February 1

Vigil of the Feast of the Purification

Weeping Statue in Italy, 1995

Simeon's Song of Praise

by Aert de Gelder c. 1700

It was Simeon to whom Mary presented Jesus, and in his prophecy to her, he told Mary her heart would be pierced with a sword, a prophecy found in the second chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke 2:34-35:

 

And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.

This prophecy and the sorrows that befell the Virgin during her time on earth are why depictions of the Immaculate Heart almost always show her or her heart itself being pierced by a sword. Depictions of Our Queen as the Mother of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa) often show her being pierced by seven swords, one for each of her Seven Sorrows.

Now, before Simeon gave this prophecy to Our Lady, he referred to her Infant Son as the Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and because of this, light and candles play an important role before and during the Mass, hence the most common name for this Feast -- "Candlemas."

(fisheaters)

You Tube meditation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUJTunbv7w0

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Weeping Statue In Italy

In February 1995, a phenomenon occurred in Civitavecchia, Italy, that could be said to be paranormal: a little five-year old girl, named Jessica Gregori noticed tears of blood on the face of a statue of the Virgin Mary, bought in a store at the shrine of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The statue cried 13 times in the presence of many people who have given sworn testimony before a Theological Commission.

The city's bishop, Monsignor Grillo, admitted he was initially skeptical when he first heard Gregori's story. He took custody of it to clarify the case, and the statue wept while he held it in his hands. Bishop Grillo reported that an average of 3,500 pilgrims a week visit the church which houses the statue and at his request, the Vatican congregation is allowing the faithful to venerate the Madonna of Civitavecchia.

Adapted from March 20, 2001 Zenit.org - ROME

Ave Maria!