Presentation of Our Lord and Purification of Mary: Nunc Dimittis

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord and Purification of Mary. It's a mouthful, but 40 days after a child's birth these events took place.

We meet Simeon, who has been promised to see the Messiah before his death. We also meet the prophetess Anna, who never left the temple and worshiped with fasting and prayer day and night.

Anna proclaimed Jesus arrival "to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem" and Simeon gave us a prophecy and a canticle. The Latin title of this canticle is Nunc Dimittis, also known as "The Song of Simeon."

Historically, this canticle is sung near the end of Compline (Prayer at the Close of the Day). English-speaking churches may include it in Vespers or Evening Prayer as well. Lutherans also use this as a Post-Communion Canticle.

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The Song of Simeon in Latin

Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine,
Secundum verbum tuum in pace:
Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum
Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum:
Lumen ad revelationem gentium,
et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.

Gloria Patri, et Filio,
et Spiritui Sancto:
Sicut erat in principio,
et nunc, et semper,
et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.


The Tallis Scholars
Setting by Palastrina

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Voces8
Setting by Gustav Holst

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Classic English Translation

Lord now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace,
According to Thy Word.
For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people.
A light to lighten the Gentiles
And the glory of Thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.


The Choir of King's College
Setting by George Dyson

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International Children's Choir Festival
Oxford, England

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Combined Choirs in Ely Cathedral
Setting by Charles Villiers Stanford

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Iggy's Word-for-Word Translation

Now dismiss your servant, Lord,
According to Your Word, in peace,
Because my eyes have seen your salvation
Which You prepared before the face of all people
A light for the Revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of Your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning,
and now, and always,
and in eternity. Amen.


The Brotherhood of St. Gregory
Song of Simeon metered in English
with Antiphon and Responses
from the Office of Compline

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Moscow Patriarchate Choir
Sung in Russian

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Pittsburgh Compline Choir
The Lord's Prayer and Nunc Dimittis

Deacon Dulas: Presentation/Purification/Candlemas Part IV

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

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Something should also be said about the two other names of this festival. In the Greek Church this festival is called, "Hypapante," that is, "Meeting." Our Lord Jesus is presented at the Temple, or to say it another way, He meets His people in the Temple. Hence, the title of Presentation.

The other title is Purification, this is actually a later addition to the original title of Presentation. In fact, Candlemas is even more ancient title than Presentation. But it is so named because this purification was the requirement of the old levitical law, that a mother would complete forty days after the birth of a male child. Performing the rite of purification by offering a sin offering and a burnt offering.

However, we celebrate something more than the fulfilling of levitical rites of purification. We see our Lord Jesus first coming to His Temple. And in His coming to the Temple, not only does He purify His mother Mary, but He begins His purification of us all. He meets us, He comes to us, and we gladly receive Him, even as the Prophet Simeon received Him up into His arms and blessed Him. For today we meet our Lord Jesus who is the Light of the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel.

Rejoice today as you receive the Lord into your hands and into your mouths through bread and wine, and rejoice with Simeon who having received his Lord into his arms, could depart in peace. We too, having received our Lord's Body and Blood in bread and wine, can now depart this life in peace, knowing full well, that He has come to us, and forgiven us of our sins.

Nunc dimittis - Orlando Gibbons



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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.

Deacon Dulas: Presentation/Purification/Candlemas Part III

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

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This feast of Candlemas was instituted to supplant the pagan Lupercalia, which observed licentious behavior and torchlight parades. This is also why the clergy for the blessing and processional wear purple vestments, the color of penitence, as a testimony against the sinful revelry of this pagan feast. Afterward, during the Introit, the clergy put on white vestments.

The candles that are distributed to the laity are to be kept by them, so that they may light them on the anniversary date of their baptism. These candles signify our Heavenly adoption as sons of God. Year after year we again receive a baptismal candle so that "with burning lamp" we may hasten to meet our Bridegroom when He comes for the eternal wedding feast.

