February 2nd was the Feast Day of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, also known as Candlemas. In keeping with tradition, Notre Dame Seminary observed the feast with a blessing of the candles before Mass.
Seminarians, faculty, and guests gathered around the fountain in the front of the seminary, holding lit candles and singing an antiphon. The Rector, Father Jim Wehner, blessed bundles and boxes of candles of various sizes with holy water, using the solemn rite of blessing. The community then processed into the seminary chapel for Mass with incense and more song. To enhance the music at this Mass, the seminary brought in brass and timpani to accompany a larger-than-usual schola cantorum, the seminarian choir.
On the day after Candlemas, February 3rd, the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Blaise, when candles are used in the blessing of throats. Many of the candles blessed on Candlemas will be used in Masses and other liturgies throughout the year; others will be used for private devotion.
