This year February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (aka Candlemas), falls on a Sunday, replacing the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This 40th day since Christmas celebrates Jesus coming into the Temple as an infant, wherein Simeon proclaims him a "light of revelation to the nations." Thus, candles feature prominently in a procession before Mass. Parishioners LOVE candles at Mass, as they love ashes and palms. This is a unique opportunity to participate in a timeless Catholic liturgical tradition, so don't miss it!
Here are some considerations if you are a priest or parish musician:
Will everyone have a handheld candle? Will a “representative group” of parishioners have candles and join the procession? If so, who? Make sure to designate a time to have the priest instruct people to blow them out, perhaps after the Collect (The Roman Missal doesn't say when to extinguish them). Do you have a Mass that happens in darkness? (early morning or late evening). If so, consider adding extra candles to the sanctuary and celebrating with dim lights, similar to a Rorate Caeli Mass. Musicians, prepare the chants for the beginning of Mass!
The Roman Missal leaves room for interpretation and options. Here are two ways I have personally done this feast as a musician at different churches:
All were invited to gather in vestibule, candles were lit while “Behold the Lord is Come” was chanted; Blessing of candles; Procession moved into the church with “Lumen ad revelationem” chanted. During incensing of the altar, an Entrance Antiphon Hymn was sung.
A different year, the priest blessed a collection of candles from the church (altar candles etc) in the vestibule. A group of pre-chosen older students joined the procession carrying lit candles while the “Lumen ad revelationem” chant was sung one or twice, followed by an entrance hymn.
Musical considerations: Definitely learn the 2 chants in the Roman Missal that occur prior to Mass, they are cool. It's not often that the Roman Missal provides the actual chants for the assembly. (Usually it provides the text). The chant "Behold, our Lord will Come" may not be long enough to cover the candle lighting. I added these verses to it when I sang it. Hymns to consider for Mass: In His Temple Now Behold Him, Now Let Your Servant Go in Peace (By James Quinn or Ruth Duck - matches communion antiphon), Christ is the World’s Light, The Lord is My Light (any setting of this Psalm), Joy to the World. I once had my daughters chant the Nunc Dimittis at communion (Now let your servant go in peace) from night prayer, which I sing to them nightly. For an entrance antiphon for Mass, consider settings here of the Entrance Antiphon Hymn or Last Verse Introit. For SATB versions of the chants before Mass, see Aristotle Esguerra’s collection here For additional musical ideas, see canticanova
Heres a Worship Aid I made in the past for this feast.
Merry Christmas!