Nov. 21 - Feast of the Presentation of Mary

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This is a “Memorial”, in liturgical terms, but often it is called a “Feast” honoring the tradition that Mary was presented in the Temple as a child by her parents St. Anne and St. Joachim.

In the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich (now online) you can read many pages of what she saw regarding Mary’s Presentation:

MARY’S ENTRY INTO THE TEMPLE AND PRESENTATION
[On November 8th, 1821, Catherine Emmerich related:] Today Joachim went first to the Temple with Zacharias and the other men. Afterwards Mary was taken there by her mother Anna in a festal procession…There was something indescribably moving in the holiness apparent in the child. As the procession approached the Temple, I saw many of the Temple servants struggling with great efforts to open an immensely large and heavy door, shining like gold and ornamented with a multitude of sculptured heads, bunches of grapes, and sheaves of corn. This was the Golden Gate. The procession passed under this gate, to which fifteen steps led up, but whether in a single flight I cannot remember. Mary would not take the hands held out to her; to the admiration of all she ran eagerly and joyfully up the steps without stumbling…During these ceremonies I saw a symbolic vision round the Blessed Virgin which eventually filled and dimmed the whole Temple. I saw a glory of light under Mary’s heart, and understood that this glory encompassed the Promise, the most holy blessing of God…

The visions of Catherine Emmerich, under the title “Life of the Blessed Virgin” may be read HERE
Please remember these are private revelations and are not to be taken with the same authority as Divine Revelation. Nevertheless writings such as these, which have been examined by the Church and determined to be of no harm to the faith, may be read as an incentive to better live God’s Revelation to us in the Scriptures. Today’s Feast for me is a beautiful “picture” of Mary’s fullness of Grace. Her life was from the beginning turned toward God whom she loved with her whole heart, soul mind and strength. In this, she is – even as a child, a model for the Church. Happy and Holy Feast of Her Presentation in the Temple to all!

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us and for all your children in the world today.

 

[patricius79]

From St. Alponsus Liguori (Doctor and Bishop) in the Glories of Mary, section on the Presentation of Mary:

We read in St. Bonaventure’s Life of Christ, that the divine Mother herself revealed to St. Elizabeth of Hunger that “when her father and mother left her in the temple she determined to have God alone for her Father, and often thought how she could please him most” (“Cum pater meus et mater mea me dimiserunt in Templo, statui in corde meo habere Deum in Patrem; et frequenter cogitabam, quid possem facere Deo gratum”). Moreover, as we learn from the Revelations of St. Bridget, “she determined to consecrate her virginity to him, and to possess nothing in the w3orld, and to give him her entire will” (“Vovi observare virginitatem, Nihil unquam possidere in mundo; et ei (Deo) omnem voluntatem meam commisi”—Rev. l. 1, cap. 10). Besides this, she told St. Elizabeth that of all the commandments to be observed she especially kept this one before her eyes: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God (“Diliges Dominum Deum tuum”); and that at midnight she went before the altar of the temple to beg that he would grant her the grace to observe them all, and also that she might live to see the birth of the Mother of the Redeemer, entreating him at the same time to preserve her eyes to behold her, her tongue to praise her, her hands and feet to serve her, and her knees to adore her divine Son in her womb. St. Elizabeth, on hearing this, said, “But, Lady, wast thou not full of grace and virtue?” Mary replied, “Know that I considered myself most vile and unworthy of divine grace, and therefore thus earnestly prayed for grace and virtue.” And finally, that we might be convinced of the absolute necessity under which we all are of asking the graces that we require from God, she added: “Dost thou think that I possessed grace and virtue without effort? Know that I obtained no grace from God without great effort, constant prayer, ardent desire, and many tears and mortifications.”
marys-touch.com/Glories/DiscIII.htm

 

[detoutcoeur]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

[MariaChristi]

marys-touch.com/Glories/DiscIII.htm

Dear patricius,

Ah the wisdom of the saints! Thanks so much for your reply and for the link. I was especially blessed in reading the following from Discourse III:

The Offering that Mary made of herself to God was prompt without delay, and entire without reserve.

There never was, and never will be, an offering on the part of a pure creature greater or more perfect than that which Mary made to God when, at the age of three years, she presented herself in the temple to offer him, not arommtical spices, nor calves, nor gold, but her entire self…

Is it any wonder that Mary is Mother and Model for the Church! May we ever hear more deeply in our hearts, the words of Jesus from His Cross: “Behold Your Mother”! May we obey His words as the Apostle John did and take her into our homes and into our lives.

 

[MariaChristi]

http://www.catholicireland.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Marys-presentation-e1412328867728.jpg

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Dear detoutcoeur,

Thanks so much for the sweet picture of our Mother Mary, giving her ALL, even as a child! How dear to God also were her parents willing to give her to Him Who created her – so perfectly. May we learn from our Mother Mary to be humble and generous children of God, and from her parents too, St. Anne and St. Joachim!