Salt + Light Media Menu
Salt + Light Media Home
Magnifying Glass
coverPhoto
Premium content

Asset title

Asset description

Take me to the Temple

Kris Dmytrenko

Friday, February 1, 2013

Kris Dmytrenko at the Western Wall
If you’ve visited Jerusalem, you never forget your first glimpse of the Western Wall. (Even if you haven’t, you can virtually travel there via Google street view.) The holy site is bustling with noise and activity, quite unlike the hushed reverence one might expect. Bowing fervently as they chant their prayers, pious Jews are dwarfed by the eight-ton stones stacked 32 metres high in front of them.
The Western Wall represents only a small remainder of the original perimeter wall of the Second Jewish Temple. The wall’s construction began in 37 BCE, so part of it existed when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to be presented at the temple. They must have been awestruck by the massive edifice. And like today’s visitors, they surely felt anonymous among the crowds. Yet, as we read in the Gospel of Luke, Simeon and Anna were waiting for their arrival.
The Holy Family’s visit to Jerusalem is reenacted in the liturgy for the Feast of the Presentation, also known as Candlemas. This feast, which takes place Saturday, is distinguished by the blessing of candles. These candles are then carried in procession to the altar, symbolizing how Jesus — the Light of the World — was brought to the Jewish Temple.
Pope Benedict will be leading this ritual during Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. He will be joined by many men and women religious, since the Feast of the Presentation coincides with the 17th World Day of Consecrated Life. You can watch this Mass live on S+L TV and steaming online on Saturday at 11:30am ET / 8:30am PT. It repeats at 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT.


Related Articles:

Category: General Posts

Tag: Candlemas, consecrated life, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Pope Benedict XVI, St. Peter's Basilica

God in the City: Catholic Journalism Summer Intensive 2025

Monday, March 31, 2025

Salt + Light Media

Canadian Catholic News is offering an in-person intensive experience of its popular online course, “Telling Truth in Charity: Introduction to Catholic Journalism” this summer.

Is Artificial Intelligence good or bad? A new Vatican document on using AI responsibly

Monday, March 24, 2025

Julian Paparella

What are the Church’s views on artificial intelligence? How are we supposed to think of the rapidly expanding field of AI as Christians in the world today?

Veneration of the Crown of Thorns during Lent

Friday, March 14, 2025

Aline Haddad

The Holy Crown of Thorns was returned to Notre-Dame de Paris after the rededication in December, restoring a beloved Lenten devotion.

Pray with Pope Francis Reflection – March 2025

Monday, March 10, 2025

Fr. Edmund Lo, SJ

In this month of March, Pope Francis invites us to pray for families who find themselves in crisis: That broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences. 

Looking at our babies, glimpsing how God sees us

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Julian Paparella

How can the experience of parenting give us a sense of God's compassionate, patient, and merciful presence with us?

SUPPORT LABEL

Receive our newsletters
Stay Connected
Receive our newsletters
Stay Connected
Copyright © 2025 Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation
Registered Charity # 88523 6000 RR0001
FR | CH