Every 2nd of February, the church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It is more popularly called "Candelaria," as it is also the day to honor "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria," or "Our Lady of Candles."
The reason why I think this is one of the most memorable feasts of the Lord is the presence of candles in the liturgy. It’s natural for us human beings to remember more if there are tangible things attached to a devotion or a religious celebration. There are many other feasts of the Lord, such as the Transfiguration of the Lord, celebrated on August 6, and the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14. However, it’s truly different whenever we celebrate "Candelaria." Whenever we see or light the candles, we remember Christ, the True Light of our lives and the Light of the World.
After the blessing of the candles and the Holy Mass, a procession in honor of the Mahal na Birhen ng Candelaria was held. After years of being deprived of the various traditional processions well-loved by Filipinos, we are now permitted to do it once again—a true blessing from God. A procession is not just a normal walk, like an exercise, though it may seem like one because of the walking part, which itself takes an hour or more. It reminds us of our journey on earth as baptized Catholics. When we were born on Earth, we were baptized. The church is here with us. It mirrors the imagery when the procession starts from the church, just like our lives from the moment of our baptism.
Then the whole procession is like a journey through our lives. There are many roads to walk on and a lot of people to meet. Through it all, the main reason we exist in this life is to be a living testimony of the faith we profess. We must walk in this life unashamed of our faith. Finally, as the procession ends by going back to the church, so must our lives end by going back to the church after our deaths. It is when our lifeless body will come back to be blessed before it is buried. But our soul, if we remain with God and do not sin, will live forever with Him in heaven.
From the beginning to the end, the Lord Jesus and our Lady, together with her most chaste spouse, Saint Joseph, walk with us in our lives, just as they journey with us in each procession. This is a fact we must never forget, even in the darkest part of our lives: Jesus Christ remains our light in the dark. He will never be defeated. He is the Victor. Let our faith and our persistent trust in Him be this candle that holds the light that is Christ.
Amen. +
Marga de Jesus| OLA Social Communications
