Christmas Season ends with Matki Boski Gromnicznej

Here are some photos from today’s Candlemas Mass at Corpus Christi, also known as Matki Boski Gromnicznej, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord at the Temple, also known as the Feast of the Purification of Mary.

In our Polish tradition it is a day which is the last day of the Christmas season (the 40 days of Christmas) and when people bring candles to be blessed in church-to be lit at home during storms (hence the term “gromnicza” or “thunder candle”), deathwatches, etc. in the belief that Mary will protect the home that burns the light of her Son.

My mom brought the candle that her mother gave her when my mom was leaving Poland to live in America 50 years ago to be led by the light of Christ.

3 Comments

  1. Mary Wiechnik

    Its nice to know the English translations of Polish Traditions. My family celebrated Matki Boski Gromnicznej at St Stanislaus Kostki in Hamilton, Ontario.

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