Join us for the feast of Candlemas on Sunday, February 2nd, 2025 at St. John Cantius Church. A small amount of candles will be available for purchase the day of, we encourage parishioners to bring their own candles to Sunday Mass to be blessed.
Candlemas commemorates the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is also known as "The Presentation of Our Lord"; This feast traditionally closes the Christmas season.
The name Candlemas comes from the activities associated with the feast. It came to be known as the Candle Mass. A procession with lighted candles is the distinctive rite. This procession into the church for Mass commemorates Christ’s entrance into the temple.
Simeon, upon seeing the Messiah, gave thanks to the Lord, singing a hymn now called the Nunc Dimittis which is chanted at this particular Mass: Lord, now you let your servant go in peace, your word has been fulfilled: My own eyes have seen the salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a Light to reveal you to the nations and the Glory of your people Israel.
