) Visit: -USCCB