Please join us tomorrow, February 2, online at noon EST, to be part of our special streamed Candlemas celebration – a beautiful feast day in the Catholic Church. Tomorrow is special here at the Father Peyton Center for several reasons.
In the liturgical calendar, it is The Feast of The Presentation in the Temple, 40 days after the birth of our Lord. According to the custom of Hebrew law, parents would bring their child to the temple to present the child to God. Elderly Simeon and Anna, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, were also there at the time and encountered the baby Jesus. They recognized he was the Lord and Savior … and light of the world! At Mass, you and I also encounter Jesus in the Eucharist.
This story of The Presentation in the Temple is also recalled in our Rosary prayer. It is the fourth Joyful Mystery.
This feast day is also called Candlemas, a day when the priest blesses all the candles that will be used in the church throughout the year. Families might also bring their own candle to the church to be blessed and take home. Families can light the blessed candle in their home on special occasions throughout the year – birthdays, anniversaries, holy days, etc. We pray this light will fill your home with the love, hope and promises of Christ!
Tomorrow is also the first Friday of the month. Here at the Father Peyton Center we especially remember our Father Peyton Guild members at Mass. These are groups, families and individuals from around the world who commit to praying for the beatification of Venerable Patrick Peyton, the continuation of his mission through Holy Cross Family Ministries, and for all families around the world. We are grateful for their dedication and support, and pray for their special intentions.
And finally, it’s Groundhog Day here in the U.S.A. Another tradition that depends on light! According to folklore, a groundhog in Punxsutawney, PA will wake from hibernation tomorrow. If it is sunny and he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it is cloudy, and he doesn’t see his shadow, it is believed spring will come early!
So that’s what makes tomorrow so special. We hope you can join us for our live streaming Mass here at the Father Peyton Center at noon EST. If you can’t join us live, you can view the recording later in the video section of our Facebook page. You don’t have to be a member of Facebook to participate either way. Just follow the link.
May God bless you and your family!
