FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

Forty days after Christmas, on 2 February, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, known as Candlemas. This day will be celebrated beginning at nine thirty in the morning with the blessing of the “candles” and a subsequent procession through the final Cathedral naves during the Eucharist, led by Adrián Ríos Bailón, Cathedral Chapter delegate for Pastoral Services and Staff.

The celebration of this feast dates back to the 4th century, and since 450 it has been called the “Feast of the Holy Encounter” because Jesus “encounters” the temple and its priests, but also Simeon and Ana of the people of God.

With time, the blessing of the candles was added to this feast to remember Jesus, “a light for the Gentiles.” It is the feast of the offering, the feast of light, and the feast of the encounter. It is the feast of the offering because Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple, following the Law of Moses that ordered the offering of the firstborn son to God (Ex 13: 12-15) and also the ritual purification of the mother following labor (Lev 12: 1-8) forty days after birth.

The central panel of the altarpiece by Mariscal D. Diego Caballero depicts the scene of the Presentation of the Baby Jesus in the Temple. This altarpiece was painted by Pedro de Campaña, who was active in Seville between 1553 and 1562 and painted this between 1555 and 1556.