This weekend we interrupt our counting of Sundays in Ordinary Time to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. On this day—the 40th day since Christmas—the Church commemorates Mary and Joseph taking the infant Jesus up to the temple in Jerusalem forty days after his birth, in accord with the Law of Moses, as recorded in Chapter 2 of Luke’s gospel. Like our recent feasts of the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord, the Presentation of the Lord is yet another epiphany or revelation of the Lord. In the gospel account of the Presentation, Luke introduces us to Simeon, a man “righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.” As he enters the temple he takes the infant Jesus into his arms and blesses God: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
The English call this day Candlemas because Mass begins with the blessing of candles to symbolize Christ as the Light of the World. The appearance of the fat, furry rodent up in Punxsutawney on February 2 comes from an old piece of weather folklore; there’s a little English farmer’s rhyme that goes something like this:
“If Candlemas be fair and bright,
come winter and have another flight;
If Candlemas bring clouds and rain,
go, winter, and come not again.”
On Monday the Church honors St. Blase. He was a bishop in Armenia who was martyred in the fourth century. Legend has it that while in hiding he healed a boy who had a fishbone stuck in his throat. Later when he had been captured and thrown in prison, the boy’s mother brought him food and candles. From this pious tale comes the blessing of throats with two candles. Throats will be blessed immediately following Masses at both parishes that day.
A Stewardship thought for the week from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 2003 letter, Stewardship and Young Adults:“Our Catholic tradition teaches us that with so many blessings come great challenges. At all times in our lives, we have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to share what we have been given. It begins with remembering our baptism, when we became followers of Jesus Christ. From this call flows the commitment to Christ that makes stewardship possible—and deeply rewarding. However, this is a commitment to a lifetime of action, and it requires sacrifice. Through following Christ, we have the benefit of the role model of sacrifice for the greater good, a model of self-giving and loving service.”
Just a gentle reminder about the strain the winter weather puts on the parish budget. Every time it snows—even if it’s only a “nuisance snow”—parking lots need to be cleared and sidewalks need to be shoveled and salted. And, of course, the furnaces and boilers get quite a workout. The terrible weather conditions also have a negative impact on Mass attendance and our weekly offertory is often reflective of that. So, I put forth this gentle reminder to please keep current with your offertory. If you are not able to make it to Mass, hold on to your envelopes until you can or you can always mail them to the office.
Finally, even though he is overshadowed by St. Blase, Monday is also the Memorial of St. Ansgar. He was born in Northern France in 801 and raised in a Benedictine monastery after the death of his mother when he was a young boy. Ansgar became a noted teacher and preacher in Westphalia (the northwestern part of modern-day Germany) before being sent as to Scandinavia as a missionary, at the request of the King of the Swedes. In 831 he was appointed Archbishop of Hamburg by Pope Gregory IV. Under Ansgar’s leadership, the Church continued to expand in Northern Europe, despite ongoing civil conflict and wars. After the city of Hamburg was sacked by the Danes in 845, Ansgar continued his missionary work, establishing good relationship with the pagan king in Denmark, which led to Christianity being tolerated there. Ansgar died in 865 and was buried in Bremen, Germany. He is known as the “Apostle of the North” and is venerated as the patron saint of Denmark.
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