The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the apocryphal account of Mary's dedication to God in the Temple at a young age, signifying her early consecration and preparation for her divine mission.
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a venerable feast day commemorating the tradition that the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a young child, was presented by her parents, Saints Joachim and Anne, at the Temple in Jerusalem to be consecrated to God's service. While not found in canonical scripture, this event is recounted in early apocryphal texts like the Protoevangelium of James and holds profound theological significance, emphasizing Mary's unique purity, her lifelong dedication to God from her earliest years, and her preparation for her singular role as the Mother of God. This feast inspires believers to offer themselves completely to God and underscores the importance of a life consecrated to divine will.
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated annually on November 21st, is a venerable feast day in the Roman Catholic Church, though its origins lie not in the canonical Scriptures but in ancient apocryphal traditions, particularly the Protoevangelium of James, dating back to the second century. This feast commemorates the profound and pious belief that the young Mary, the future Mother of God, was brought by her parents, Saints Joachim and Anne, to the Temple in Jerusalem to be consecrated to God's service. This act, while not historically verifiable in the way canonical events are, profoundly signifies Mary's unique predestination and her lifelong dedication to divine will, setting the stage for her singular role in salvation history.
In the quiet town of Nazareth, long before the angel Gabriel's momentous announcement, there lived a child of singular grace, Mary. Her parents, the venerable Joachim and Anne, had long yearned for a child, and in their profound devotion, vowed to dedicate their offspring to the Lord's service. When Mary, their precious daughter, reached the tender age of three, they prepared to fulfill their sacred promise, a journey etched in the heart of pious tradition.
The journey to Jerusalem was not merely a physical trek but a spiritual pilgrimage. As they approached the magnificent Temple, its grand steps seemed insurmountable for such a small child. Yet, what unfolded next was a testament to Mary's extraordinary spirit and divine favor. According to ancient accounts, when her parents placed her at the foot of the Temple steps, Mary, without hesitation or aid, ascended all fifteen steps with remarkable agility and eagerness, as if propelled by an unseen hand. This spontaneous ascent astounded all who witnessed it, a clear sign of her pure heart and fervent desire to be consecrated to God.
At the summit, she was received by the High Priest, traditionally identified as Zechariah, the future father of John the Baptist. He, too, was moved by her precocious sanctity. In a moment of divine inspiration, Zechariah did something unprecedented: he led Mary not merely into the women's courts, but into the Holy of Holies itself, a place reserved only for the High Priest, and that but once a year. This act symbolized her unparalleled purity and her unique destiny as the very Ark of the New Covenant, destined to bear Christ Himself.
Within the Temple precincts, Mary spent her formative years in prayer, study, and devout contemplation. It is said that she was nourished not only by earthly food but by heavenly manna brought to her by angels. Her days were filled with weaving the Temple veils, meditating on the Scriptures, and growing in wisdom and grace, preparing her soul for the unimaginable vocation that awaited her. She lived a life of profound humility and obedience, her heart entirely given over to God's will.
Her dedication was absolute, her purity unblemished, her spirit entirely focused on the divine. This period of her life in the Temple, though shrouded in ancient tradition rather than scriptural narrative, powerfully illustrates Mary's complete self-offering to God from her earliest years. It reveals a soul utterly consecrated, a heart already attuned to the divine melody, perfectly molded to become the Mother of the Incarnate Word.
The Presentation of Mary, therefore, is not merely a historical anecdote but a profound theological statement. It underscores her unique preparation by God's grace, her lifelong commitment to holiness, and her readiness to utter her definitive 'fiat' at the Annunciation. It is a testament to the early and complete dedication of the Blessed Mother, a model for all believers to offer their lives unreservedly to God.
1750
Section III. On the Presentation of Mary in the Temple.
The holy Virgin, having completed her third year, was, according to the promise of her parents, presented by them in the Temple, to be there dedicated to the service of God. The Protoevangelium of St. James, a work of great antiquity, says that when her parents, Joachim and Anne, placed her on the first step of the Temple, she ascended the others, fifteen in number, with such alacrity, that all present were astonished. This was a prelude to her future ascent to the summit of all virtues.
Mary, then, was only three years old when she offered herself to God in the Temple. But if her age was tender, her understanding was mature, and her heart was perfect. She consecrated herself to God with a full and entire will, as a child of grace, a spouse of the Holy Spirit.
St. Gregory of Nyssa says that Mary, from her very infancy, understood the meaning of the scriptures, and that she knew that the salvation of the world depended on the coming of the Messiah. She knew that the Messiah would be born of a Virgin, and she ardently desired to be the handmaid of that Virgin.
Oh, what a sacrifice was this! A child of three years, detaching herself from her parents, from her home, from all earthly affections, to dedicate herself wholly to God in a place where she would see them no more. But Mary made this sacrifice with joy, because her only desire was to please God.
She remained in the Temple until she was fourteen years of age, living a life of continual prayer, contemplation, and labor. She was always occupied in weaving the veils for the Temple, in meditating on the divine law, and in serving the other virgins who were consecrated to God. She grew daily in grace and in the love of God, so that she was truly a marvel of sanctity.
St. Thomas of Villanova says that Mary, from her very infancy, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and that she surpassed all the saints in perfection. He adds that she was a living temple of God, in which the Holy Spirit dwelt, and from which all graces flowed.
St. Augustine, speaking of Mary's purity, says that she was a virgin not only in body but also in spirit, and that she preserved her virginity with such care that she never allowed any thought or desire that could tarnish it to enter her mind.
This feast, then, reminds us of Mary's perfect dedication to God. It teaches us that we, too, should dedicate ourselves entirely to God, not only by avoiding sin, but by striving to do His will in all things. We should imitate Mary's purity, her humility, her obedience, and her love for God.
Moreover, the Presentation of Mary in the Temple prefigures the offering of Jesus in the Temple, when Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce her heart. It also prefigures her constant offering of herself and her Son throughout His life, culminating in the sacrifice on Calvary.
Thus, Mary's presentation was not merely a physical act, but a profound spiritual offering of herself to God, preparing her to become the Mother of the Redeemer. It was a complete surrender of her will to the divine will, a perfect example for all who seek to live a life consecrated to God.
The Church celebrates this feast with great solemnity, because it shows us the beginnings of that sanctity which was to reach its summit in the Incarnation. It is a day to reflect on our own dedication to God and to renew our commitment to live a life worthy of our Christian calling.
Let us, then, learn from Mary to consecrate ourselves to God from our earliest years, to live in His presence, and to fulfill His holy will in all things. Let us remember that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and that we are called to glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits, which are His.
Solemn liturgical celebration of the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Mass and Divine Office.
Official commemoration by the Roman Catholic Church of the traditional event of Mary's presentation in the Temple, emphasizing her early consecration to God, and observed universally by the faithful.