PREFACE FOR VERE dignum et justum est, It is truly meet and just, right and availing ǽquum et salutáre, nos tibi sem- unto salvation that we should at all times per, et ubíque grátias agere: Dómine and in all places give thanks unto Thee, O sancte, Pater omnípotens, ætérne holy Lord, Father almighty and everlasting Deus: Quia per incarnáti Verbi mys- God. Because by the mystery of the Word térium, nova mentis nostræ óculis made flesh the light of Thy glory hath THE PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY lux tuæ claritátis infúlsit: ut dum visibíliter Deum cognóscimus, per shone anew upon the eyes of our mind: Day— 2 hunc in invisibílium amórem that while we acknowledge Him to be God rapíamur. Et ídeo cum Angelis et seen by men, we may be drawn by Him to Archángelis, cum Thronis et Domi- the love of things unseen. And therefore natiónibus, cumque omni milítia with angels and archangels, with thrones cæléstis exércitus, hymnum glóriæ and dominions, and with all the heavenly tuæ cánimus sine fine dicéntes: hosts, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, saying without ceasing:

The candles, now lit, are not extinguished until after the Pater Noster.

Luke 2. 26 COMMUNION RESPÓNSUM accépit Símeon a received an answer from the Holy Spíritu Sancto, non visúrum se Ghost, that he should not see death, until mortem, nisi vidéret Christum he had seen the Christ of the Lord. Dómini. THE OF THE CANDLES POSTCOMMUNION Before the , the Priest, vested in a violet cope, blesses the candles, which are placed near the altar. QUǼSUMUS, Dómine Deus noster: We beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that ut sacrosáncta mystéria, quæ pro by the intercession of blessed Mary ever V. Dominus vobiscum. V. The Lord be with you. reparatiónis nostræ munímine Virgin, Thou wouldst make the most holy R. Et cum spiritu tuo. R. And with thy spirit. contulísti, intercedénte beáta María mysteries, which Thou hast con•ferred semper Vírgine, et præsens nobis upon us for the preservation of our spiritu- FIRST PRAYER remédium esse fácias et futúrum. DOMINE sancte, Pater omnipotens, Holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting Per Dóminum. al life, both a present and future remedy. Through our Lord. æterne Deus, qui omnia ex nihilo God, who hast created all things out of creasti, et jussu tuo per opera nothing, and by Thy command hast caused apum, hunc liquorem ad per- this liquid to become perfect wax by the fectionem cerei venire fecisti: et qui labour of bees: and who, on this day didst hodierna die petitionem justi Sime- onis implesti: te humiliter depreca- fulfil the petition of the righteous man, mur; ut has candelas ad usus hom- Simeon: we humbly entreat Thee, that by inem, et sanitatem corporum et ani- the invocation of Thy most holy Name marum, sive in terra, sive in aquis, and through the intercession of Blessed per invocationem tui sanctissimi Mary ever Virgin whose feast is today de- nominis, et per intercessionem bea- voutly observed, and by the prayers of all tæ Mariæ semper Virginis, cujus Thy Saints, Thou wouldst vouchsafe to hodie festa devote celebrantur, et bless and sanctify these candles for the per preces omnium Sanctorum tuo- service of men and for the health of their rum benedicere, et sanctificare digneris: et hujus plebis tuæ, quæ bodies and souls, whether on land or on illas honorifice inmanibus desiderat sea: and that Thou wouldst hear from Thy portare, teque cantando laudare, ex- holy heaven, and from the throne of Thy audias voces de cælo sancto tuo, et Majesty the voices of this Thy people, who de sede majestatis tuæ: et propitius desire to carry them in their hands with sis omnibus clamantibus ad te, honour, and to sing Your praises; and that quos redemisti pretioso Sanguine You would look with favour on all who Luke 2. 