Saint of the Day: February 2nd- The Purification of the Blessed Virgin.
Butler'sLivesoftheSaints [Commonly called Candlemas-Day.] The Law of God, given by Moses to the Jews, to insinuate both to us and them, that by the sin of Adam man is conceived and born in sin, and obnoxious to his wrath, ordained that a woman, after child-birth, should continue for a certain time in a state which that law calls unclean; during which she was not to appear in public, nor presume to touch any thing consecrated to God. This term was of forty days upon the birth of a son, and the time was double for a daughter: on the expiration of which, the mother was to bring to the door of the tabernacle, or temple, a lamb of a year old, and a young pigeon or turtle dove. The lamb was for a holocaust or burnt offering, in acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God, and in thanksgiving for her own happy delivery; the pigeon or turtle dove was for a sin offering. These being sacrificed to Almighty God by the priest, the …More