The Canticle of Simeon - Nunc Dimittis (Feast of the Presentation/ Purification)

 

Upcoming on February 2 is the Feast of the Presentation, also called Feast of the Purification, Candlemas or Candelaria. The beautiful canticle of Simeon celebrates this event, when Our Lady makes the sacrifice of two turtle doves to complete her purification after childbirth and when she and Joseph present Our Lord to the Father in the temple as their "first-born" son.

Simeon, a devout man, had been assured by the Holy Ghost that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.  Simeon recognizes that the Infant Jesus is the Messiah, and sings in joy.

Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace:
Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum
Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum:
Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.

(Latin Vulgate)

Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise.
My own eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.
A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel. 

(Roman Breviary)

 Scriptural account at Luke 2. 22-39.  See also Leviticus 12 for the requirements for purification. 

 Note:  Rachmaninoff's beautiful version of the Nunc Dimittis is available in several renditions via You Tube.  Just use your favorite search engine.

Image  Simeons Song of Praise by Aert de Gelden (early 18th century) from Wikimedia Commons.

 

 

Gemma's Flowers for Candlemas

 

Coming soon on February 2 is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord (also known as Candlemas or Candelaria as well as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary). As a feast of Our Lord, the liturgical color is white.  And, as I have said before, I think it is one of the most beautiful feast days in the Catholic calendar.

Gemma did lovely arrangements for Candlemas in 2020).  See and read more here.

Snowdrops for Candlemas

Certainly one of the most beautiful feast days in the liturgical year is Candlemas (February 2 - Feast of the Presentation of the Lord; Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary) with its candle procession. The associated flower is the Snowdrop (above) which blooms during February.   The liturgical color is white.

According to Mary Gardener John Stokes:

"An instance of the liturgical use and naming of a flower is the snowdrop, which in England is in bloom for the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, or Candlemas, February 2nd. It is recorded that, on the feast of the Purification, Our Lady's statue was carried from churches in procession to recall her trip to the temple with Joseph and the Child Jesus. Then pure white blooms of snowdrops were strewn for the entire day in the statue's place as special symbols of Mary's unstained purity. Because of this practice, the snowdrop was known as Purification Flower, Candlemas Bells, Our Lady of February, Fair Maids of February and The Virgin's Flower."

 If you are unable to find snowdrops in your part of the world, substitute another white flower -- for example, narcissus.  See my post White Flowers for Church Decoration for ideas.

Update:  With regard to Candlemas falling within the pre-Lenten season of Septuagesima this year, please see my new post on the topic of altar flowers for the season and the feast.

 

Image:  Galanthus nivalis ("snowdrop").  From Wikimedia Commons.  Click for license.