Today’s Readings – The Presentation of the Lord

 The Presentation of the Lord (Feast)

Today, forty days after the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the end of the Christmas season with a festival of light. Candles are blessed and they are carried in procession to welcome Christ, the Light to enlighten the Gentiles and the Glory of his people. Until the year 1969, the feast, which is of Eastern origin, was known in the West as the feast of the Purification of Our Lady and also as Candlemas.  Now it is referred to it as the Presentation of the Lord.

It was Jewish belief that, because of bleeding, a mother was ritually unclean after giving birth and hence was in need of ritual purification.  On giving birth to a son, a Jewish woman would be in semi-seclusion for 40 days (in the case of a girl, the period was longer). … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Saint Brigid of Kildare, Abbess and Secondary Patron of Ireland

St Brigid, Abbess and Secondary Patron of Ireland (Feast)

Brigid of Kildare (Irish: Naomh Bhríde; 451-525) was an Irish nun, abbess, and founder of several convents. Like many early saints there is much debate among scholars and even Christians as to the authenticity o … Continue