The Boston College Candlemas Lecture Series was founded by William J. Leonard, SJ, a professor in the Boston College English and Theology Departments. The purpose was to stimulate personal interest and scholarly studies in the field of Christian literature. The series was launched on February 2, 1947, and attracted a variety of speakers from many disciplines. The lecturers included G. B. Harrison, Bishop John J. Wright, Frank Sheed, Mary Hennessey, R.C., Allen Tate, Gerard Ellard, SJ, Helen C. White, Barnabas Mary Ahern, C.P., Walter J. Burghardt, SJ, Hans Küng, Philip Caraman, SJ, Ronald Sequeira, Daniel Berrigan, SJ, and Robert Coles. A wide variety of topics were covered, including Küng's "The Church and Freedom," Sequeira's "Dance and the Christian Message," and a discussion of the film The Exorcist.

The lectures were held around the time of the religious celebration of Candlemas. Celebrated on February 2, Candlemas is a traditional festival that commemorates the ritual Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary forty days after the birth of Jesus and marked the presentation of the baby Jesus in the Temple. It is called "Candlemas" because it was the day on which the year's supply of candles for the church was blessed.

William J. Leonard, SJ was the director of the Candlemas Lectures until 1977. In 1978, Francis J. Sweeney, SJ became the new director, and the lectures became part of Boston College's popular Humanities Lecture Series. The lectures continue to be held annually under the auspices of the Lowell Humanities Series.