Deacon Dulas: Presentation/Purification/Candlemas Part V

This is the fifth of five posts in today's series on Candlemas. Thanks to Deacon Jerry Dulas for his detailed contribution.

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PROCESSIONAL RITE FOR CANDLEMAS

This Procession may incorporate the Blessing of the Candles that is usually done on this day. The Candles that will be used throughout the Church Year are blessed and set apart for Service with the following rite:

The Rite of Blessing the Candles

The Celebrant chants the Salutation: The Lord be with you.
And the Other Ministers, the Choir, and the Congregation respond chanting:
And with thy spirit.

The Celebrant chants the prayer:
Let us pray. Holy Lord, Almighty Father, Eternal God, through Whom all things out of nothing were created, and hast commanded through the work of bees to produce this perfect liquid of wax; and hast on this day fulfilled the petitions of the just Simeon. We humbly beseech Thee, that as we make use of these candles in Thy holy Church, that through the invocation of Thy holy Name and through the intercessions of Thy beloved Son, Whose Presentation we devoutly celebrate this day, to + bless (the Celebrant makes the Sign of the Holy Cross upon the Candles) and + sanctify these candles. Hear our voices from Thy holy Heaven and from the throne of Thy majesty, and be merciful unto all who cry unto Thee, Whom Thou hast redeemed by the precious Blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, True Light, that enlightens every man who comes into this world, pour out Thy + blessing (the Celebrant makes the Sign of the Holy Cross upon the Candles) upon these candles, and + sanctify them with the light of Thy grace. As these lights burn with visible fire and dispel the darkness of night, so may our hearts with the help of Thy grace be enlightened by the invisible fire of the splendor of the Holy Ghost, and may be free from all blindness of sin. Clarify the eyes of our minds that we may see what is pleasing to Thee and conducive to our salvation. After the dark perils of this life let us be worthy to reach the eternal light; through Thee, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who, liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Then the Celebrant (after putting a small of amount of incense into the Thurible, and blessing the incense by saying, "Be thou blessed by Him in Whose honor thou art to burn.") receives the Thurible from the Thurifer, and censes the Candles with three double swings, one to the center, one to the left, and one to the right, saying nothing.

After the Blessing, individual Candles are distributed to everyone by the Celebrant, the Deacon handing him the Candles, and the Celebrant handing them to the people who approach the Chancel entrance in a single file to receive their Candles.

During the Distribution the Nunc Dimittis is chanted in the following form:
All: A Light to lighten the Gentiles.
Choir: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word,
All: A Light to lighten the Gentiles.
Choir: For mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation;
All: A Light to lighten the Gentiles.
Choir: Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
All: A Light to lighten the Gentiles.
Choir: A Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of Thy people Israel.
All: A Light to lighten the Gentiles.
Choir: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
All: A Light to lighten the Gentiles.
Choir: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
All: A Light to lighten the Gentiles.

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Nunc dimittis - Arvo Pärt



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When the people receive their Candles they light their Candles from the Subdeacon’s Candle (who received his Candle first). They light their Candles by tipping their unlit Candle to light from the Subdeacon’s lit Candle and return to their seats to wait for the Procession. During the Procession the Candles are carried in the outside hand (hand closes to the pew). However, the Celebrant carries his in his right, and the Deacon and Subdeacon in their left. After the Procession all extinguish their candles. The Candles are re-lit during the Gospel Procession and are extinguished again just before the Creed. The Candles are again re-lit just before the Sanctus and extinguished after the Distribution. These Candles may be taken home by the worshippers after the Service. These Candles represent the Baptismal Candle that was given to them at their Baptism. Every year we receive a new Baptismal Candle so that with oil in our lamps and a freshly trimmed wick we may meet the Bridegroom, our Lord Jesus Christ, when He comes to bring us into the Wedding Feast of Heaven.

The Procession

The Procession gathers at the foot of the Altar and then the Deacon chants the Versicle:

V: Let us go forth in peace.
And the other Ministers, the Choir, and the Congregation respond, chanting:
R: In the Name of Christ. Amen.

The Organist introduces the Hymn, and the Congregation joins in, and the Procession starts (the congregation joins in the procession after it passes, going two by two):

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Hymn: The Lutheran Hymnal, 138
“Thou Light of Gentile Nations”
Johann Sebastian Bach, BWV 735
"Valet will ich dir geben"



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Having completed the circuit the Procession stops at the First Station,
the Place of the Blessing of the Candles, the Celebrant chants the Versicle:
V: As the Bridegroom from his chamber.
And the other Ministers, the Choir, and the Congregation respond, chanting:
R: Cometh forth the Lord to run His race.

The Celebrant chants the Collect:
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, we beseech Thee, grant that we may know and praise Thy dear Son, even as Simeon of old, taking Him in his arms, spiritually knew and with his lips confessed Him; who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
And the other Ministers, the Choir, and the Congregation respond, chanting:
R: Amen.

The Organist introduces the Hymn, and the Congregation joins in, and the Procession starts (on the final pass down the center aisle the congregation returns to their respective pews):

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Hymn: The Lutheran Hymnal, 137
“In Peace and Joy I Now Depart”
JS Bach, BWV 616
"Mit Fried und Freud"



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Having completed the circuit the Procession stops at the Last Station, which is before the High Altar, and the Celebrant chants the Versicle:
V: At even ye shall know that the Lord will come
And the other Ministers, the Choir, and the Congregation respond, chanting:
R: In the morning, then shall ye see the glory of the Lord.

The Celebrant chants the Collect:
Collect: Lord God, Heavenly Father, who hast given Thy Son to be our Savior, a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of Thy people Israel, we beseech Thee, enlighten our hearts, that we may know Thy grace and fatherly will in Him toward us, and obtain everlasting life; through the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
And the other Ministers, the Choir, and the Congregation respond, chanting:
R: Amen.

The Service continues with the Confiteor (or the Introit if the Confiteor is omitted). The Opening Hymn is omitted.

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From Bach's Cantata 125
"Mit Fried und Freud"



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Deacon Dulas is ordained into the pastorate and member of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (eldona.org).  In his own words, "My call is to serve as deacon and missionary-at-large to MN and WI at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Tony, WI.  We are starting a mission here in Mayer, MN, and the surrounding area called St. Matthew Ev. Luth. Mission."

Like what you are reading? Check out Deacon Dulas' blog at The Deacon's Didache.