On Thursday, I asked Will to go with me to the Oratory near us for its midday Candlemas service.
Our church celebrated the feast day last Sunday, but I really wanted to get to one on the day itself.
I’d gone hoping to witness something beautiful, in the candlelight and the symbolism, and there was definitely that.
But it was the faith, love and unity of strangers gathered on a chilly Thursday lunchtime, smiling as they lit each others’ candles—wick to wick, heart to heart—that will stay with me.
In her Substack The Cottage, historian and author
writes that Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus, or the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, and celebrated by churches with candlelit processions, “marks the final festival in the cycle of light”.The cycle begins, as Diana explains beautifully her post, with the lighting of candles at Advent.
Before the Candlemas service started this week, everyone gathered at the back of the church—huddling in puffer coats and smart jackets, work heels and trainers, berets and mantilla veils—as single white candles were distributed from a basket.
Some came in late (no one batted an eyelid)—one pushing a wheelchair, another a buggy. The priest blessed the candles flickering in our outstretched hands, dousing them with holy water, before leading the procession back to the pews. Some paced purposefully, while others followed falteringly.
We all know those who have struggled and suffered —through grief, illness or any number of reasons—over these last two months. I love the image of the light covering all of it.
The darkness not overcoming any of it.
I can’t think of a better way to mark the completion of the “cycle of light”.
After I send this to you on Saturday morning, I need to gift wrap a giant, outdoor, LED wicker heart.
It’s a wedding gift for our daughter’s friend for whom she is bridesmaid this morning. In two hours. (Me, last minute?).
Four Weddings, anyone?
Giving the couple a light-up heart feels extra fitting at the end of the week in which Candlemas fell.
Sending love to you and all yours for your weekend—are the evenings starting to get lighter where you are?
Just last night, for the first time, I noticed the solar lights on the tree in our little garden blink back to life after months of barely glowing—a sure sign that the days are getting longer and brighter.
Candelmas sounds like a beautiful service to participate in. I love the thought of holding our candles out to one another - you have done that so many times over Voxer for me.
The image of holding out light to and for others is one I want to hold on to. Thank you for this. I can’t stop thinking about how wonderful it is to go to a place where candles are passed as a means of extending the light. Can you imagine the opposite? Handing out darkness? We are surrounded by darkness so much, we need this type of service.