The feast of The Presentation of the Lord takes place on 2 February – 40 days after Christmas Day. It recalls the day when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem. At the Temple, the infant Jesus is recognised by holy and elderly Simeon and Anna, as the Messiah for whom they had hoped and prayed for decades. They recognised too that Jesus was to be a light for the whole world, revealing God’s love and mercy to everyone. The feast of The Presentation is also called Candlemas, because, on this day, candles are blessed in many parishes. At Candlemas, Christians recall how Jesus brings light to our lives and to our world. As Christ’s followers, we are to share this light with the world too.
