February 2 is the feastday of the Purification of Our Lady, a grace-filled celebration for the faithful. And yesterday was a lovely day for learning about this important feastday, not only for the kids but for the whole family.
Meditating on this event one is taken to the scenario of the Fourth Joyful Mystery, the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple which, in actual fact, reveals a threefold occurence: the Purification, the Presentation and the Meeting.
According to Jewish law, a woman who has just given birth is considered "unclean." And in order for her to be washed clean of this legal impurity and for her privileges to be restored, she has to go to the Temple and offer sacrifices to God - one in thanksgiving for the happy delivery of her child and another as an offering for the expiation of her sins. The Blessed Mother, being a woman of great faith and obedience to the laws of the religion, always did what was pleasing to God. And some time after the birth of her Son, the Holy Family goes to the Temple and brings 2 turtledoves as their oblation for the "purification" of Mary.
What an exemplar of humility and faith! Mary knew her Son was the Son of God, but in humble obedience to God, she fulfils all the laws faithfully.
Another important happening is, of course, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple - which the couple observed in fulfilment of Jewish law stating that all first-born sons will be consecrated to God. Again, we reflect on the pure humility and utter obedience that the Holy Family demonstrates in doing what is according to the law, in order to please God.
The third event taking place is the Meeting of Simeon with the Infant Saviour. Simeon was a "man of desires" and God had told him he would not die until he sees the One his heart longs for - the Messiah. During this meeting Simeon prophesies that a sword will pierce the heart of Mary, and that Jesus will be the Light to enlighten the Gentiles.
As a mother, how is one supposed to feel after hearing these prophesies? Wouldn't it be incredibly disheartening, even frightening? However, our Blessed Mother - being full of God's grace - keeps all these things in her heart and finds joy in the midst of sadness. Her everlasting Fiat finds comfort in abandoning herself to whatever it is that God's providence has in store for her and her family.
The word Candlemas (candle-mass) originates from the candlelit processions with which the church traditionally celebrated this great feastday, to commemorate Jesus being the Light of the world, the "Light to enlighten the Gentiles" as prophesied by the old man Simeon. On this day (February 2nd) the faithful would bring candles to Church to be blessed by the priest and taken home for use as important sacramentals throughout the year.
For our family, this feastday was mainly celebrated by attending traditional "Purification of Our Lady" ceremonies last evening. After Fr Hartley blessed all the boxes of candles brought by the people, we went on a candlelit procession and the whole affair culminated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass - a beautiful celebration, indeed.
Back home, as a conclusion to the day, I quickly put together a simple apple and raisin oven pancake turnover, to be shared as a nightcap (of sorts). To tie in with the special occasion, I dusted the top with icing sugar using a homemade stencil to reveal 2 turtledoves, symbolic of the offering that St Joseph and Mamma Mary brought to the temple for her purification. (Although I thought afterwards that I probably should have used the negative image for the stencil, it didn't turn out too badly. If you look closely, you can just make out the 2 turtledove silhouettes..)
Yes, we all enjoyed it (even the turtledove apple/raisin turnover)!
