Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary  (Memorial) is celebrated on 21 November annually.

"She was planted in the House of God, nourished by the Holy Spirit and kept her body and soul spotless to receive God in her bosom. He Who is all-holy rests among the holy."

 

Joachim and Anne were devout people who loved God, and faithful believers. Anne was barren, and always prayed to God in honor of becoming a mother. Anne promised to pledge her child to God's Holy Temple, if she is blessed with a child by the Lord. Years passed, Anne never lost faith and hope in God and finally God answer her prayers. She became a mother and name her daughter Mary. At the age of 3 years, Mary was presented at the temple of Jerusalem by her parents and was received into the temple by Zacharias, the High Priest, who later became the father of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was also born of barren parents.

We are invited to make the choice to surrender our lives to the Lord as Joachim and Anne presented the Mary at the temple of Jerusalem in dedication to the Lord. Mary had already been chosen by God, preserved by a singular grace as a chosen vessel through whom the Incarnate Word would be given for the salvation of the whole world. Parents are reminded of their solemn responsibility to present their children for Baptism. We can exercise God's invitation at the heart of discipleship, and is the inner core of every vocation in cooperation with grace.

Prayer

O God, Who didst will that on this day
the blessed ever Virgin Mary,
the dwelling-place of the Holy Ghost,
should be presented in the temple:
grant, we beseech Thee,
that through her intercession,
we may be made worthy to be presented in the temple of Thy glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end.
AMEN.