February 2024 — Overview for the Month

Description

The month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family.

Highlights

February 2
Presentation
This feast is a festival of light. The procession, in which the blessed candles are carried by clergy and faithful, recalls by its symbolism the manifestation of Christ, the Light of the world, received in the temple. "A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel."

Recipe of the Month

Heart Cakes
St. Valentine's Day is a joyful feast, and there's no better way to observe it than by exchanging sweet, heart-shaped confections.

Activity of the Month
Candlemas Ceremony
The family, who with lighted candles goes in spirit to the Temple with our Lady, will learn a wonderful lesson of her humility.

Symbols

St. Polycarp
The bishop of Smyrna was condemned to death by burning. The flames refused to do their task, billowing about like sails, exposing the bishop's figure in a radiant light. A soldier used his spear to end the spectacle.

St. Scholastica
The sister of St. Benedict, and founder of a Benedictine convent not far from Monte Cassino. It is related that St. Benedict had a vision of a dove rising just before he received word of her death.

St. Agatha
During the Decian persecution, St. Agatha, a Sicilian of noble birth, died under torture rather than break her vow of lifelong consecration to Christ.

St. Dorothy
The patroness of gardens is particularly well known in the little villages of southern Europe. Her feast is locally celebrated on Feb. 6. The symbol is descriptive of her zeal for the Faith.

Jesus, who hast made Thyself obedient to Thy parents, to Thee be ever glory, with the supreme Father and with the Spirit.

Publisher & Date

Catholic Culture, July 6, 2021

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This year the first half of February falls during the liturgical season known as Tempus per Annum or Ordinary Time (formerly Time After Epiphany), which is represented by the liturgical color green. Green is a symbol of hope, as it is the color of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. The liturgical color green is worn during prayer of Offices and Masses of Ordinary Time. The remaining days of February are the beginning of Lent. The liturgical color changes to violet or purple — a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart.

The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of February 2024

For the New Martyrs: We pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world inflame the Church with their courage and missionary enthusiasm. (See also http://www.popesprayerusa.net/.)

Feasts for February 2024

2. Presentation of the Lord, Feast
3. Blaise; Ansgar, Opt. Mem.
4. FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, Sunday
5. Agatha, Memorial
6. Paul Miki and Companions, Memorial
8. Jerome Emiliani; Josephine Bakhita, Opt. Mem.
10. Scholastica, Memorial
11. SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, Sunday
17. Seven Founders of the Orders of Servites, Opt. Mem.
18. FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, Sunday
21. Peter Damian, Opt. Mem.
22. Chair of St. Peter, Feast
23. Polycarp of Smyrna, Opt. Mem.
25. SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, Sunday

Focus of the Liturgy

The Gospel readings for the Sundays in February are taken from St. Mark following the Lectionary Cycle B, and the Weekday readings follow Year II.

February 4th Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time	Mark 1:29-39: Jesus cured many who were sick with various diseases.
February 11 Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time	Mark 1:40-45: The leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
February 18 Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time	Mark 1:12-15: Jesus was tempted by Satan, and the angels ministered to him.
February 25 Second Sunday of Lent	Mark 9:2-10: This is my beloved Son.

Highlights of the Month
The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ's public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family.

The Feast of the Presentation (February 2) or Candlemas forms a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother's arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice. February 21, Shrove Tuesday, will find us preparing for Ash Wednesday. The middle of the month will find us on Ash Wednesday accepting the ashes that remind us of our mortality and our need for penance.

The saints that we will focus on this month and try to imitate are:
St. Blaise (February 3),
St. Agatha (February 5),
St. Jerome Emiliani and St. Josephine Bakhita (February 8),
St. Scholastica (February 10),
Sts. Cyril and Methodius (February 14),
Seven Founders of the Orders of Servites (February 17),
St. Peter Damian (February 21),
Chair of St. Peter (February 22),
and St. Polycarp (February 23).

The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11), is superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.

From Feast to Fast
Though the shortest month of the year, February is rich in Liturgical activity. It contains a feast (Presentation of our Lord) that bridges two other seasons (Christmas and Easter)! The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd harkens back to the Christmas mystery of Light except that now, Christ, the helpless babe, is “the Light of Revelation to the Gentiles who will save his people from their sins.” Candles, symbolizing Christ our Light, will be carried in procession this day, as will be the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil Liturgy. In addition, the faithful may receive in February three of the four major public sacramentals that the Church confers during the liturgical year: blessed candles and the blessing of throats and blessed ashes.

"The Light of Revelation" shines more brightly with each successive Sunday of Ordinary Time, until its magnificence–exposing our sinfulness and need for conversion–propels us into the penitential Season of Lent. We prepare to accept the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday (February 22) and plunge ourselves into anticipating the major exercises of Lent–fasting, prayer, almsgiving–laying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary. She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son.

Members of each family or domestic church have the opportunity to have the candles for their home altar blessed on Candlemas Day (February 2nd); and the next morning, on the Feast of St. Blaise, all might receive the Blessing of the Throats. Always a solicitous Mother, the Church offers this sacramental during the wintry month of February, and also sets aside the World Day of Prayer for the Sick on February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

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