Editing Presentation of Jesus (section)

====Western Christianity====
[[File:Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, stained glass window.jpg|thumb|Presentation of Jesus, c. 1896, [[Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania)]]]]
Candlemas occurs 40 days after Christmas.

Traditionally, the Western term "Candlemas" (or Candle Mass) referred to the practice whereby a priest on 2 February blessed [[beeswax]] [[candle]]s for use throughout the year, some of which were distributed to the faithful for use in the home. In [[Poland]] the feast is called ''Święto Matki Bożej Gromnicznej'' (Feast of Our Lady of Thunder candles). This name refers to the candles that are blessed on this day, called gromnice, since these candles are lit during (thunder) storms and placed in windows to ward off storms.

This feast has been referred to as the Feast of Presentation of the Lord within the Roman Catholic Church since the liturgical revisions of the [[Second Vatican Council]], with references to candles and the purification of Mary de-emphasised in favor of the Prophecy of [[Simeon (Gospel of Luke)|Simeon the Righteous]]. [[Pope John Paul II]] connected the feast day with the renewal of [[religious vows]]. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newmanministry.com/saints/presentation-of-jesus-in-the-temple|title=Presentation of Jesus in the Temple &#124; Newman Ministry|website=www.newmanministry.com}}</ref>

In the Liturgy of the Hours, the Marian antiphon ''[[Alma Redemptoris Mater]]'' is used from Advent through 2 February, after which ''[[Ave Regina caelorum|Ave Regina Caelorum]]'' is used through Good Friday.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01326d.htm Henry, Hugh. "Alma Redemptoris Mater." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 5 February 2019</ref>