The feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of my favorite feasts. It is unlike any other of the Liturgical Year. One of the key features of this feast is the Blessing of the Candles and the Procession. Bring your candles to be blessed. These candles are sacramentals and can be used especially during times of trouble, storms and when the Sacrament of Extreme Unction is being given.
The Blessing of the Candles is one of the three principle Blessings of the Liturgical Year. The other two are the Blessing of Ashes and Palms on Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday. There is a unique characteristic of the pre-1955 Blessings that is missing in the 1962 Missal. The color for all three Blessings is violet. This gives a continuity and uniformity between these major Blessings.
In the 1962 Missal, each feast has its own color. The connection between the three is completely gone. White is for Candlemas, Violet for Ash Wednesday and Red for Palm Sunday.
Violet is for penitential times and calling down God's mercy and grace upon us. Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday already have violet since they are in Lent. Candlemas is often in the Season of Septuagesima which also has the color of violet. This continuity of color keeps us focused on the these great sacramentals and the extraordinary graces they give us is we use them.
The symbolism of the Procession around the church with lit candles is very beautiful, as the Light of Christ is to be spread throughout the world. The candles are lit again for the Gospel reading (Luke 2:22-32) recounting the Purification, and finally at the Consecration, as the Light joins us in the Real Presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The Preface of the Nativity right before the Canon is used for the last time of the year, again recalling the birth of Our Savior.
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