THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD ANDTHE PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (CANDLEMAS) Originally this was a feast of our Lord and not of the Virgin. Its earliest name was Hypapante (Greek for Meeting), and the reference was to the meeting of our Lord with Simeon. After the ninth century the expanding cult of Mary […]

Candlemas, Presentation of our Lord, Groundhog day…. 16th century Lutheran chant anthologies only call it the Purification of Mary, though Matthäus Ludecus notes that it was also called Liechtmes in German, along with the blessing of candles and impiae superstitiones adhibetae sunt. I had hoped to transcribe an Alleluia verse as well, but I found great […]

Deo volente, this will be preached at the Divine Service before the Lenten Preaching Seminar at Messiah Church, Kenosha, WI. I put this here just in case I forget to bring my sermon from Momence to Kenosha. Feel free not to read it if you are planning to be there! In the Name of the […]