Candlemas 'Thought for the day' insights into Simeon and Anna

Minutes after listening to yesterday morning's Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4's Today programme (February 2) I heard from an old friend (writes Debbie Thrower). She'd had a 'penny-dropping' moment while listening to the same broadcast from Tim Stanley, Catholic commentator and writer for the Daily Telegraph.

'Ah Candlemas,' she said, 'now I understand the significance of Simeon and Anna and why your chaplaincy is called that!' And she added, 'it's a shame they didn't mention Anna Chaplaincy itself.' True. However, it was very good to hear Tim Stanley musing on how, 'living into one's 80s is now quote common yet the West still doesn't know what to make of it.'

He went on to speak of ageing as a 'virtuous circle; a journey with moral purpose which is to leave behind a legacy of memory, example and good advice.'

Simeon and Anna as described in chapter 2 of Luke's Gospel, embody in some ways 'the rewards of faith' and each witnesses to the fact that, as Stanley concluded: 'Life is miraculous.'

You can hear the full reflection here at BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0mylmcl

Snowdrops - one of the few flowers open at Candlemas - February 2

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