Page 21 - Saints of the Month: February

Saints of the Month: February

sacred charge committed to her special
care, till the Father shall again demand Him
for the full accomplishment of man’s
redemption.

The ceremony of this day was closed by a
third mystery—the meeting in the Temple of
the holy persons Simeon and Anne with
Jesus and His parents. Holy Simeon, on that
occasion, received into his arms the object
of all his desires and sighs, and praised God
for being blessed with the happiness of
beholding the so-much-longed-for Messias.
He foretold to Mary her martyrdom of
sorrow, and that Jesus brought redemption
to those who would accept of it on the terms
it was offered them; but a heavy judgment
on all infidels who should obstinately reject
it, and on Christians, also, whose lives were
a contradiction to His holy maxims and
example. Mary, hearing this terrible
prediction, did not answer one word, felt no
agitation of mind from the present, no dread
for the future; but courageously and sweetly
committed all to God’s holy will. Anne, also,
the prophetess, who in her widowhood
served God with great fervor, had the
happiness to acknowledge and adore in this
great mystery the Redeemer of the world.
Simeon, having beheld Our Saviour,
exclaimed: “Now dismiss Thy servant, O
Lord, according to Thy word, because my
eyes have seen Thy salvation.” This feast is
called CANDLEMAS, because the Church

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