The Feast Day of Candlemas

The Feast of Candlemas - February 2

The Meal Table for the Feast of Candlemas

Bake a white layer cake and ice beautifully. Place two white turtle doves (the ransom paid by Joseph and Mary for the Baby Jesus) and a white lighted candle in the center symbolizing Christ, the Light of revelation to us.

Table center-piece: a framed picture of the Presentation with 2 – 3 lighted candles in gold or brass candlesticks on either side of the picture. If you place the picture and candles on a mirror, it will more beautifully reflect the light to all the table. White flowers can be used.

Table: use a lovely white or gold table cloth to match the color of the priest’s vestments at Mass today.

At each table, place a 3 by 5 index card folded in half on which you have copied the Tract of today’s Mass for all to be prayed aloud at the meals after the blessing. (see above to find the Tract prayer.)

Explain to the children and young people present the meaning of all you have done.

Preparation Needed for Family Evening Prayer on the Feast of Candlemas

To be said immediately after the family evening meal.

In a family setting the "leader" is the father of the family.

Place the picture of the Presentation on the family altar.

Place at least 3 lighted candles (blessed candles if possible) on either side of the altar.

Have blessed Holy Water on hand to be used during these prayers.

Have ready the number of white candles tied with red ribbons needed for each member.

Have on hand the number of copies of these Evening Prayers so each member can pray them aloud.

All members will need their Rosaries.

Have a copy of the Bible on hand.

All members gather for the last time before the Christmas Crib (or at the family altar) holding white candles symbolic of their Baptismal candles to read these prayers aloud together. Each candle should have a small red ribbon tied to the lower end. (See explanation below.) These candles will be lit when all recite their Baptismal Vows (below.)

Family Evening Prayer for Candlemas
All kneel and pray together: The Our Father, The Hail Mary,
Leader: O God, come to my assistance

All: O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

All: This day the blessed Virgin Mary presented the Child Jesus in the Temple; Simeon filled with the Holy Spirit, received Him into his arms and blessed God forever.
All sit.

Leader: (Reads aloud the story of Anna from the 1 Kings, Chapter 1)
All kneel:
All: For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath granted my petition. therefore, I have given him to the Lord. All the days of his life, he shall be given to the Lord to serve Him.

All sit.

Leader: (Reads aloud the Gospel for the Feast of the Purification: Lk 2: 22-32)

All Kneel:

All: Praise be to Thee, O Jesus Christ.

Leader: Offers a prayer for the sanctification of the whole family.

All: The Light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel.

All: (Recite Simeon's canticle: The Nunc Dimittis ) Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord in peace according to Thy word because mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared in the sight of all the nations, and the glory of Thy people Israel. A light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end. Amen.

Leader: Jesus Christ - the light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

Leader: Takes holy water and blesses each child and young person in the family forming the Sign of the Cross on each forehead.

Leader: (In a family setting, this prayer is said by the Mother - On this day, when the Blessed Virgin Mary offered Thee the holy fruit of her womb, Christ, the Light of the world, I offer to Thee, O Lord, these children (____, ____). May they be pleasing to Thee, and may they grow in grace and wisdom, so that they may one day be true bearers of the Christ-light to the people of our time. I ask this through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

All: Suffer the little children to come unto Me. For of such is the kingdom of heaven. Their angels see always the Face of My Father. Let not the enemy harm them Nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt them.

Leader: Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who embraced the children presented to Thee; and coming to them and putting Thy hands upon them did bless them and say: "Suffer the little children to come unto Me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven...and their angels see always the Face of My Father..." Look down, we beseech Thee, upon the innocence of these children presented to Thee, and upon the devotion of their parents and mercifully bless them today that they may grow in Thy grace and mercy. Let them love Thee, fear Thee and serve Thee keeping Thy Commandments; and may they attain at last to eternal happiness with Thee in heaven. We ask this through the intercession of Our Lord Jesus Christ Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

The Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Light the white candles tied with red ribbon and give one to each member.

Leader: The meaning of these white candles tied with red ribbons is this: The flame symbolizes Christ, the Light of the world. The candle symbolizes each one of us. As we take this candle into our hands and light it, we remember our Baptismal Candles and the Vows we each made to God, and we are telling Jesus that everywhere we go we will fearlessly carry Him to others around us. The red ribbon symbolizes our willingness to suffer and even die for Jesus Christ and His Church.

Leader: Do you renounce Satan?

All: We do renounce him.

Leader: And all his works?

All: We do renounce them.

Leader: And all his cunning displays?

All: We do renounce them.

Leader: Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?

All: We do believe.

Leader: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, Who was born into this world and suffered for us?

All: We do believe.

Leader: Do you believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

All: We do believe.

Leader: May almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has given us a new birth by means of water and the Holy spirit, and forgiven all our sins, preserve us by His grace in the same Christ Jesus our Lord unto life everlasting.

All: Amen.

Leader: On this glorious Feast of Our Lord and Our Lady, let us now pray:

All: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament/ on the day of my Baptism/ my sponsors in Baptism made solemn promises for me to Jesus / Your Son / in my name./ I have now renewed these promises today./ I wanted to renew them myself,/ saying what I mean and meaning what I say./ Dear Mother,/ help me now to keep these promises till I die.

Jesus, My Lord and My God,/ once and forever/ I renounce Satan / and all his works and pomps/ and I give myself entirely to You, / such as I am,/ and such as I have./ I give you my body with all its inner and outer senses/ and my mind with all its thoughts and desires./ I entrust myself to Your Holy Mother Mary,/ and ask Her to bring me home safely to You for all eternity. /Holy Mother of God, and my Mother,/ help me remain ever faithful to my Baptismal promises/ for the greater glory of God / and the salvation of my immortal soul./ Immaculate Virgin Mary,/ help me/ teach me to love Your Son above myself and all the things of this world./ Help me to know Jesus through reading and studying Him,/ to love Him through prayer and good works,/ and to serve Him by complete obedience to the promptings of grace and to the living voice of His Church and to the 10 Commandments of God/ every day of my life./ Teach me, dear holy Mother, / to do as You did/ and carry Jesus to everyone in my life/ and to bear witness to Him even unto death. Amen.

All: Recite the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary --- using large pictures to help the little ones understand the Mysteries being meditated upon.