Catholic Prayer: Family Candlemas Procession

Description:

On Candlemas night, to bring home the message of the Presentation, the children can do a Shadow Box story of the Presentation in the Temple. After visualizing this scene, the family can pray the rosary, meditating on the Joyful mysteries and then join together in a family Candlemas procession.

Prayer:

This night, after the story is told and the theater is alight, we say the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary while we meditate on this scene. Following this we have our family procession with lighted candles.

Small paper cuffs keep the wax from dripping on hands. The babies have their candles alight in candlesticks on the mantel. All through the downstairs we walk, with a grownup reading the Antiphons for the procession of the morning and the children joining in hymns. We sing Salve Regina in English, and O Sanctissima, and the familiar Hail Holy Queen, Enthroned Above. Families who know chant well have a large repertoire of songs to choose from, and for those who are anxious to add to their repertoire or improve it, the Pius X Hymnal is an excellent investment. We have just been given one by a holy friend who is anxious that we improve our repertoire. Bless her!

Prayer Source: Year and Our Children, The by Mary Reed Newland, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, New York, 1956