Candlemas lightens the darkness

A Candlemas Celebration lightened the darkness of a cold winter's night at Stonyhurst College this week, attended by pupils, parents and staff.

The ceremony, led by the Jesuit College Chaplain Fr John Twist SJ, began in the Pieta Gallery with the blessing and lighting of candles to symbolise Christ's light among us.  After a procession to the College Chapel, the College's Schola Cantorum sang Mass which included Eccard's When to the temple Mary went and John Taverner's The Lamb.

Candlemas marks 40 days after Jesus's birth, when, according to Luke's Gospel, Mary and Joseph took the baby to the Temple in Jerusalem.