16 1222 Finally, Baptism is prefigured in the crossing of the Jordan River by which the People of God received the gift of the land promised to Abraham's descendants, an image of eternal life.

Procession - to the Reliquary (or to decorated altar/sacred images to be venerated). The whole congregation walks in the procession, holding lit candles, led by cross and candles and followed by ...

Look kindly, Jesus, where we come, New Simeons, to kindle, Each at Your infant sacrifice his own life's candle. And when Your flame turns ... Charm with your stainlessness these nights in Advent, holy ...

The blessing of the candles during Candlemas, or Candelora, as we say in Italian (Image created with DALL-E 2) While firmly grounded in Christian tradition, the Candelora also bears connections to ...