The Mass for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also called Candlemas, began with the blessing of the candles and a procession in a darkened St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Altar of the Chair was illuminated with dozens of lit candles, and the consecrated men and women present in the congregation also held small candles.
For the feast of Candlemas, Catholics often bring candles to the church to be blessed. They can then light these candles at home during prayer or difficult times as a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
In his homily, Pope Francis said that patience is not “a sign of weakness, but the strength of spirit that enables us to ‘carry the burden’ … of personal and community problems, to accept others as different from ourselves, to persevere in goodness when all seems lost, and to keep advancing even when overcome by tedium and sloth.”
“Let us take a closer look at Simeon’s patience. For his entire life, he had been waiting, exercising the patience of the heart,” he said.
“In his prayer, Simeon had learned that God does not come in extraordinary events, but works amid the apparent monotony of our daily life, in the frequently dull rhythm of our activities, in the little things that, working with tenacity and humility, we achieve in our efforts to do his will. By patiently persevering, Simeon did not grow weary with the passage of time. He was now an old man, yet the flame still burned brightly in his heart.”
The pope said that there are “real challenges” in consecrated life that require “patience and courage in order to keep advancing … and responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.”
“There was a time when we responded to the Lord’s call, and with enthusiasm and generosity offered our lives to him. Along the way, together with consolations, we have had our share of disappointments and frustrations,” he said.
“In our lives as consecrated men and women, it can happen that hope slowly fades as a result of unmet expectations. We have to be patient with ourselves and await in hope God’s own times and places, for he remains ever faithful to his promises.”