22-32 GOSPEL Filii tui: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in call upon You, whom You have redeemed IN illo témpore: Postquam impléti At that time, after the days of Mary’s unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per with the precious blood of Your Son, who sunt dies purgatiónis Maríæ, purification, according to the law of omnia sæcula sæculorum. R. Amen. being God, lives and reigns with You in secúndum legem Móysi, tulérunt Moses, were accomplished, they carried Jesum in Jerúsalem, ut sísterent to , to present Him to the the unity of the Holy Ghost, world with- eum Dó-mino, sicut scriptum est in out end. R. Amen. Lord; as it is written in the law of the Lord: lege Dómini: Quia omne mas- Every male opening the womb shall be SECOND PRAYER culínum adapériens vulvam sanc- called holy to the Lord; and to offer a tum Dómino vocábitur. Et ut da- OMNIPOTENS sempiterne Deus, Almighty and everlasting God, who on this rent hóstiam, secúndum quod dic- sacrifice, according as it is written in the qui hodierna die Unigenitum tuum day didst present Thine only-begotten Son tum est in lege Dómini, par túr- Law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or ulnis sancti Simeonis in templo san- in Thy holy temple to be received in the turum aut duos pullos colum- two young pigeons. And behold there was cto tuo suscipiendum præsentasti: arms of holy Simeon: we humbly entreat bárum. Et ecce homo erat in a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and tuam supplices deprecamur clem- Thy clemency, that Thou wouldst vouch- Jerúsalem cui nomen Símeon, et this man was just and devout, waiting for entiam; ut has candelas, quas nos homo iste justus et timorátus, famuli tui, in tui nominis magni- safe to bless and sanctify and to kindle the consolation of Israel, and the Holy with the light of Thy heavenly benediction exspéctans consolatiónem Israël, et Ghost was in him: and he had received an ficentiam suscipientes, gestare cupi- Spiritus Sanctus erat in eo. Et res- mus luce accensas, benedicere, et these candles, which we, Thy servants, answer from the Holy Ghost, that he desire to receive and to bear lighted in the pónsum accéperat a Spíritu Sancto, should not see death, before he had seen sanctificare, atque lumine super- non visúrum se mortem nisi prius næ benedictionis accendere digne- honour of Thy Name: that, by offering vidéret Christum Dómini. Et venit the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the ris: quatenus eas tibi Domino Deo them to Thee our Lord God, being worthi- in spíritu in templum. Et cum Spirit into the temple. And when His nostro offerendo digni, et sancto ly inflamed with the holy fire of Thy most indúcerent púerum Jesum paréntes parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do igne dulcissimæ caritatis tuæ suc- sweet charity, we may deserve to be pre- ejus, ut fácerent secúndum con- for Him according to the custom of the censi, in templo sancto gloriæ tuæ sented in the holy temple of Thy glory. suetúdinem legis pro eo: et ipse law, he also took Him into his arms, and repræsentari mereamur. Per eum- Through the same our Lord. R. Amen. accépit eum in ulnas suas, et be- blessed God, and said: Now Thou dost dem Dominum nostrum. R. Amen. nedíxit Deum, et dixit: Nunc dimít- dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to THIRD PRAYER tis servum tuum, Dómine, Thy word in peace; because my eyes have DOMINE Jesu Christe, lux vera, Lord Jesus Christ, the true Light who en- secúndum verbum tuum in pace: seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast quæ illuminas omnem hominem lightenest every man that cometh into this quia vidérunt óculi mei salutáre prepared before the face of all peoples; a tuum, quod parásti ante fáciem venientem in hunc mundum: ef- world: pour forth Thy blessing upon light to the revelation of the Gentiles and funde benedictionem tuam super these candles, and sanctify them with the ómnium populórum: lumen ad revelatiónem géntium et glóriam the glory of Thy people Israel. hos cereos, et sanctifica eos lum- light of Thy grace, and mercifully grant, ine gratiæ tuæ, et concede propitius; ut, sicut hæc luminaria igne visibili that as these lights enkindled with visible [The candles now extinguished, are relit before the Preface. ] accensa nocturnas depellunt tene- fire dispel the darkness of night, so our bras; ita corda nostra invisibili igne, hearts illumined by invisible fire, that is, by Psalm 44. 