The bishop of the Nivariense Diocese, Bernardo Álvarez, yesterday presided over the main Eucharist of the Candelaria festival, which was again marked by health restrictions as a result of COVID-19, with only 300 people inside the Basilica and others so many in the square, that in the end they could see the image of the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands, when she left it at the main door, although without a procession as was usual before the pandemic arrived two years ago.
In the bishop’s homily there was no mention of the controversy in which he is involved, after affirming that homosexuality can be considered a mortal sin, which has led him to be disapproved by the Cabildo and has even been opened up by the Prosecutor an investigation for alleged hate crime. Bernardo Álvarez had a cold greeting with the political authorities, led by the island president, Pedro Martín, and the mayor of Candelaria, Mari Brito -the president of the Government of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, did not attend, as was already planned, nor finally the president of the Parliament, Gustavo Matos-, and somewhat more cordially with the military authorities, when the mass ended and the Virgin returned to the interior of the temple.
In light of the readings of the day of the presentation of Jesus in the temple, the bishop highlighted in his homily the idea of ”encounter”. “This is the meeting party. God decides to come into the world and gradually makes himself known. He comes to save us, but we know that Jesus’ task in this world was not easy. To such an extent that, when the time came, they sacrificed him on the cross.”
Monsignor Álvarez continued expressing that Mary is the one who shows us the way to reach Jesus. “In her hand, María holds a candle with which she tells us ‘this child that I carry here is the light of the world.’ She is showing it to us. Therefore, the most important thing is to welcome Christ in our hearts. He knocks on our soul door to give us the fullness of existence.
The bishop continued referring to the symbology of the candle. “Yesterday we couldn’t do the blessing of the candles and then accompany the Virgin in a procession, as happens in Candelaria every year. But that candle that we all carry is Jesus Christ. A candle made of wax, to light, is consumed. He, to enlighten us, has worn himself out to the point of giving his life for all. The same thing happens to us. We cannot illuminate the world if we do not spend ourselves and wear ourselves out, if we do not sacrifice ourselves and offer what we are and what we know in favor of others”.
In his words, the bishop recalled that February 2 is the day of Las Candelas, with the passages of old Simeon, with the presentation of the baby Jesus, forty days after birth, to the Lord, as a light that lights the way. That path that he wished for the sick and victims of COVID, for the refugees, for the migrants who arrive in the Canary Islands and for the countrymen of La Palma “to have patience to rebuild their lives after the volcano”, encouraging everyone “not to be indolent before the misfortunes of others”, but he avoided any allusion to homosexuals, although during his homily he did recall sin and forgiveness, ending his prayer with the Our Father and with these words: “Free from sin and from all disturbance, you can go in peace”.
The Eucharist, which lasted an hour, was sung masterfully by the Orfeón La Paz, from La Laguna, which celebrates its 104th anniversary this year, and the prior of the Dominicans and rector of the Basilica was present together with the bishop. , José Ramón Enjamio, in addition to a large group of seminarians.
The Candelaria festival was celebrated again yesterday, like last year, with the necessary security measures due to the pandemic. The Basilica of Candelaria saw its capacity reduced to 33% in the most important act of the festivity, and almost the only one, the Eucharist, apart from three other masses during the day and the offering of drum beats that, in the afternoon, the Tafuriaste Cultural Association. Today the festivity of San Blas will be celebrated, without the emotional presentation of the children born in the last year before the Patron Saint.
