Loving Mother of the Redeemer, who remains the accessible Gateway of Heaven, and Star of the Sea, Give aid to a falling people that strives to rise; O Thou who begot thy holy Creator, while all nature marvelled, Virgin before and after receiving that “Ave” from the mouth of Gabriel, have mercy on sinners.
Alma redemptoris mater Quae pervia caeli porta manes et stella maris Succurre cadenti surgere qui curat populo Tu quae genuisti natura mirante Tuum sanctum genitorem Virgo prius ac posterius Gabrielis ab ore sumens illud ave Peccatorum miserere
Thine be the glory
Risen conquering Son
Endless is the victory
Thou o'er death hast won
Angels in bright raiment
Rolled the stone away
Kept the folded grave clothes
Where Thy body lay
Thine be the glory
Risen conquering Son
Endless is the victory
Thou o'er death hast won
Lo! Jesus meets us
Risen from the tomb
Lovingly, He greets us
Scatters fear and gloom
Let the church with gladness
Hymns of triumph sing
For her Lord now liveth
Death hath lost its sting
Thine be the glory
Risen conquering Son
Endless is the victory
Thou o'er death hast won
Visitation” with donor portrait, from Altarpiece of the Virgin (St Vaast Altarpiece) by Jacques Daret, c. 1435 (Staatliche Museen, Berlin)
The Catholic Church dedicated the month of May to our Lady, Mary, the Mother of God. St. Pope John Paul II presented her to us as “Woman of the Eucharist.” in the encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia.
One of the many titles in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary I often ponder on is the “Ark of the Covenant”. In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant is described as God’s footstool inside the Holy of Holy. Mary through the mystery of the incarnation, bear God Himself in her womb.
Let us use this month to renew our love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, asking for her intercession so we can imitate her Fiat, and we too one day be united with her Son in the heavenly light.
“In him was life: and the life was the light of men.”
John 1:4
In Western society, candles have often been used as a sign of hope, a light in the darkness. Even in this secular world today, a candlelight vigil is held whenever tragedy is struck. The Holy Mother Church in Her wisdom also asked us, Her children, to ponder on this mystery of burning candles as She incorporate this sacramental into the liturgical life of the Church.
St. Paul’s College Chapel, Candlelight Mass for the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 2020
Let us begin with the wick of the candle. The wick of a candle is the center of the candle, where the flame burns ever so brightly. However, the wick of a candle is usually braided from 3 cotton strands. This for us Catholic symbolizes the “oneness” of the Holy Trinity, where the three Divine Persons; The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost united together in the Divine love. This unity of love brings forth the light which the darkness of hell cannot overcome.
And the light shineth in darkness: and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:5
The Church specifically asks Her children to use beeswax candles wherever possible. Not just because of some sort of “healing properties” or because it is “natural” but of the mystical symbolism of bees. The significance of bees is so treasured by the Church that there is even a specific blessing of bees in the Roman Missal.
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who has made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit.
Let us pray.
Lord God almighty, You have created heaven and earth, and all the animals existing on the earth and in the earth and the air, that men might make use of them. You have also directed that the priests of Your holy Church should in the House of God light candles made of the work of bees while that sacred ministry is being performed in which the most holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, Your Son, becomes present and is consumed. May Your blessing come down upon these bees and these beehives. May they multiply and be fruitful and be preserved from all evils, so that the product which comes from them may be used to praise You, Your Son, and the Holy Spirit, and the most blessed Virgin Mary, through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.
The Blessing of Bees – Roman Ritual
The worker bees are the children of the Queen signifying our Lady, the “New Eve” who our Lord Jesus entrusted to us as our mother as He said on the Cross, “Behold your mother”. Just as the worker bees work tirelessly and collect from the flowers bringing them the nectar. The hive turns them into sweet honey and pure wax and so we the faithful who day to day work tirelessly in the world to bring back to the Church and through the grace of God and His Church and transform our work into spiritual food.
Candlemas
On the 2nd of February, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, (formally known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary or simply Candlemas) marks the end of the Christmastide (in the Traditional Calendar). The Mass for this Feast always starts with a blessing for beeswax candles and a candlelight procession.
St. Paul’s College Chapel, Candlemas 2021
“The wax of the candles signifies the virginal flesh of the Divine Infant, the wick figures His soul, and the flame His divinity.”
St. Anselm (1033-1109), Archbishop of Canterbury
Here in Church Candles NZ, you can request your beeswax candles to be blessed before shipping / pick-up. Your order will be blessed by the priest of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in the traditional form in Latin.
One of our Handpainted Paschal Candle
The Blessing of Candles
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord. All: Who made heaven and earth. P: The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit.
Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, bless + these candles at our lowly request. Endow them, Lord, by the power of the holy + cross, with a blessing from on high, you who gave them to mankind in order to dispel darkness. Let the blessing that they receive from the sign of the holy + cross be so effectual that, wherever they are lighted or placed, the princes of darkness may depart in trembling from all these places, and flee in fear, along with all their legions, and never more dare to disturb or molest those who serve you, the almighty God, who live and reign forever and ever. All: Amen.
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