Catholic All Week

The early days of February are filled with feasts whose names sound all too familiar – the celebrations of Candlemas, St. Blaise and Our Lady of Lourdes. What might be less familiar is the history behind these dates, and the origins of the traditions we practice to commemorate them. Here’s a brief glimpse into their stories.

A celebration of light

Candlemas, commemorated on Feb. 2, marks two simultaneous milestones in the childhood of Christ. This celebration commemorates when Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem to present Jesus in the Temple (the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord) and the purification of the Blessed Mother. Although Mary’s ritual purification was not necessary due to her sinless nature, the ceremony that was required under Mosaic law prescribed that a woman wait 40 days after childbirth before returning to the Temple. The day is known as the Feast of Candles in honor of the words of the Temple priest Simeon, who in the Gospel of Luke prophesized that Jesus would be a light of revelation for the Gentiles and the glory of the people of Israel. On this day, candles are blessed for use throughout the year in liturgical services and in our homes.

Protection from disease

The Feast of St. Blaise is celebrated on Feb. 3 or Feb. 11 in the Eastern Church. St. Blaise was a 4th-century Armenian bishop, physician and martyr. People – and even animals – reportedly flocked to this pious bishop to be cured of their ailments. The Acts of St. Blaise were written 400 years after his death and are widely regarded to have embellished some of the stories surrounding this popular saint. Legend has it that as he was being led away to be imprisoned and eventually martyred – or while he was in prison, depending on the version told – a mother presented him with her young son who was choking on a fish bone. At Blaise’s command, the child coughed up the bone. Today, we honor his feast by having our throats blessed by a priest to help protect them from disease. Two candles are blessed, held crossed together, and pressed against the throat as the prayer of protection is said.

Healing bodies and souls

The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated on Feb. 11. Beginning in 1858, in the grotto of Massabielle, near Lourdes in southern France, Mary appeared to a young peasant girl named Bernadette Soubirous 18 times. Mary asked that a chapel be built on the site of the vision and told Bernadette to drink from a fountain in the grotto. Since Bernadette didn’t see a fountain, Mary indicated a spot where she should dig. When she did, a spring began to flow that remains flowing to this day. Countless pilgrims have flocked to the spring over the centuries in hopes of benefiting from its healing powers. If a pilgrimage to Lourdes isn’t in your immediate plans, you can commemorate the feast by praying the Litany of Our Lady of Lourdes and perhaps watching “The Song of Bernadette,” a 1943 movie about the miraculous apparitions.

Catholic All Week

The Bible – already the best-selling book of all time with more than 5 billion copies estimated sold – is seeing a huge increase in interest. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Bible sales rose 22% in the U.S. through October 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to book tracker Circana BookScan. Among Catholics, some of that increase can be attributed to the popularity of Minnesota priest Father Mike Schmitz’s “Bible in a Year” podcast, the release of beautiful new editions from Ignatius Press and the prevalence of study editions that help readers better connect the dots between the Old and New Testaments. If reading more of the Bible was on your New Year’s resolution list, here is some advice on where to start and some ideas to make it easier.

Which version do I choose?

There are many versions of the Bible, but not all of them are approved by the Catholic Church. Since 1983, Church law has given the authority to approve translations of sacred Scriptures to the Apostolic See (the Church’s central government, led by the pope) and local bishops’ conferences. Prior to 1983, translations could be approved by the Apostolic See or by a local ordinary, usually a bishop or vicar general. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops maintains a comprehensive list of translations that have been approved since 1983. These include well-known versions such as the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, as well as some you may not be as familiar with, such as The Grail Psalter (Inclusive Language Version).

What books are in the Bible?

One reason why selecting a Catholic edition of the Bible is crucial is ensuring that it contains the proper translations of the right books. There are differences between Protestant and Catholic Bibles that are as foundational as what is in them. While almost all versions agree on the 27 books in the New Testament, the Old Testament varies. Protestant Bibles have only 39 books, while Catholic Bibles add seven more: Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach and Baruch. Additionally, there are sections of the books of Esther and Daniel that are only found in Catholic Bibles. These books are called the deuterocanonical books. The Catholic Church believes these books are inspired by the Holy Spirit and includes them.

How do I read it?

Reading the Bible should be approached differently than reading any other book. Theologians suggest beginning your Bible study with a prayer to open your heart to God’s Word and ending with another asking God to allow what you read to impact the way you live. They also suggest not rushing through the passages, but taking the time to prayerfully meditate on the words you are reading to understand how they relate to our time and your life. Finally, you don’t need to read the Bible alone. Join a Catholic Bible study group in your parish or community, find an app you like to read along with friends, or even take a quiz through the USCCB site for a playful twist on learning.

 

Catholic All Week

The Epiphany of the Lord, which in 2025 will be celebrated on Jan. 5 in the United States, celebrates the revelation to the Gentiles that Jesus is the Son of God through the visit of the Magi, or Three Wise Men. In the Eastern tradition where the feast originated, Epiphany – or Theophany as it is called there – commemorates the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the wedding at Cana. In the Western Church, the celebration primarily focuses on the visit of the Magi. As the rest of the world all-too-rapidly moves past the beauty of Christmas, Epiphany gives us more time to reflect on how Jesus is made manifest in our own homes and lives.

Let us eat cake

King Cake, also known as Three Kings Cake, is a culinary treat associated with Epiphany in many countries. Although the ingredients vary widely, almost all have a fève, or small trinket, hidden inside that represents the Magi’s search for the Christ Child. The fève itself varies from country to country, ranging from a bean, coin or almond to a small figure of the infant Jesus. The person who finds the fève traditionally gets a prize. While most of us in the United States associate King Cake with Mardi Gras, the dessert is traditionally served from Epiphany through Carnival in Louisiana. Bake your own version with recipes found at Catholic Cuisine.

Come bearing gifts

The Three Wise Men brought gifts to the Christ Child, and in many cultures, the tradition of giving gifts on this day continues. Just as the gifts of the Magi had deeper meanings, consider a gift that speaks to your family and faith. Gold, a symbol of wealth and power, identifies the recipient as a king. Frankincense, the crystallized sap of a tree used as incense and as an offering, is symbolic of prayer. Myrrh, another resinous tree sap, was used in healing and as an embalming ointment. This gift foreshadowed Jesus’ death. Some families and cultures have a custom of giving three gifts to reflect these biblical offerings.

Bless your home

Did you know that it’s traditional to bless your home on Epiphany? This practice stems from the biblical reference to the three kings entering the home where the Holy Family was staying to worship the Christ Child. Start with a short service that you can find online here. Then use blessed chalk to write the letters C, M and B plus the year above your home’s main entrance or interior doors in this format: 20 + C + M + B + 25. The + represents the cross while the letters are the initials of the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. They are also an abbreviation for the Latin “Christus mansionem benedicat,” which means: “May Christ bless the house.” It’s a beautiful way to usher in a New Year filled with blessings.