When Candles are Lighted on Candlemas Day

This is a Northern-hemisphere hymn for the feast of Candlemas. The verses are based on  Luke 2:22-38.

It was written by English Anglican, teacher, hymnologist and hymn-writer, Elizabeth Joan Cosnett (1936-2024) for Liverpool Parish Church, and first published in Hymns and Congregational Songs A Periodical Publication of New Material, Volume 3 (1992), edited by Bernard Braley and Alan Luff. 

Hymn-books where it has been published include:

• Hymn Ancient and Modern, Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd, London, England, 2013
• Church Hymnal, Oxford University Press, Oxford, England  2000 - for the Church of Ireland
• Common Praise, Canterbury Press, England, 2000
• The Revised English Hymnal, Canterbury Press, England, 2023.

The fully hymn has thirteen verses with a chorus - making it very useful if there is a long procession.   Selected verses can be left out when a shorter version is needed: one common suggestion is to leave out 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11.

With meter 11.11.9.9, the hymn is usually sung to a traditional pilgrimage tune, LOURDES HYMN - see here for more information about the origin of this tune.

Image adapt from Piqsels CC0

Downloads

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ABC notation

Examples

Small group, unaccompanied, with words on-screen

Virtual choir with organ

Instrumental - organ, live in a church-service

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available is the comments under this video.

 A rough outline is:

1 When candles are lighted on Candlemas Day
the dark is behind us, and spring's on the way.

Chorus
A glory dawns in every dark place,
the light of Christ, the fullness of grace.

2 The kings have departed ...

3 They go to the temple ...

4 But Anna and Simeon ...

5 The old who have suffered ...

6 They gaze at God's wonderful ...

7 The light is increasing and spring's ...

8 They see before Mary a ....

9 For Mary will follow ...

10 Great Spirit of Yahweh ...

11 They pass through temptation, ...

12 Like Anna, like Simeon ....

13 The candles invite us to praise and to pray
when Christmas greets Easter on Candlemas Day.

See more ...

• Hymns for Candlemas
• Hymns about Jesus' presentaion in the temple

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY 1 When candles are lighted on Candlemas Day
the dark is behind us, and spring's on the way.


Chorus
A glory dawns in every dark place,
the light of Christ, the fullness of grace.

2 The kings have departed, the shepherds have gone,
the child and his parents are left on their own.

3 They go to the temple, obeying the law,
and offer two pigeons, the gift of the poor.

4 But Anna and Simeon recognise there
the Christ-child who came at the turn of the year.

5 The old who have suffered and waited so long
see hope for the world as they welcome the young.

6 They gaze at God's wonderful answer to prayer,
the joy of the Jews and the Gentiles' desire.

7 The light is increasing and spring's in the air.
Look back with thanksgiving! Look forward with awe!

8 They see before Mary a heart-piercing grief,
but trust is complete at the end of their life.

9 For Mary will follow, with tears in her eyes,
her Saviour and Son to the foot of the cross.

10 Great Spirit of Yahweh, with like courage inspire
your everyday saints who face up to despair.

11 They pass through temptation, through failure, through death.
When darkness descends they plod onward in faith.

12 Like Anna, like Simeon, may they have trust,
the eyes to see Jesus, and peace at the last.

13 The candles invite us to praise and to pray
when Christmas greets Easter on Candlemas Day.