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 News  Year 2003
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Candlemas
Why was the day of Candlemas on the 2nd February adopted as a day of celebration for all Faith and Light communities ?
In 1972 a community from Allier decided that they would have their annual celebration at Candlemas, the day when Jesus was presented as the Light of the world and where the symbol of lighted candles is so meaningful. The idea of this celebration spread world wide through Faith and Light communities like a blaze, the meaning was so obvious. At the Presentation of Jesus at the temple, like in Faith and Light, parents were gathered together with their small child, some friends, a man named Simeon and woman named Anne.
Parents who are members of Faith and Light have felt or often feel in their very flesh the sermon given to Mary by Simeon « a sword will pierce your heart ». And we can see all too well that their child is a sign of contradiction. He reveals deep thoughts that are hidden in people’s hearts, including are own, so often ambivalent. A weak person who is disabled, ill, dying, or homeless, disturbs us deeply, but they can transform us if we allow ourselves to take them by the hand.
After Candlemas in Notre Dame de Paris, testimonies
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''On Sunday 2nd February there were more than 2000 of us representing the 55 Faith and Light communities of the Ile de France, attending the Candlemas celebration in the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, co-celebrated by the Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger and numerous chaplains, among whom Father Joseph Larsen, himself chaplain of the community Saint Germain en Laye. Marie-Hélène Mathieu gave us a welcoming speech : she presented the Faith and Light movement and congratulated the Cardinal who was celebrating his twenty years as a cardinal on that day! A boat had been placed infront of the altar with seven candles on board, symbolising the regions of the two provinces of the Ile de France. Cardinal Lustiger was visibly moved by the massive participation in this celebration and spoke directly to us at the end of mass, speaking from his heart : ''All life is a gift, you are precious for the Church, those of you with a disability and those accompanying you; I would like to thank you for that”. A beautiful prayer to Mary was read at the end of mass, a prayer prepared by a group of parents. The communities remained on the square in front of the cathedral for a long time after mass was finished; we all wanted to prolong this very beautiful time of celebration !”
Ghislain
Prayer by parents to Mary
O Mary, Mother of God, you are our mother in heaven.
Today, at this celebration of Light and the Presentation of your child,
Simeon announced to you that a sword would pierce your heart.
We entrust our families to your affection.
 We entrust all of our children to you.
Those who are named as being “different”,
And also their brothers and sisters, often hurt, always marked.
Pray for us Holy Mary, so that we, as parents,
are able to listen to them, support them, care for them and love them.
Teach us to open their eyes, through patience and perseverance,
to every thing that is beautiful, and their spirit to every thing that true,
and their heart to every thing that is good.
Help us to contemplate the children that have been entrusted to us with love, these children who are icons of Christ in his suffering.
Open our eyes to their gestures of love which reach that which is essential, that which God has hidden from the wise and revealed to the little children.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for our families in their modest daily lives as well as in the important moments of our existence,
at times of happiness as in times of suffering, with you at the foot of the Cross.
Show us how to say “Yes” to life.
Make our lives a humble “Yes” made of Faith and Hope.
May our own wounds, our own revolt, open our hearts to more compassion towards our brothers.
At the heart of a world that is so hard, may our families be Good News, living Gospel, and Light in our neighbourhoods, our parishes, in the Church and in the world.
And when the time for separation comes, watch over us all with affection until the day when we will all be reunited together in our Father’s house..
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“My name is Michel.I was there at Notre Dame de Paris yesterday, I walked there despite my difficulties. I saw the pretty stained glass windows and a big cross. It was Candlemas. Some one gave me a booklet called “Ombres et Lumière” that’s where I found your internet address.I wanted to tell you that I found “Faith and Light” very good and I’m looking forward to the next meetings.''
Michel
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