Part of the rich gifts that we have in the Catholic Faith are the liturgical seasons. Following the prayers and liturgical celebrations in our daily lives is an effective way we can be united to the mysteries of Christ. It helps us to allow these mysteries to flow into our everyday life and transform us to be more aware of how we are part of the body of Christ, united to the Church and to the Communion of Saints. The liturgy transcends time and culture, drawing us into heavenly realities and also connecting us to all of the history of our Catholic Faith. Through the Sacraments God pours grace into our lives and through the rich treasures of Catholic teachings, rituals and rhythms we are formed each year deeper into the very life of God. The Liturgical calendar provides a framework for the prayers that go into the Liturgy of the Church. It shapes the Liturgy of the Hours (prayers that priests and religious pray and offer for the Church throughout the day) as well as the prayers for the Liturgy of the Mass. There is a Latin phrase, attributed to St. Prosper of Aquitaine from the 5th century, “Lex orandi, lex credendi” this is a maxim that the Church is formed and shaped by. It means “The law of prayer is the law of faith” in other words the way we pray is the way we believe. The Church has a very complex and mystical calendar that shapes the way it prays and therefore shapes and forms the practice of our belief.
Everyone can benefit by following the Church’s liturgical calendar by reading some of the prayers written for that day, but most especially by finding ways to read about and participate in some of the formal traditions and some of the cultural traditions that have sprung from the feasts of the Church. Most days have a Saint the Church gives special focus and dedication to, as well as celebrating the life of Christ, Mary and Apostles. The cycles of the liturgical calendar also guide us on days to fast, for days of penance and increased prayer and for days of high celebration and feasting. Following this calendar in your daily life will profoundly enrich your life of prayer.
This coming week we have the celebration of the Feast of the Presentation in the Temple. This is celebrated on February 2nd and officially ends the cycle of Christmas. This feast concludes the focus on Christ’s hidden life and transitions us into His public ministry. Historically this is the feast of the Purification of Mary, in the Jewish tradition a mother was considered unclean after giving birth and she would come to the temple 40 days after birth of a male child for the purification (80 after for a female child). Although Mary was preserved from original sin, and would not be subject to the need for purification, she humbly obeyed the law. This feast is also the Feast of the Presentation, when the first born son of the family was offered and dedicated to God in the temple. This feast day has also been known as Candlemas. Traditionally on this feast the Church would bless candles to use for the year and for people to take home, as well as have a beautiful candlelit procession. In the Gospel this day you can hear the Canticle of Simeon in the temple as he proclaims “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” During the Feast of Candlemas we hear the proclamation of the light that we will experience again in the greatest celebration of the light at Easter with the ultimate light of the Paschal Candle. Jessica Soden