Domestic Church "The Second Vatican Council calls the family the 'Ecclesia domestica', the domestic Church, teaching that parents are 'by word and example...the first heralds of the faith with regard to their children.'" (CCC1656)
Ground hog day is this Wednesday, February 2nd. Did you ever wonder why February 2nd would be chosen as the day to look for the coming spring?
It may be because February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation, was once the end of the Christmas season. On this feast day, we celebrate Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, presented to God in the Hebrew temple. The Mass readings tell us of Simeon and Anna, holy prophets who waited God’s Messiah at the temple. Upon seeing the Christ Child, Simeon exclaims
"Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
A light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.”
--Luke 2:29-32
Christ the Light has come into the world.
And so we celebrate light, the Light of the World. This coincides with the gradual return of light, slightly lengthening days, of spring in the northern hemisphere. So, people began to think of spring, and wonder how much longer winter’s cold might last. Their attempts to predict this led to the traditional search for a groundhog to “predict” the weather. And it makes sense that they searched on this, the last day of their Christmas celebration..
It is fun to make Christian connections with our secular holidays. Often our children do not realize how much of our culture is based on Christian ideals and practices, and it is a blessing to be able to share these celebrations with them.
How to celebrate the Presentation at home? With candles!
This celebration of the Light of the World is also the day that Christians blessed candles for liturgical use in the coming year, and so it is also called Candlemas. Light some candles on your dinner table or put birthday candles on a special dessert. Find a favorite song about light; take a walk in the evening dark and enjoy the starlight. Talk about Mary, the pure Mother, who presented her Son to God on this day. She is also known as The Star of the Sea and as the Sorrowful Mother (because of the suffering and death of her Son, which Simeon also predicts in the second chapter of Luke). Once again, suffering and joy are tied up together in the story of Our Lord and His holy Mother, Mary. You might read the story of the Presentation in the Bible aloud with your family, pray the Canticle of Simeon together, but most of all, take another opportunity to Rejoice in the coming of our Savior!
For other beautiful ideas for celebrating the day, check out :
Cottage Blessings:
http://alice.typepad.com/cottage_blessings/2007/01/when_candelmas_.html
and Women for Faith and Family:
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