This coming Sunday coincides with the Feast of the Purification,
also known as the Presentation, and also known as Candlemas. This has
long been one of the beloved festivals of the Catholic people. In
England and Ireland, it was a particularly important day, when the
candel makers' guilds (an important part of the economy in that time)
would bring their wares to the local parish church and offer them to the
parish. Candles are to be blessed before Mass, recalling that Christ is
the Light of the World. So...if you have candles to be blessed, bring
them. Be sure you are there before Mass. We will also provide enough
candles for each individual or family. We have chosen candles that will
not drip on the floor. This is of special importance. We will bless all
candles, but we ask that any candles used in the rite at the beginning
of Mass be equipped to catch melting wax so that none of it drips on the
floor. As you know, we only rent the chapel at Queen of Heaven and we
wish to be respectful to the site. Also we would ask that no small
children carry candles. Every priest has known at least one or two
incidents of children being burned or burning another accidentally
during such rites. The candles will not be burning for a terribly long
time, so at the very least exercise parental oversight on this, and on
the question of dripping wax. The rite should start at 10:30 and candles
to be blessed must be in place before then. Thank you for your
cooperation and your commitment to things Catholic.
Fr. Milich
