Candlemas (Presentation of the Lord) and St. Blaise

On February 2nd, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, traditionally known as Candlemas. This feast occurs forty days after the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Day). This year, on Tuesday, February 2nd, we will celebrate the blessing of candles at the 5:30 p.m. Mass. Candles will be distributed, and you are also welcome to bring your own candle(s) from home. These candles are meant to represent Jesus Christ, the light of the world as the prophet Simeon proclaims in the temple, "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel" (cf. Luke 2:32). So, the blessed candle(s) that you bring home serve as a reminder that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, and in a personal way, the Light of your life. You may even consider lighting it every time you enter into a time of prayer. Please note: This year, we will not have a table designated to put your candles on due to health concerns. Instead, we will ask you to hold them up while in the pews during the blessing of candles.

On February 3rd, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Blaise when we typically have the Blessing of Throats. Again, due to health concerns, the blessing will look different this year. The blessing will not be administered to individuals with crossed candles. We will be observing the following provision for the rite given in the Book of Blessings:

1628. If, for pastoral reasons, each individual cannot be blessed in the [usual] manner...a priest or deacon may give the blessing to all assembled by extending hands, without crossed candles, over the people while saying the prayer of blessing. A lay minister says the prayer proper to the lay ministers without making the sign of the cross.