Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas) February 2nd

At the end of the fourth century, a woman named Etheria made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Her journal, discovered in 1887, gives an unprecedented glimpse of liturgical life there. Among the celebrations she describes is the Epiphany (January 6), the observance of Christ's birth, and the gala procession in honor of his Presentation in the Temple 40 days later - February 15. (Under the Mosaic Law, a woman was ritually "unclean" for 40 days after childbirth, when she was to present herself to the priests and offer sacrifice-her "purification." Contact with anyone who had brushed against mystery-birth or death-excluded a person from Jewish worship.) This feast emphasizes Jesus' first appearance in the Temple more than Mary's purification.

The observance spread throughout the Western Church in the fifth and sixth centuries. Because the Church in the West celebrated Jesus' birth on December 25, the Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days after Christmas.

In Luke's account, Jesus was welcomed in the temple by two elderly people, Simeon and the widow Anna. They embody Israel in their patient expectation. They acknowledge the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Early references to the Roman feast dub it the feast of St. Simeon, the old man who burst into a song of joy which the Church still sings at day's end.

At the beginning of the eighth century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession; at the end of the same century the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day became part of the celebration, giving the feast its popular name: Candlemas.

Page Top

St. John de Britto 　(February 4th)
Patron saint of the St. Ignatius Church, English Center

Born of parents of the Portugese aristocracy, John served as page to the crown prince (later King Peter II). His miraculous recovery from an illness during his teens resulted in his entering the Jesuit noviciate at age 15. He spent his life catechizing and baptizing, visiting his missions in India and founding new ones, even after experiencing imprisonment and torture.

Page Top

Saint Paul Miki and Companions 　(February 5th)

The city of Nagasaki in Japan has been revered by Christians in Japan since 1597 because of the deaths there, on "the holy hill", of twenty-six priests and lay people, the first martyrs of the Japanese Church. They died by crucifixion like their Master, being tied to the crosses as thy lay upon the ground and then, when the crosses were set upright, planted in the ground alongside each other, they were put to death by the thrust of a lance, each by a separate executioner.

Of the twenty-six who died in 1597, six were Franciscans: one of whom was born in India; another was born in Mexico City; the rest came from Spain. Three who died were Jesuits, all Japanese, and there were seventeen Japanese laymen. Collectively they are known as Paul Miki and Companions - Paul Miki was a Jesuit priest.

Paul Miki was born in 1556 and came from a noble family in Kyoto which converted to Christianity. Paul was baptized when he was 5 years old. He went to the Jesuit-run seminary at Anzuciana when he was twenty, but two years later entered the Jesuit novitiate. Paul, first, had to learn Latin in order to study theology. He also spent a great deal of time studying Buddhism. That knowledge became invaluable when he was to preach and to debate with Buddhist "bonzes". His arguments drew many of his fellow-Japanese into accepting the Gospel. One Franciscan said of him that he was the most devout of the preachers of the day.

When the persecution broke out, Paul was arrested in Osaka, the day after Christmas, 1596. He was imprisoned with two Jesuit novices, John Kisai who was 64 years old, and John Soan de Goto who was not yet twenty. After their arrest they were taken to Kyoto where they were paraded around the city to be scoffed at by the populace. From Kyoto they were sent for execution where they died on February 5, 1597.

Saint Paul Miki, who had preached so effectively during his life, still on the cross encouraged the many bystanders to embrace Christianity. Just before he died, he pardoned those who had put him to death. He died saying "into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." Many more Christians died in the years which followed, 205 of whom have also been beatified. The twenty-six who were martyred in 1597 were canonized by Pope Paul IX in 1862.

Page Top

Our Lady of Lourdes 　(February 11th)

The apparitions at Lourdes, in 1858, took place four years after the definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. These apparitions were like a seal from heaven on the Holy Father's words. Pope Pius X ordered that February 11 be kept as the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Let us greet Mary, "Full of Grace," and ask her for the grace of spiritual and bodily health.

Our Hope
Mary is the hope of all the banished children of Eve, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Let us always trustfully invoke her: "Pray for us, now and at the hour of our death." All to Mary, from Mary, with Mary. She shows everyone on earth her Son. Let us pray: "After this our exile, show to us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus."

Page Top

Saint Valentine 　(February 14th)

Once there was a very holy priest named Valentine. He lived in Rome, and wanted to serve God by living the gospels and following Jesus. These were his favorite words from Jesus: "Love one another as I have loved you." Valentine believed that God loves everyone very much, and he tried to show God's love in his dealings with others.

At that time in Rome, some people did not know Jesus. They did not like Valentine because he followed Jesus. These people put him in prison because he practiced his faith. While in prison, Valentine wrote little messages to all his friends to tell them that he loved them. In honor of him we send little messages or cards to people we love on Valentine's Day.

Valentine is the patron saint of engaged couples.

Page Top