Saint of the Day February 2, 2003
Presentation of the Lord
At the end of the fourth century, a woman named
Etheria made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Her journal,
discovered in 1887, gives an unprecedented glimpse of
liturgical life there. Among the celebrations she
describes is the Epiphany (January 6), the observance
of Christ�s birth, and the gala procession in honor of
his Presentation in the Temple 40 days later�February
15. (Under the Mosaic Law, a woman was ritually
�unclean� for 40 days after childbirth, when she was
to present herself to the priests and offer
sacrifice�her �purification.� Contact with anyone who
had brushed against mystery�birth or death�excluded a
person from Jewish worship.) This feast emphasizes
Jesus� first appearance in the Temple more than Mary�s
purification.
The observance spread throughout the Western Church in
the fifth and sixth centuries. Because the Church in
the West celebrated Jesus� birth on December 25, the
Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days after
Christmas.
At the beginning of the eighth century, Pope Sergius
inaugurated a candlelight procession; at the end of
the same century the blessing and distribution of
candles which continues to this day became part of the
celebration, giving the feast its popular name:
Candlemas
love + prayers,
Joseachayan / Jeddah / Saudi Arabia
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