The candles are re-lit just before the Gospel until just before the Creed. And again from just before the Sanctus to the end of Communion. They are lit at this time, as a remembrance that the Light of Christ permeates the darkness of our souls by His holy Word. Candles should really be held by the worshippers every service for this reason, however, acolytes perform this task for them during the rest of the year. But on this festival, when the Light of Christ is at its peak, everyone gets to hold this light in their hands, as a testimony of the One True Light which dwells in us, and shines through us.

"Mit Fried und Freud"
and
"Herr Gott, schleuss den Himmel auf"
Setting by JS Bach
BWV 616 and BWV 617 from Orgelbüchlein



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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.

Deacon Dulas: Presentation/Purification/Candlemas Part II

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

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This candlelight service is the reason why there are usually candlelight services on Christmas Eve. The candlelight was transferred, over time, to Christmas Eve, and the use of a candlelight service on Candlemas, or the Presentation, fell into disuse for the most part. But considering its place and history it should be brought back where it fell into disuse.

Historically, at this candlelight service on the Presentation, all the candles to be used during the coming year would be blessed by the Celebrant, that is, they would be set apart for sacred use, and would not be used for any profane use. The service would begin with this blessing. Then everyone in the congregation would either come forward to receive a lighted candle, or the light would be distributed to them in the pew (as is done in most congregations on Christmas Eve today). During the distribution of the candles the chanting of the Nunc Dimittis would occur, with the antiphon, "A Light to lighten the Gentiles," repeated after every verse.

Then the congregation would observe what is known as a procession. In most parishes today, a procession is simply when the clergy go from the back of the church to the front of the church, and this is sometimes marked by various pomp and circumstance. This is not historically what is considered a processional. A processional is a distinct liturgical act, with a specific starting and end point, and with "stations," or places to stop for prayer and reflection, along the way. A procession also includes the participation of the whole congregation, and not just certain individuals.

So for example, the Presentation processional starts from where the candles are blessed, and then proceeds down the center aisle (and if the congregation are in their pews they would join the processional two by two after it passed by), then up the North aisle, across the front of the chancel, then down the South aisle, and up the center aisle and then proceeds to the first station, which is the place where the candles were blessed, while singing the hymn "Thou Light of Gentile Nations."

Improvisation on "Valet will ich dir geben"
by Michel Chapuis
This is the tune for "Thou Light of Gentile Nations"

This procession is then repeated. The next and last station is the high altar where a collect is prayed by the Celebrant. During this leg of the procession the processional hymn, "In Peace and Joy I Now Depart" is sung.

"Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin"
Setting by Johannes Brahms
This is stanza 1 of
"In Peace and Joy I Now Depart"
sung in German

Upon the final pass down the center aisle the congregational members return to their pews. After the Collect the service continues with the Confiteor (or the Introit if the Confessional Service as been used prior to the service). The opening hymn is omitted. The candles are extinguished.

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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.

Deacon Dulas: Presentation/Purification/Candlemas Part I

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

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The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord is also known as Candlemas. This festival which falls on February 2nd every year is the conclusion of the Christmas/Epiphany season. No offense to any brown, furry rodents, which may or may not see their shadows, but this is what the Church celebrates on this day every year.

This festival concludes the season of Christmas/Epiphany, which is the season of Light. Our Lord is revealed as the God who is born in the flesh of mankind, and He is revealed as the One True Messiah sent to redeem us. Hence, our Lord has come to enlighten this dark world, so that sin might be exposed, and we might confess them, and be forgiven.

It is for this reason, that this is the end of the season of Light, that the Church observes what has come to be known as Candlemas. In the ancient practice of the Church there were only two days where an evening observation of the Lord's Supper was observed, Feb. 2nd, and Maundy Thursday. Maundy Thursday was observed at night because that is when our Lord's Last Supper took place. The celebration of the Lord's Supper on the Feast of the Presentation was observed at night, because it was designed as a candlelight service, meaning the light of the candles would dispel the darkness of night.

There is a progression of light from Christmas, where our Savior's birth first shown the light in the darkness, then at Epiphany this Light was revealed to Jerusalem, and the Gentiles first see this Light and come to worship Him. Now on Presentation, that Light is placed, symbolically, into the very hands of the people, through their receiving of a lighted candle.

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Purcell: Nunc Dimittis



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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.