What to do in January weather? Make Italian Pizza!
The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple - Christ our Light
The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord is celebrated on February 2nd. It commemorates when Mary and Joseph, in obedience to the Mosaic law, offer their first-born son to God the Father and redeem him back through the offering of 2 doves. Jesus's death on the cross is the supreme offering of Himself to the Father for our redemption and so the offering of the child Jesus to the Father, is a foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate offering of himself. This event is of such importance that it is commemorated in the daily recitation of night prayer in the Breviary. Each day the words of the Canticle of Simeon are prayed from Luke 2:29-32:
"Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel."
In this passage Simeon expresses his joy at seeing the Messiah. As Simeon mentions that Christ will be the light to the nations, the feast is celebrated with each person holding a lighted candle during the start of mass. May Christ the light of the world, bless you in the celebration of this important feast.
Painting by Giotto
"Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel."
In this passage Simeon expresses his joy at seeing the Messiah. As Simeon mentions that Christ will be the light to the nations, the feast is celebrated with each person holding a lighted candle during the start of mass. May Christ the light of the world, bless you in the celebration of this important feast.
Painting by Giotto
2021 Sisters' Newsletter
| |||
