The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated annually on November 21st, 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 the God’s gift of Mary’s birth, they brought her to the Temple to consecrate their only daughter to The Lord.The celebration of the Feast is first documented in the 11th century within the Byzantine Catholic Church. It was introduced into the Roman Catholic Church in the 15th century by Pope Gregory XI, then removed from the calendar by Pope Pius V in the mid 16th century. Pope Sixtus V later reestablished the feast in 1585, and it is still celebrated today, commemorating the faith of her parents, Joachim and Anne, and the purity of Mary.

REFLECTION

I will sing a new song to you, O God. Psalm 144:9

On this feast of the Presentation of Mary, we celebrate the Church’s tradition of remembering the young child, Mary, being brought to the Temple in Jerusalem by her parents. There, she was dedicated to God, and there, early on in her life, Mary began to sing a new song, the song of placing her whole self at the service of God. In her formative years, Mary had no idea how the melody would change and swell over time and place. Like Mary, we are called to sing with our lives a new song for God, the song of being available to the Holy One at every moment. As we open ourselves to grace, we sing not only in times of delight and awe, but also in moments of searing anguish and profound loss. We pray to sing a song that communicates our desire to be a healing presence in our world.