A Collection of Candlemas Prayers
(BL Harley 2915, f. 35)
DEAR PEOPLE OF GOD,
Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
“[F]orty days ago we celebrated the joyful feast of the incarnation of Jesus. Today we recall the day on which he was presented in the temple, fulfilling the law of Moses. Led by the Spirit, Simeon and Anna came to the temple, recognized the child as the Christ, and proclaimed him with joy.” [1] United by the same Spirit, let us pray with one heart and mind.
THE COLLECT
Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. [2]
CANTICLE – THE SONG OF SIMEON
A Light to enlighten the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.
A Light to enlighten the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised.
A Light to enlighten the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see.
A Light to enlighten the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel. [3]
THE PRESENTATION
WE HAVE WAITED, O God, for thy loving-kindness in the midst of thy temple: according to thy Name, O Lord, so is thy praise unto the world’s end. Like as we have heard, so also have we seen in the city of our God, even upon his holy hill. Alleluia.
THE OLD MAN CARRIED THE CHILD, but the child was the old man’s king. Alleluia.
- Gradual And Alleluia For Candlemas [4]
We have waited in silence on your loving-kindness,
O Lord, in the midst of your temple.
Your praise, like your Name, O God,
reaches to the world’s end;
your right hand is full of justice.
A LITANY FOR CANDLEMAS
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
By the mystery of the word made flesh,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By the birth in time of the eternal Son of God,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By the revelation of this child’s birth in angels songs and the brilliance of a star,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By the joy at Cana’s wedding feast,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By the call, freely answered by disciples,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By Christ’s glory, revealed on the mount of transfiguration,
Good Lord, deliver us.
For thy holy, catholic, and apostolic Church,
We pray to thee, O Lord.
For the witness of thy faithful people, that we may be lights in the world,
We pray to thee, O Lord.
For an end to all violence and strife, that all may live in peace and security,
We pray to thee, O Lord.
For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and those in any trouble,
We pray to thee, O Lord.
That with Simeon and Anna, we may trust thy promises, recognize thy presence, and proclaim the Gospel in word and action,
We pray to thee, O Lord. Amen. [5]
We have waited on your loving kindness,
O Lord, in the midst of your temple.
LET US PRAY.
(Various prayers for use on Candlemas)
O GOD OUR FATHER, whose Son was revealed to Simeon and Anna as the light of the nations and the glory of Israel: grant that, guided by thy Holy Spirit, we may live by the light of faith until we come to the light of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [6]
GRACIOUS GOD, the source and creator of light, who on this day revealed to the aged Simeon the Light which enlightens the whole word, dispel the darkness of our souls and brighten the path that lies before us, and pour out your blessing upon these candles which will illumine this earthly temple (or this home), that we who kindle them may come at the last to stand in thy eternal light; through him, who is the light of the world and the glory of your people Israel, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [7]
O eternal God, who have created all things; on this day you fulfilled the petitions of the just Simeon: we humbly ask you to bless and sanctify these candles for our use. Graciously hear our prayers and be merciful to us, whom you have redeemed by your Son, who is the light of the world, and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. [8]
O God, source of all light, today you revealed to the aged Simeon your light which enlightens the nations. Fill our hearts with the light of faith, that we who bear these candles may walk in the path of goodness, through Jesus Christ the Light of the World. Amen. [9]
O God, you have made this day holy by the presentation of your Son in the Temple, and by the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Mercifully grant that we, who delight in her humble readiness to be the birth-giver of the Only- begotten, may rejoice for ever in our adoption as his sisters and brothers; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [10]
READINGS
Let us go forth in peace.
In the name of Christ. Amen
Citations:
[1] The Episcopal Church. (2018). Seasonal Blessings. In The Book of Occasional Services (PDF ed., p. 42). Then Episcopal Church. Retrieved November December 15, 2020, from https://episcopalchurch.org/files/lm_book_of_occasional_services_2018.pdf
[2] Episcopal Church. (1979). Collects. In The Book of common prayer: And administration of the sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies of the church, according to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America: Together with the psalter, or, Psalms of David (pp. 239). New York, NY: Church Publishing Incorporated.
[3] The Episcopal Church. (2018). Seasonal Blessings. In The Book of Occasional Services (PDF ed., p. 43). Then Episcopal Church. Retrieved November December 15, 2020, from https://episcopalchurch.org/files/lm_book_of_occasional_services_2018.pdf
[4] Cobb, D., & Olsen, D. A. (2014). Devotions through the year. In Saint Augustine’s prayer book: A book of devotions (Kindle ed., p. 160). Cincinnati, OH: Forward Movement.
[5] Ibid. 4, P. 161
[6] Ibid. 4, P. 161
[7] Ibid. 4, P. 162
[8] The Episcopal Church. (2018). Seasonal Blessings. In The Book of Occasional Services (PDF ed., p. 42). Then Episcopal Church. Retrieved November December 15, 2020, from https://episcopalchurch.org/files/lm_book_of_occasional_services_2018.pdf
[9] Ibid. 8, P. 43
[10] Ibid. 8, P. 44
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