Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple - Candlemas

When the day came to purify them according to the law of Moses, the couple brought him up to Jerusalem so that he could be presented to the Lord. Luke 2:22

Today, February 2nd, it is the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. It was the day of the year when all of the beeswax candles for the year were blessed --- and so it was known commonly as Candlemas. In some places, it was customary to jump over a lit candle and, if it didn't go out, that was good luck.

There is an old rhyme about it ...

Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jumped over
The candlestick.

People look to the weather on Candlemas as a sign of how much winter we have left. This is the connection that has led to the modern Groundhog's Day.

The Presentation is the Fourth of the Joyous Mysteries of the Rosary.

The painting above, painted in 1623, is by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, better known as Guercino ... a name that means "squint". He was from near Bologna in Italy. In the painting, Joseph and Mary present the child to Simeon ... who was told by God that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. At the foot of the altar are two turtledoves that will be used for sacrifice.

The Song of Simeon, his response to seeing the child, is a beautiful prayer, known by the Latin "Nunc dimittis". It's said as part of the Liturgy of the Hours as the night prayer.

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
Your word has been fulfilled.
My eyes have seen the salvation
You have prepared in the sight of every people,
A light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people, Israel.