Malachi 3:1-4 / Hebrews 2:14-18 / Luke 2:22-40
If a child is a baptized Catholic, he or she would most certainly have prayed (and played!) with a lighted candle before.
In fact, in the Catholic Church, blessed candles are used to administer all the sacraments, except the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
A candle used for prayer is also sometimes called a votive candle. It is intended to be burnt as a votive offering in an act of prayer. The word “votive” is derived from the Latin word “votum” which means vow or promise.
As we offer a prayer to God on behalf of someone or something, the candle that we light is a tangible sign of that prayer. In praying with a lighted candle, we align ourselves and our intentions with the will of God. We pray for the Light of the World to come.
Besides use in Church, blessed candles can also be used in the homes for personal prayers. The Church places such emphasis on blessed candles; there is even a special day for blessing candles. This is on 2 February, on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the feast we are celebrating today.
The feast of the Presentation of the Lord occurs forty days after the birth of Jesus and is also known as Candlemas day, since the blessing and procession of candles is included in the day's liturgy. This day is also referred to as the "Purification of Mary."
This feast concludes the celebration of the Nativity and with the offerings of the Virgin Mother and the prophecy of Simeon, the events now point toward Easter.
During the presentation of Jesus at the temple, Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the “light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of Your people” (Luke 2:32).
The candles blessed on this day and kept by the faithful in their homes should be seen as a sign of Christ 'the light of the world' and an expression of faith.
May the celebration of the Eucharist bring forth an enlightenment into our lives and as we bring the blessed candles home, may we also continue to pray that the light of Christ will shine upon the world.