In accordance with Jewish custom and Law, the Holy Family travels to the Jerusalem Temple to celebrate a host of religious celebrations: purification of Mary, and the presentation and consecration of Jesus. The Presentation of Jesus is celebrated by many Christian denominations. In addition to being known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, other traditional names include Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, and the Meeting of the Lord.

Candlemas is a northern European name for the feast because of the procession with lighted candles at the mass on this day, reflecting Simeon’s proclamation of “a light for revelation to the Gentiles”, which, in turn, echoes Isaiah 49:6 in the second of the “servant of the Lord” oracles. It is traditionally celebrated 40 days after Christmas. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Presentation of Jesus at the temple is celebrated as one of the twelve Great Feasts, and is sometimes called Hypapante (Ὑπαπαντή, “meeting” in Greek).

In the Roman Catholic Church the Feast of the Presentation is celebrated on 2 February – and if that is a Sunday celebration, then the Feast replaces the Sunday of Ordinary Time – as it does in 2025 replacing the 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time. And in case you are wondering, “Can Feb 2nd fall in the Season of Lent? The answer is “no” as February 4th is the earliest possible date for Ash Wednesday.

If you are interested in reading a detailed commentary on the Gospel for the 4th Sunday, Year C – which is the “rest of the story” started in the gospel for the 3rd Sunday, you can view it here.

Image credit: Giotto di Bondone, Presentation of Christ in the Temple | Lower Church in the Basilica of San Francesco, Assisi | PD-US