Candlemas

Today is the liturgical celebration of Candlemas / Presentation of Christ in the Temple. It is called candlemas after Simeon’s phrase “light to the revelation of the Gentiles” describing Jesus and so people lit candles starting in the 11th century (allegedly, who knows when really) this tradition.

In practice of my Latin I’ll post the Vulgate and then my terrible translation:

“et benedixit illis Symeon et dixit ad Mariam matrem eius ecce positus est hic in ruinam et resurrectionem multorum in Israhel et in signum cui contradicetur et tuam ipsius animam pertransiet gladius ut revelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes” – Luke 2:34-35

‘And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, look this is the ruin and resurrection of the many in Israel, and a sign which (Israel) is contradicted by, and your same spirit will be pierced by a sword so that out of the many thoughts of hearts?’

ya… I’ll be failing that class. Here’s the real translation:

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.” – Douay-Rheims

At least I got a bit closer with this one: “lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israhel” (Luke 2:32)

‘a light to revelation of the gentiles and the glory of your (poor/common) people Israel’ – My translation

Douay-Rheims: “A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.”