Candlestick, presentation of Jesus at the temple, World Day of Consecrated Life … What are we celebrating this Sunday, February 2?

What does the church commemorate on February 2, Candlemas day?

The presentation of Jesus to the temple is told in chapter 2 of the Gospel according to Saint Luke. Marie and Joseph take up a very ancient Jewish tradition there, which any practicing Jew of the time respected: present the first-born boys and consecrate them to God. It was a way of recalling the founding event of the release of the Jews of slavery in Egypt and its singular modalities. In thanks, the faithful had to give their first child to God. We find the source of this tradition in several biblical texts, notably NB 18, 15; 1S 1, 24-28 or ex 13. This event still marks the Jewish faith, the people become aware of their divine election with this event. Today, for us Christians, he also represents the spiritual fight to get out of the slavery of sin and open up to the grace of God.

Marie and Joseph therefore went to the temple of Jerusalem with their son. They presented it as planned to be blessed. They also offered the prescribed sacrifices for the purification of the mother who gave birth (at Christmas).