MY FATHER WAS a wonderful man but as he grew older he started to develop a few foibles and fancies that hadn’t previously existed.

Always a neat and tidy man, (ex-Army), he became quite obsessed with wiping down the front of the kitchen cupboards every day without fail and he also claimed that he was unable to eat without something to drink to accompany the food.

Yet another flight of fancy was his detestation for candles – especially the scented variety. Despite my habit of always having two or three candles in my fireplace which I like to light each evening, this routine would be totally stymied if Dad was visiting.

‘They’ll choke me to death!’ he used to dramatically exclaim, and no amount of reasoning with him would make the slightest iota of difference.

As Christians the candle remains for us highly symbolic of the light of Christ in our lives. The candle flame, which can be so easily extinguished, further reminds us of the fragility of our faith which requires careful and constant nurturing. And candles are frequently used as an aid to prayer and meditation and a traditional part of many of our sacramental practices.

On the second of February we celebrate the wonderful feast of Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus which is a Christian Holy Day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

It has also become a tradition for many Christians to bring their candles to their local church where they are blessed and then used for the rest of the year,