Candlemas
Candlemas is the feast of the presentation of Jesus Christ in the temple. It is celebrated 40 days from the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is on the 2nd of February. This is the day our Lord Jesus Christ was presented in the temple for the first time as per the Jewish customs. Traditionally, it was also known as the feast of the purification of Mother Mary from childbirth. During this day, before Mass, the candles are blessed, therefore, the name ‘Candlemas’.
There are other significant biblical events that take place on this day. Simeon was waiting to see the Messiah, and according to the prophecy, he would not die until he had seen Him with his eyes. This day Simeon met the baby Jesus in the temple and thus the prophecy was fulfilled. He also prophesied the sorrow of Mary, which she pondered in her heart. Like Simeon, the prophetess Anna, was also waiting to see the Messiah. She was an eighty-four year old, and prayed and fasted day and night. When she saw Jesus, she gave thanks to God for meeting with her promised Saviour.
The Candlemas is also significant in relation to the prophesy of the three days of darkness. Only beeswax candles, blessed on the day of the Candlemas, will light up during the three days of darkness. The three days of darkness is not officially approved by the Catholic Church as a mandatory belief, as it is a private revelation. However, the prophesy bears great importance as some great Catholic saints and mystics, such as saints Faustina, Padre Pio, Hildegard of Bingen, Anna Maria Taigi, Elisabeth Canori Mora, Elena Aiello, Marie Julie Jahenny, Mariam Baouardi, Rosa-Colomba Asdente, Pere Lamy, Marie Martel, Gaspar del Bufalo, and Palma d’Oria have prophesied the three days of darkness. There are symbolic references to the three days of darkness in sacred scripture. The Fatima apparitions also have some references to the three days of darkness.
Blessed candles are a sacramental and it’s devout to light a candle during prayer. It is also devout to have the beeswax blessed candle at home ready for the three days of darkness, if it does occur. Since, it is a prophesy, it may be conditional. Certain prophesies may not occur and sometimes it does not happen in the magnitude in which they were prophesied, and that is because we have a merciful, loving and kind God, who easily forgives us and does not allow us to go through the trials, if we abide in God’s ways.
Prophesies also cannot be interpreted literally as they contains spiritual and symbolic meanings, which are often not justified by human understanding. Therefore, the Catholic Church is very cautious about prophesies and does not endorse it unless it is from sacred scripture or unless it has already occurred. In everything we do, we must act through faith and not be gullible. At times, faith requires us to believe in the things of God and revelations from God. Whether the three days of darkness occurs or not, we are called to live in holiness, a life pleasing to God, and to be prepared every moment, for we never know when the day of the Lord will come.
There are some that are too sceptical and then there are others that are too gullible. Both approaches are fatal for our soul. We should be able to discern accurately, and this discernment does not come from human reasoning, as human understanding is limited. We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to help us to discern what is true and holy. For those who are too sceptical, the solution is to have faith and trust in God. If you are amongst those who do not believe unless you see it, like St Thomas, God will provide you a sign such as an illumination of conscience or a miracle. For those who are too gullible, you need to focus more on what is approved by the Catholic Church as it will protect you from heresies.