3 OFFERTORY id est, Sancti Spiritus splendore il- the splendour of the Holy Spirit, may be DIFFÚSA est grátia in lábiis tuis: Grace is poured abroad in thy lips: lustrata, omnium vitiorum cæcitate free from the blindness of all vice, that the proptérea benedíxit te Deus in therefore hath God blessed thee for ever, careant: ut, purgato mentis oculo, eye of our mind being cleansed, we may be ætérnum, et in sǽculum sǽculi. and for ages and ages. ea cenere possimus, quæ tibi sunt able to discern what is pleasing to Thee placita, et nostræ saluti utilia; qua- and profitable to our salvation; so that SECRET tenus post hujus sæculi caliginosa after the perilous darkness of this life we EXÁUDI, Dómine, preces nostras: Graciously hear our prayers, O Lord; and discrimina, ad lucem indeficientem et, ut digna sint munera, quæ óculis that the gifts we offer in the sight of Thy pervenire mereamur. Per te, Christe may deserve to attain to never-failing light: through Thee, O Christ Jesus, Saviour of tuæ majestátis offérimus, subsídium majesty may be found worthy, extend to us Jesu, Salvator mundi, qui in Tri- nobis tuæ pietátis impénde. Per the help of Thy mercy. Through our Lord. nitate perfecta vivis et regnas. R. the world, who in the perfect Trinity, livest Dóminum. Amen. and reignest. R. Amen. FOURTH PRAYER DOMINE Jesu Christe, qui hod- Lord Jesus Christ, who appearing on this ierna die in nostræ carnis substantia day among men in the substance of our inter homines apparens, a parent- flesh, wast presented by Thy parents in the ibus in templo es præsentatus: temple: whom the venerable and aged Sim- Malachias 3. 1-4 EPISTLE HÆC dicit Dóminus Deus: Ecce Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I send My quem Simeon venerabilis senex, lu- eon, illuminated by the light of Thy Spirit, ego mitto Angelum meum, et præ- Angel, and he shall prepare the way before mine Spiritus tui irradiatus, agnovit, recognized, received into his arms, and parábit viam ante fáciem meam. Et My face; and presently the Lord, whom you suscepit, et benedixit: præsta pro- blessed: mercifully grant that, enlightened statim véniet ad templum suum seek, and the Angel of the Testament, whom pitius; ut ejusdem Spiritus Sancti and taught by the grace of the same Holy Dominátor, quem vos quǽritis, et you desire, shall come to His temple. Behold gratia illuminati, atque edocti, te Ghost, we may truly acknowledge Thee Angelus testaménti, quem vos vul- veraciter agnoscamus, et fideliter tis. Ecce venit, dicit Dóminus He cometh, saith the Lord of Hosts; and and faithfully love Thee; Who with God who shall be able to think of the day of His diligamus: Qui cum Deo Patre. R. the Father. R. Amen. exercítuum: et quis póterit cogitáre Amen. di-em advéntus ejus, et quis stabit coming? and who shall stand to see Him? for ad vidéndum eum? Ipse enim quasi He is like a refining fire, and like the fuller’s FIFTH PRAYER ignis conflans et quasi herba herb; and He shall sit refining and cleansing OMNIPOTENS sempiterne Deus, qui Almighty and everlasting God, who by fullónum: et sedébit conflans et the silver, and He shall purify the sons of per Moysen famulum tuum, Thy servant Moses didst command the emúndans argéntum et purgábit Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as sil• purissimum olei liquorem ad lum- purest oil to be prepared for lamps to burn fílios Levi et colábit eos quasi au- ver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the inaria ante conspectum tuum jug- continuously before Thee: vouchsafe to rum et quasi argéntum: et erunt iter concinnanda præparari jussisti: pour forth the grace of Thy blessing up- Lord in justice. And the sacrifice of Juda and  Dómino offeréntes sacrifícia in bene dictionis tuæ gratiam super on these candles: that they may so afford justítia. Et placébit Dómino sa- of Jerusalem shall please the Lord, as in the hos cereos benignus infunde; qua- crifícium Juda et Jerúsalem, sicut days of old, and in the ancient years; saith tenus sic administrent lumen ex- us light outwardly that by Thy gift, the gift dies sǽculi et sicut anni antíqui: the Lord almighty. terius, ut, te donante, lumen Spi- of Thy Spirit may never be wanting in- dicit Dóminus omnípotens. ritus tui nostris non desit mentibus wardly to our minds. Through our Lord. interius. Per Dominum nostrum. R. R. Amen. Psalm 47. 10-11, 9 GRADUAL Amen. S USCÉPIMUS, Deus, misericórdiam We have received Thy mercy, O God, in the tuam in médio templi tui: midst of Thy temple: according to Thy THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CANDLES secúndum nomen tuum, Deus, ita name, O God, so also is Thy praise unto the et laus tua in fines terræ. V. Sicut The Priest sprinkles the candles three times with holy water, saying the Antiphon, Asperges me, ends of the earth. V. As we have heard, so and also incenses them three times. During the distribution and lighting of the candles, the Canticle audívimus, ita et vídimus in civitáte of Simeon is sung. Dei nostri, in monte sancto ejus. have we seen, in the city of our God, and in His holy mountain.

