Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Thanks to (regular part of this community) Rev. Barbara Dineen for telling me about the French tradition of crêpes on Candlemas [if I knew about this once, I have forgotten]. The Lenten (Spring) tradition of not eating eggs makes natural sense – so that there are chicks to hatch in (Northern Hemisphere) Spring. Using up all the eggs before Lent (by eating them in pancakes) is, of course, completely bizarre church/liturgy logic! Now, why this tradition of pancakes/crêpes for Candlemas? My suspicion is that this originates with an extended Lent. [There is a tradition of ceasing to use “Alleluia” on the eve of Septuagesima – three Sundays before Lent. That is clearly an example of a longer Lent].