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Notes for this keyword

Feast of the Dedication - Feast of the Encenias - Feast of Lights - Feast of the Purification

Theme: Jewish religion, castes, rites and festivals at the time of Christ

Reading comfort

Aa

GRM 4.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The old tree has borne a new branch and I am blessed.

At the Feast of Lights hope scattered the seed;

Now the fragrance of Nisan sees it germinating.

Like an almond-tree my flesh is adorned with flowers in spring.

Detail

Anne sings this canticle, which reveals that she is pregnant. See annotation concerning the Feast of Lights and Mary's conception.

Annotation

Hope sows the seeds for the Festival of Lights. According to J Aulagnier, the Festival of Lights, or Encénies, took place, in Jesus' time, during the full moon following the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah). This took place on Kislev 25 (December 10-22 for this period). Mary's conception took place on the following full moon, December 20-22. This corresponds to the event celebrated by the Church on December 8.

Marie d'Agreda reports that this conception took place on a Sunday (The Mystical City of God - Book 1, Chapter 15, § 218).

The fragrant air of Nissan. Nissan: March 21, i.e. 3 months to tell Joachim with certainty that he was expecting a baby.

GRM 136

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

In Bethany, we celebrate the Feast of the Encenias - also known as the Feast of Light or the Feast of Dedication. It's Jesus' first birthday without his Mother. Christ wanders through the garden, listening to a nightingale. Then, after blessing the Father for this song, he spends some time with Simon, telling him about Heaven and the places there for the various saints and blessed. Then Martha arrives, grieving because Mary Magdalene has recently left, and she wanted to leave this "tomb" to return to her joys. They go to table and are joined by the shepherds from Bethlehem, which consoles Jesus for his Mother's absence. After the Lord has thanked Lazarus and Martha, being delicate enough to evoke Mary Magdalene and console Martha, they come to speak of the Infancy Gospel: from the Immaculate Conception, to his Presentation in the Temple, his betrothal to Joseph, the Nativity, the Flight into Egypt, the return to Galilee, the recovery in the Temple. Finally, Peter wants to remember all this, but is afraid he won't be able to: Matthew assures him he has a good memory and will tell him. Finally, Peter wishes to die while uttering the name of Jesus, and Jesus confirms that this will happen.