Jungfrau, Mutter Gottes mein

In honor of the Blessed Virgin on the Feast of the Assumption:

Jungfrau, Mutter Gottes mein

Laß mich ganz dein eigen sein!

Dein im Leben und im Tod,

Dein in Unglück, Angst und Not;

Dein in Kreuz und bittrem Leid,

Dein für Zeit und Ewigkeit,

Jungfrau, Mutter Gottes mein,

Laß mich ganz dein eigen sein!

Mutter, auf dich hoff' und baue ich!

Mutter, zu dir ruf' und seufze ich!

Mutter, du Gütigste, steh' mir bei!

Mutter, du Mächtigste, Schutz mir verleih!

O Mutter, so komm, hilf beten mir!

O Mutter, so komm, hilf streiten mir!

O Mutter, so komm, hilf leiden mir!

O Mutter, so komm und bleib' bei mir!

Du kannst mir ja helfen, o Mächtigste!

Du willst mir ja helfen, o Gütigste!

Du mußt mir nun helfen, o Treueste!

Du wirst mir auch helfen, Barmherzigste!

O Mutter der Gnade, der Christen Hort,

Du Zuflucht der Sünder, des Heiles Pfort',

Du Hoffnung der Erde, des Himmels Zier,

Du Trost der Betrübten, ihr Schutzpanier.

Wer hat je umsonst deine Hilf' angefleht?

Wann hast du vergessen ein kindlich' Gebet?

Drum ruf' ich beharrlich im Kreuz und im Leid:

"Maria hilft immer! Sie hilft jederzeit"

Ich ruf' voll Vertrauen im Leiden und Tod:

"Maria hilft immer, in jeglicher Not!"

So glaub' ich und lebe und sterbe darauf:

"Maria hilft mir in den Himmel hinauf."

--Anonymous

A Gift for Candlemas

Today's feast, The Presentation of the Lord, was for centuries known as Candlemas. According to www.churchyear.net:

The Feast of the Presentation, often called Candlemas, commemorates the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the temple, which took place 40 days after his birth as Jewish law required. According to Mosaic law, a mother who had given birth to a boy was considered unclean for seven days. Also, she was to remain 33 days "in the blood of her purification." Luke tells us, quoting Exodus 13:2,12, that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem because every firstborn child was to be dedicated to the Lord. They also went to sacrifice a pair of doves or two young pigeons, showing that Mary and Joseph were poor. Once in the temple, Jesus was purified by the prayer of Simeon, in the presence of Anna the prophetess. Simeon, upon seeing the Messiah, gave thanks to the Lord, singing a hymn now called the Nunc Dimittis. . . .

The name Candlemas comes from the activities associated with the feast. It came to be known as the Candle Mass. In the Western Church, a procession with lighted candles is the distinctive rite. According to post Vatican-II discipline, (if possible) . . . beeswax candles are to be blessed somewhere other than where the Mass is held. Often your local parish will hand out candles, or you may bring your own, to be blessed before the procession. These may be saved for later use in your home. After an antiphon, during which the candles held by the people are lighted, there is a procession into the church. During the procession to the church, the Nunc Dimittis is sung, with the antiphon "Lumen ad revelationem" (Luke 2:32). This procession into the church for Mass commemorates Christ's entrance into the temple. Since Vatican II, the feast is reckoned a feast of the Lord (as opposed to a feast of Mary), and officially designated "The presentation of the Lord."

Happy Candlemas to all, and the grace and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always!

	Charles Wood - Nunc Dimittis in B flat .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine