Candlemas - Feb. 2
The presentation of Our Lord. The Purification of the Blessed Virgin.
Forty days after birthing the Messiah, Our Lady exhibits her commitment and obedience by traveling to Jerusalem to present Jesus to the Lord in the Temple. There she meets Simeon, who recognizes the infant as the Son of God, and reveals to her of what is to come for them.
Traditionally termed Occursus Domini, this is perhaps the most ancient festival of Our Lady.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr - Feb. 1
Disciple of St. John the Evangelist, Successor of St. Peter
Condemned to wild beasts for his faith, he was extradited to Rome in chains, during which travel he authored seven epistles addressing Catholics of various nations. The sixth of these epistles he makes explicit mention of the name of the church: "Where the Catholic Church is, so there is also Jesus Christ." This was in the beginning of the 2nd century.
Many of his documents, by tradition, are said to have been preserved by St. Eusebius
The modern Catholic Church, Anglicans, and Lutherans celebrate his feast on October 17; the Orthodox on Dec. 20.
Saint John "Don" Bosco - Jan. 31
Italian priest, writer, and educator, b. 8/16/1815
Patron Saint to apprentices, writers & editors, school children, and juvenile delinquents.
St. Bosco has inspired tens of thousands of religious, schools, churches, chapels, boarding houses, boys' clubs, and mission territories.
He died 1888 at 73, and was canonized by Pius XI on Easter Sunday in 1934.
