Notre Dame burning to the ground - a doula prespective
Our Lady's Purification ~ Candlemas Day
Photo By: Flickr/Marion Doss
Mary was ever Virgin and she really did not have to go through the process of purification as the Angel Gabriel said, "Hail Mary, full of grace," when he first met her. (Luke) The Blessed Virgin Mary did this as an act of humility to God and He was pleased.
The same day Our Lady was purified in the Temple; she also presented her Son Jesus in the Temple as it was 40 days after his birth. This was the custom of the time. If you remember in the Bible, a man named Simeon had been waiting for this time his whole life to see the promised Saviour. Luke 2:25 " And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him."
Luke 2:27-30 - "And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, [28] He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: [29] Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; [30] Because my eyes have seen thy salvation." So, Simeon would now die in peace because he was able to see the salvation of the world.
Luke 2:33-35 -- "And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him. [34] And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; [35] And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed."
This last words were the beginning of Mary's Seven Sorrows. She is Our Lady of Sorrows and this must have been something she probably knew was going to be; but having it told to her for the first time from Simeon would be the first piercing of Her Immaculate Heart. (*Seven Sorrows is also a special devotion to have if you need prayers answered).
Candlemas -- Candles are blessed this day.
We also contemplate on this day; the blessing of the candles. The Sacraments (esp. Baptism) have candles at the ceremony. The priest blesses this sacramental each year on this day. It would be good if you can make it to such a cermony at your local parish. In fact if this Feast Day happens to land on a Sunday in the Traditional rite (Latin Mass Tridentine -- Extraordinary Form) the Mass of the Purification exceeds any other feast or celebration of that day (for instance the pre-Lenten Sundays that the Traditional rite offers). So, this is a great feast day to go to Mass on whether in Latin or English.
This is also a feast day for mothers who have just had a baby; you might call it a postpartum feast for mothers. I work with mothers doing doula work (helping with birth and postpartum). We try to help mothers celebrate the beauty of the birth of their babies. So, mothers should be encouraged to go to Mass on this beautiful feast day and thank God for their baby and safe delivery. Please also bring your candles to be blessed by the priest!!
Sources for this article: http://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/s?t=0&q=Simeon&b=drb
http://www.salvemariaregina.info/SalveMariaRegina/SMR-155/Purification.htm
http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/j059sdPurificationOLGS2-2.htm
http://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/purification-of-our-lady.html
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About the Author
About Me: I am a Catholic Mother of 4 children. I love writing about pregnancy and childbirth as I am a doula. However, I decided to write a few books recently and my books include: "A Catholic Postpartum", "Little Way of Motherhood" (about pregnancy), "Hope Through Sorrow" (Miscarriage/Bereavement book), "The Comfort in Birth Method", etc. My favorite saints are St. Therese and St. Zelie' Martin (and St. Louis). I love Our Lady Immaculate Heart as well. Please pray for me and I'll do the same for you! Thank you.
