The following is an abridged version of a post that was originally published on January 27, 2007.
The events that inspired the Feast of Candlemas (celebrated liturgically on February 2nd) are those of the Fourth Joyful Mystery: the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple and the Purification of Our Lady.
The scenes are rich with imagery and ripe for consideration. Indeed, a person like me could easily spend an hour in meditation on a day like the Feast of Candlemas, provided I sat still long enough to do so.
Which is to say that I’m a twitch.
And which is to say that I am less prone to pondering things in my heart than I am to running them through my mind along with a lengthy to-do list. Our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph enter the temple. Check! Thaw ground beef. Check! The prophet Simeon approaches. Check! Make husband’s lunch, eat breakfast and check my e-mail. Check! Check! Check!
I am such a work in progress.
And the fact of the matter is that I should be spending hours in contemplation of this mystery because I have myself offered a child to God. Four of them, in fact–lost to miscarriage but never truly gone from my heart or my longing.
In my own little way, I have lived the Presentation.
And a sword my own heart did pierce.
I once labored to deliver my stillborn child while, at that very moment, my 7-year-old son made his First Confession. My mother’s tears of joy were mingled with my cry of anguish.
“Behold,” said the prophet Simeon, “This child is destined for the rise and fall of many…”
Well, that’s life. I say this not to be glib or overly pat in my assessment of what I went through. Oh my goodness, far from it. But this is life! Sorrow follows on the heels of happiness; pain follows pleasure in rapid succession.
I see how on this double feast that I, too, was chosen to be purified.
But unlike the Blessed Mother, I really need it.
In Caryll Houselander’s Wood of the Cradle, Wood of the Cross, she explains (with tremendous insight for a woman who herself never bore children) that “there is nothing more mysterious than infancy, nothing so small and yet so imperious. The infancy of Christ has opened a way to us by which we can surrender self to Him absolutely, without putting too much pressure on our weak human nature.
“Before a child is born,” she continues, “The question which everyone asks is ‘What can I give him?’ When he is born, he rejects every gift that is not the gift of self.”
How very true. With every birth of every infant, a woman is asked to suffer. She must overcome even her basic needs for sleep and recreation, at times, in order to provide for this ever-fussy, ever-needy little person.
And she does so…willingly! At least, she ought to.
She’s a mother.
It’s what we do.
The Feast of the Presentation is a chance for us to consider the great gift that is our children. They are our sanctity! A child is a complicated gift, however; he or she is not really ours, and we must be at peace with giving the gift back to the Giver when He asks us.
Our offering of two turtledoves, only much much harder.
You know, I wonder at which point of Simeon’s prophecy Our Lady clutched her precious babe ever more fiercely to her heart. Was it when a stranger tried to take Him from her? Or was it when the words of the stranger’s prophecy hit home?
As always, Mary overcame her fear of sin and suffering. She handed over her child and listened to what God was saying…and she was brave.
Today and always, may we be equally brave.
May we live out our Presentation like Mary.
Ad Jesum per Mariam,
*The above painting is by Giovanni Bellini and is entitled “The Presentation in the Temple.”
Wonderful post. I have been trying to embrace any suffering that comes with this pregnancy, and I have been thinking about Mary a lot. I always seem to miss these big feast days. I should make a better point to write them all down and plan for them. I’d like to share them with my children.
Margaret:
A wise and wonderful friend once told me that comparison thinking steals your joy. I mention this b/c I woke up this morning and sent out an email to my Catholic Mom’s group regarding today’s feast day. I just read your beautiful and insightful post and I wish I had written THAT!!!!! Your gift of “the pen” and your knowledge of our faith coupled with your willingness to share what God has placed on your heart is such a blessing to everyone that takes this journey with you! Blessings, Kelly
I don’t remember this from it’s first run, but all I can say is:
Wow.
This is a most excellent post.
Wow. I’ll be pondering this wonderful post all day – all day! God bless you and keep you – thanks for sharing your wonderfully lived insights.
Beautiful post.A lesson in humility and acceptance of God’s will for me today. To take the good and the bad with thanks and an accepting heart, drswing closer to God in both circumstances. Bless you today and always.
I love this post. Thank you for re-posting.
Great suffering went into the writing of this post. Thank you for sharing it.
So beautiful, Margaret. I ran my last Candlemas post today, too, dear sister of the heart. 🙂
God bless you. I lost a little boy of 22 mos years ago and this post is very special.
Bless you that was marvelous. Just what my heart really needed today.
Beautiful, Margaret.
Beautiful post, and very apt for me today, on my darling boy’s first birthday.
Just wonderfully written. Thank you for putting this day into perspective.
how beautifully written.
I do remember this post. Amazing, just as much this time as two years ago. But, dear Margaret, what a scare, for a moment… But I suppose that is the point of the post anyway. Thank God–and profusely–for the joys between the sorrows, and extra prayers for your little one tonight on the feast of Candlemas!
Wonderful, Margaret. Perfect.
What a beautiful post! Thank you!
What a beautiful post! Thank you!
What a beautiful and inspiring post as I enter my third pregnancy I find myself fearful at times that I may miscarry which is odd since I have not yet, thankfully, but since my mother had many it is always in the back of my mind. Thank you for a beautiful look at the gift we are given and reminder that they are not truly “ours” to keep. God bless you for your beautiful soul.
Ellen