[After the Alleluia is omitted and the Tract is said instead.]

ANTIPHON A light for the revelation of the Gentiles: and for the glory of Thy people Israel.

This Antiphon is repeated after each verse of the following Canticle:

ALLELUIA, alleluia. V. Senex Púe- Alleluia, alleluia. V. The old man carried the Luke 2. 29-32 THE CANTICLE OF SIMEON rum portábat: Puer autem senem Child: but the Child governed the old man. NUNC dimittis servum tuum, Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O regébat. Alleluia. Alleluia. Domine: secundum verbum Lord, according to Thy word in peace. A tuum in pace. Lumen. light. Luke 2. 29-32 TRACT Quia viderunt oculi mei: salutare tu- Because mine eyes have seen Thy salvation. NUNC dimíttis servum tuum, Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O um. Lumen. A light. Dómine, secúndum verbum tuum Lord, according to Thy word in peace. V. Quod parasti ante faciem omnium Which Thou hast prepared, before the face in pace. V. Quia vidérunt óculi mei Because my eyes have seen Thy salvation. V. populorum. Lumen. of all peoples. A light. salutáre tuum. V. Quod parásti ante Which Thou hast prepared before the face Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sanc- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and fáciem ómnium populórum. V. of all peoples. V. Light to the revelation of to. Lumen. to the Holy Ghost. A light. Lumen ad revelatiónem géntium et the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever glóriam plebis tuæ Israël. semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. shall be, world without end. Amen. A Israel. Amen. Lumen. light. [The candles are lit before the Gospel and held lighted during the Gospel.] COLLECT EXAUDI, quæsumus Domine, We beseech Thee, O Lord, hearken unto Thy plebem tuam: et quæ extrinsecus people, and grant that by the light of Thy annua tribuis devotione venerari, grace, we may inwardly attain to those things interius assequi gratiæ tuæ luce which Thou grantest us outwardly to vener- concede. Per Christum Dominum ate by this yearly observance. Through Christ PROPER of the nostrum. R. Amen. our Lord. R. Amen.

THE PROCESSION The procession takes place, all bearing lighted candles: the following Antiphons are sung the while: V. Procedamus in pace. V. Let us go forth in peace. R. In Nomine Christi. Amen. R. In the Name of Christ. Amen. FIRST ANTIPHON ADORNA thalamum tuum, Sion, et Adorn thy bridal-chamber, O Sion, and suscipe Regem Christum amplec- welcome Christ the King: with loving em- tere Mariam, quæ est coelestis por- brace greet Mary who is the very gate of ta: ipsa enim portat Regem gloriæ heaven; for she bringeth to thee the glori- novi luminis: subsistit Virgo, ad ous King of the new light: remaining ever a ducens manibus Filium ante lucifer- um genitum: quem accipiens Si- Virgin yet she bearest in her arms the Son meon in ulnas suas, prædicavit pop- begotten before the day-star: even the ulis, Dominum eum esse vitæ et Child, whom Simeon taking into his arms, mortis, et Salvatorem mundi. declared to the peoples to be the Lord of life and death, and the Saviour of the world. Psalm 47. 10-11 INTROIT Luke 2. 26, 27, 28-29 SECOND ANTIPHON USCEPIMUS RESPONSUM accepit Simeon a Spir- Simeon received an answer from the Holy S , Deus, misericórdiam We have received Thy mercy, O God, in itu Sancto, non visurum se mortem, Ghost, that he should not see death before tuam in médio templi tui: sec- the midst of Thy temple; according to Thy úndum nomen tuum, Deus, ita et nisi videre Christum Domini: et he had seen the Christ of the Lord; and name, O God, so also is Thy praise unto cum inducerent Puerum in tem- laus tua in fines terræ: justítia plena the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full when they brought the Child into the tem- est déxtera tua. Ps. 47. 2. Magnus plum, accepit eum in ulnas suas, et ple, he took Him into His arms, and of justice. Ps. Great is the Lord, and ex• benedixit Deum, et dixit: Nunc Dóminus, et laudábilis nimis: in blessed God, and said: Now dost Thou civitáte Dei nostri, in monte sancto ceedingly to be praised, in the city of God, dimittis servum tuum, Domine, in in his holy mountain. V. Glory be to the pace. Cum inducerent puerum. dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, in peace. ejus. V. Gloria Patri. When His parents. Father.

On entering the , the choir sings: COLLECT OMNIPOTENS sempitérne Deus, Almighty and everlasting God, we humbly Luke 2. 22-24 RESPONSORY majestátem tuam súpplices ex orá- beseech Thy majesty; that as Thine only- OBTULERUNT pro eo Domino par They offered for Him to the Lord a pair of mus: ut, sicut unigénitus Fílius tuus begotten Son was this day presented in the turturum, aut duos pullos col- turtle doves, or two young pigeons: * As it hodiérna die cum nostræ carnis sub- umbarum: Sicut scriptum est in lege temple in the substance of our flesh, so is written in the Law of the Lord. After the stántia in templo est præsentátus; too Thou wouldst grant us to be presented Domini. Postquam impleti sunt days of the purification of Mary, according ita nos fácias purificátis tibi mént- dies purgationis Mariæ, secundum unto Thee with purified souls. Through to the law of Moses, were fulfilled, they ibus præsentári. Per eundem legem Moysi, tulerunt Jesum in Dominum nostrum. the same Lord. Jerusalem, ut sisterent eum Dom- carried Jesus to Jerusalem, to present Him ino. Sicut scriptum. Gloria Patri. to the Lord. * As it is written. Glory be to Sicut scriptum. the Father. * As it is written.

After Benediction and the Procession, Mass begins, omitting the prayers at the foot of the altar. The candles are extinguished.