Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7



Thursday, February 02, 2012

Candlemas

CHAMPAIGNE, Philippe de
The Presentation of the Temple
1648


"Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2:25-35

Today is the feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, also called Candlemas for it is the day we traditionally have the year's candles blessed, for the significance that Christ is the Light of the world.

"a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel"

On this day, when Jesus was presented at the temple for the first time, the Blessed Mother, according to Jewish law, presented herself for purification. Of course, Our Blessed Mother didn't need purification, neither on earth or for heaven. As in all things, she was obedient.

As Catholics, we believe we need purification to be united with God in heaven. The catechism states, "All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven." CCC 1030

Many saints believe that pain on earth purifies us. St. John of the Cross said pain is in direct proportion to our need for purification. Whether that pain is on earth or in purgatory, is physical or mental, is as unique as is each soul. How divine that Our Blessed Mother, upon her purification at the temple, was told that her greatest joy, her son, would also be the cause of her greatest pain.

"you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed"


If you are a mother, a parent, you know the pain you experience when your child is hurt, physically or emotionally. How many parents have said, "I would rather take this pain than watch my child suffer"? Our Blessed Mother knew that she would suffer, yet she was obedient to God in all things. She saw the pain that her son experienced and experienced it tenfold in her own heart.

We must mediate on the pain Our Blessed Mother experienced, the seven sorrows of Mary, and learn from them, learn obedience in all things, because through pain we are purified. By uniting our own pain and sorrow with the Blessed Mother, we unite ourselves more closely with Our Lord, and through the pain we become closer to attaining heaven. When we unite ourselves with Mary, we unite ourselves with Jesus because she leads us to Him.


In anticipation of Lent beginning in a few short weeks (February 22), I will give away a Seven Sorrows of Mary chaplet, on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is not yet made, so I can't give you a peek, but it will be a keeper, I promise. And if used to pray and meditate on the Seven Sorrows of Mary, will have value beyond this world.

Leave a comment on this post, with a way to contact you, between now and the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11), to enter your name in the drawing.


31 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for this post! Our church reflection group was talking about purgatory, and I will be happy to include your notes at our next gathering! God bless you!

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  2. I always enjoy your blog. Thanks for the chance to enter the give away. :)

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  3. Thanks for another chance to win one of your beautiful chaplets!

    Rachel in Dallas

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  4. Everybody must be busy???!!! I come here everyday...just do not comment all the time.

    Love to win...maybe I will have a chance now!

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  5. I am behind on all my blog reading! I've been busy with a few deadlined projects. Hope I can win. I love reading your blogs, even though I rarely comment.

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  6. I'd love a chance to win one of your chaplets!

    Thank you, Barbara!

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  7. Hi Barbara, I am a bit behind in my blog reading. I haven't been on too much lately. Thanks so much for the chance to win! Your chaplets are just beautiful!!! I keep hoping to win something handmade of yours. : )

    mostlyblue@comcast.net

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  8. I read your blog nearly everyday and enjoy it so much! Thanks for the opportunity - your work is beautiful.
    Patty G.

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  9. I'm just behind in reading...everything, at this point!

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  10. I would love your chaplet! Please enter me and have a wonderful weekend.

    p.s. my oldest found an apartment...signed a lease...and will be moving out this weekend...I don't know if I should clap or cry...probably will do both! :)

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  11. I just stumbled upon your Blog - Wonderful and Inspiring!! I also recently stumbled upon The Seven Sorrows of Mary Chaplet after reading a book about Our Lady of Kibeho. I'll be back to this Blog (and your others - love your recipes) often.

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  12. I forgot to tell you I wanted in on your contest!!! I can be reached at b-healey@hotmail.com Hope I win!!

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  13. Yes, yes! Enter me, please! I meant to leave a comment yesterday, but a certain little one on my lap clicked me out of my blogs before I was ready. ;)

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  14. Hi,
    I'd love to be in your contest. Thanks for sponsoring one.
    Gail
    irishmomof5@burlingtontelecom.net.

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  15. I would love to win the chaplet! I am reading Our Lady of Kibeho now so hopefully that will inspire me. Thanks for being generous. Carol cldefazio@verizon.net

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  16. I am not ashamed to admit it, I want to win that chaplet! You know where I live ;-)

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  17. Yup, like so many others I'm trying to catch up on my blog reading. I'd love to have a chance to win a chaplet made by you. :) thanks a bunch. anneg@vtc.net

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  18. Okay, here I am, throwing my name into the hat. Your treasures are all so lovely, truly all those I've had you make as gifts over here were so well constructed, and made by such loving hands.

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  19. Throwing my name in the hat as well. My email is: cj_lapier at hotmail dot com Beyond hoping to win, your post spoke deeply to me. Thank you for sharing your meditations on pain, Our Blessed Lady's obedience and the obedience we owe to God. God bless you!
    ~Cynthia

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  20. I missed your blog yesterday in my reader :( I would love to throw my name in the hat.

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  21. I know I am really late but I would love to win the chaplet

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  22. The seven sorrows of Our Lady has so much to teach me--
    Please enter me in the drawing
    dsmccarroll@yahoo.com

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  23. OK, I'm entering and being greedy :)

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  24. You know how I love this Chaplet - and spreading the devotion! The two Chaplets you made me in the past have been given away. Would love to win this one for another give away, another encouragement toward this holy, efficacious devotion. Your generosity is consistently generous!

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  25. Beautiful post! I'd love to be entered. Everything you make is just lovely!

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  26. I would love to enter your giveaway. This is only the second blog comment I've ever done. I'm glad you are reading that St. Pio book. I really enjoyed it. Susan C (skc64364@yahoo.com)

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  27. I just saw the sneak peek when catching up on my blogs in Google Reader... it is STUNNING!!!! I would love to put my name in the hat! :)

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  28. I just saw the preview and it is beautiful! I love the color of the beads! I would love to be entered!

    kjohanon (at) gmail (dot) com

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  29. Oh pooh, I just saw this post. I've been so busy, I haven't had time to visit. Am I too late? The Chaplet is VERY PRETTY! Thanks, either way. God bless,
    Martha
    whocanitbeenow@gmail.com

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I appreciate your comments -- sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself!