A glance at the blogs and websites I often consult and use and a quick online search yielded quite a bit about customs associated with Candlemas, some of which were new to me and which may also be of interest to readers.
The always immensely valuable 1913 Catholic Encyclopaedia gives a history of the feast and of its liturgy both as it was then and also its pre-Tridentine forms at Candlemas.
The Liturgical Arts Journal has an interesting illustrated piece about the Roman custom of offering decorated candles to the Pope on this day and that he would then distribute them to those who were in distress or to shrines. The article can be seen at Papal Traditions at Candlemas
Wikipedia has an illustrated entry that looks both at the history of the feast and at customs to celebrate it at Candlemas.
Candlemas customs are also outlined by Project Britain at Candlemas Day (the Christian festival of lights ), by National Today at Candlemas Day - February 2, and by Days of The Year at Candlemas day
Finally Fr Hunwicke takes today as an opportunity to comment on different customs in regard to the numbers of candles on the altar in Candles?
Happy Candlemas, and to all my fellow Orielenses, “Floreat Oriel”
1 comment:
May Christ the light of the world illuminate our darkness!
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