The Blessed Virgin Mary figures significantly into the
Nativity Narrative. Much is lost when her role in bringing salvation to the
lost world of humanity is downplayed. We do well to remember and honor her. Her
role in the Nativity, a role that includes her Immaculate Conception and preservation
from Original Sin, is a significant one.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is
celebrated annually on November 21st … Thursday of this week. The
Feast commemorates the presentation of the Blessed Virgin as a child by her
parents in the Temple in Jerusalem.
Before Mary's birth, her parents received a heavenly message that they would bear a child. In thanksgiving for God's gift
of Mary's birth, they brought her to the Temple to consecrate their only
daughter to The Lord.
Mary’s presentation was celebrated in Jerusalem in the sixth century. A church was built there in honor of this mystery. The Eastern Church was more interested in the feast, but it does appear in the West in the 11th century. Although the feast at times disappeared from the calendar, in the 16th century it became a feast of the universal Church.
As with Mary’s birth, we read of Mary’s presentation in the temple only in apocryphal literature. In what is recognized as an unhistorical account, the Protoevangelium of James tells us that Anna and Joachim offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was 3 years old. This was to carry out a promise made to God when Anna was still childless.
Mary’s presentation was celebrated in Jerusalem in the sixth century. A church was built there in honor of this mystery. The Eastern Church was more interested in the feast, but it does appear in the West in the 11th century. Although the feast at times disappeared from the calendar, in the 16th century it became a feast of the universal Church.
As with Mary’s birth, we read of Mary’s presentation in the temple only in apocryphal literature. In what is recognized as an unhistorical account, the Protoevangelium of James tells us that Anna and Joachim offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was 3 years old. This was to carry out a promise made to God when Anna was still childless.
Westerners, especially
Protestant Westerners, make very little of a feast like this.
Personally?
I discovered, as a former Protestant convert to Catholicism, that I was missing out on a lot. I think a lot of important stuff, too, is being neglected in “modern” Catholicism. Maintaining a finger on the pulse of the times does not require us to turn away from what we hold true and dear about the Catholic faith and the Catholic Church.
Personally?
I discovered, as a former Protestant convert to Catholicism, that I was missing out on a lot. I think a lot of important stuff, too, is being neglected in “modern” Catholicism. Maintaining a finger on the pulse of the times does not require us to turn away from what we hold true and dear about the Catholic faith and the Catholic Church.
The Eastern Church, however, was quite open to this feast
and even somewhat insistent about celebrating it.
The Feast stresses important truth about Mary. From the beginning of her life, she was
dedicated to God. She herself became a greater temple than any made by hands.
God came to dwell in her in a marvelous manner and sanctified her for her
unique role in God’s saving work.
At the same time, the magnificence of Mary enriches her
children. They … we … are temples of God and sanctified in order that we might
enjoy and share in God’s saving work.
Ave Maria!
Hail, favored one!
Hail, Christ-Bearer!
Hail Mary, full of grace, and chosen by the Father as Theotokos
… Mother of God … Mother of the Church … our Mother!
Immaculate Mary your praises we sing!
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