Candle mass: Day of Consecrated Life

Blessing candles

The friars of St Dominic’s Macau celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple or the Candle mass with a solemn mass and a special thanksgiving for the gift of consecrated life. In accordance to the liturgical custom, the community congregated at the hall of the priory where the Prior, Fr. Alex blessed the candles and lead the solemn procession to the chapel. In his homily, reminded us of the meaning of the feast and how the principal actors of this mystery relate to our own lives as consecrated men. The sense of marvel and awe of Joseph and Mary, the thankfulness of Simeon and the joyfulness of Anna. All of them did not forget to proclaim the wonders of what they have seen and experienced.

Renewal consecrated life

In reference to religious life, he reiterated the four watch words of our life as Dominicans: come and see, go and preach… we cannot go out if we do not come to Him, to Jesus… and we cannot preach if we have not seen and experienced the salvation and the love of God to others. And at the same time he invites all of us to reflect how we live our vocation and how we should be thankful for it.

Offering candel to Our Lady

After the simple and soul searching homily, the community once again lighted their candles and celebrated a thanksgiving rite in the form of intercessory prayers and the brothers placed their candles at the feet of the image of the Virgin as sign of their offering of self to God through the hands of our Lady. At the end of the mass, the community chanted the beautiful canticle of Simeon reminding us that salvation had finally come upon us!