Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. According to Jewish custom, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to be presented to the Lord. In the temple was a devout man, Simeon, to whom it had been revealed that he would not die until he had seen the Christ of the Lord. Simeon declares that the child is “a light for the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.” He also added the startling statement: “This child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel and (will) be a sign that will be contradicted.”You can only imagine what thoughts were going through Mary and Joseph’s minds as they returned home.
Monday, February 3, is the Feast of St. Blaise, and we will have the traditional Blessing of Throats after each Mass. Two candles are held near the throat of each person as the prayer is said and a blessing given. St. Blaise had saved the life of a young man who was choking on a fish bone. All are invited to receive this blessing.
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.