On this feast, priests bless candles in a rite proper to the feast, and they are given to the faithful to light and take home. This tradition comes from what the aged Simeon said of the Lord Christ, that he is a light for revelation to the Gentiles:
“a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel” (Luke 2:32).
Lit candles signify Christ and the divine life. This is what the baptismal candle symbolized, and what the candles lit during the celebration of the holy sacraments symbolize.
The candle blessed on the day of Christ’s Presentation in the Temple symbolizes the light of Christ, who is the light of the world:
“I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
We await the light and carry it, just as Simeon awaited it, beheld it and carried it. Candles are blessed on this feast and given to the faithful as a sign that the Lord, through his life-giving Passion, sent forth the rays of his grace on those who sat in the darkness of sin and the shadow of death. We take this candle home as a sign that we bring the light of Christ into our household. It is often lit in times of hardship, sickness and distress, and popular piety tells of many graces received through lighting these blessed candles. So it is good to keep them in our homes: they are lit to ask for protection from harm and from earthquakes, for a safe childbirth, and to help those whose hour of death is near, so that like the wise virgins they may be lit by the light of these blessed candles. Likewise, if a member of the family falls asleep in the Lord, they are lit around the coffin, a cherished Christian custom; and they may also be lit when the priest brings the sick person the last viaticum and the anointing of the sick.
According to Pope Paul VI’s homily to the men and women religious of Rome on 2 February 1973, the candle is a symbol of consecrated life, set ablaze by the love that comes from the Father, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit. The wax burns in silence… and, like the heart of the consecrated person that does not go out on the last day, it shines on for ever at the meeting with the divine Bridegroom.
Among the prayers said during the blessing of the candles:
“Holy Father, who created all things out of nothing and willed that honey, the work of bees, should become wax: on this day, when you fulfilled the hope of the righteous elder Simeon, we ask you to be pleased to bless and sanctify these candles, and make them serve to give light to men and to heal them in soul and body, through the invocation of your holy Name, the intercession of holy Mary ever virgin, and the prayers of the saints.
Hear, O Lord, from your holy heaven and from the throne of your glory, the prayer of your people who long to carry these candles with reverence and to praise you in song. Have mercy on those who cry to you, whom you have redeemed by the precious blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and your Holy Spirit for ever.”
And also:
“Rejoice, O Theotokos, full of grace, for from you shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those in darkness. Rejoice also, O righteous Elder, receiving in your arms the Redeemer of our souls, who grants us resurrection.”
Prepared by Rita, of the Sawt el Rab team
