Very interesting…I found this site has a nice explanation: franciscanmedia.org/presentation-of-mary/.
Also, in researching it, I found many scriptural references to being dedicated to the Lord which most certainly apply to Our Lady, for she didn’t decide she’d give her life unreservedly to God just at the Annunciation, but well before that. We can see this in her reply to the Archangel Gabriel when she asked, “How can this be since I know not man?” If she had expected to have normal sexual relations with her husband her more logical answer would have been, “Then Joseph is to be the father, seeing that I’m betrothed to him.” Gabriel cleared up everything for her by telling her what she’d already decided–that she was set apart for God alone, when he told her that “the power of the Most High will overshadow you and you will conceive and bear a son.” This was the same Power that overshadowed the Tabernacle of the Lord which God had Moses construct. There are many parallels between Mary and the Ark of the Covenant and other such biblical iconography. St. Alphonsus de Ligouri’s book “The Glories of Mary” is a great scriptural resource for the Marian teachings and feast days, as well.
As I understand it, only first born sons were required to be presented to the Lord because he was to be offered to the Lord as the first fruits of a woman’s body.
Thanks for the article, I just finished reading it.I found this site has a nice explanation: franciscanmedia.org/presentation-of-mary/.
Also, in researching it, I found many scriptural references to being dedicated to the Lord which most certainly apply to Our Lady, for she didn’t decide she’d give her life unreservedly to God just at the Annunciation, but well before that. We can see this in her reply to the Archangel Gabriel when she asked, “How can this be since I know not man?” If she had expected to have normal sexual relations with her husband her more logical answer would have been, “Then Joseph is to be the father, seeing that I’m betrothed to him.” Gabriel cleared up everything for her by telling her what she’d already decided–that she was set apart for God alone, when he told her that “the power of the Most High will overshadow you and you will conceive and bear a son.” This was the same Power that overshadowed the Tabernacle of the Lord which God had Moses construct. There are many parallels between Mary and the Ark of the Covenant and other such biblical iconography. St. Alphonsus de Ligouri’s book “The Glories of Mary” is a great scriptural resource for the Marian teachings and feast days, as well.
Apparently, the Church disagrees with this limitation. After all, we believe in a good many things that have no historical events behind them, in the sense that we have no records for them. Since it is the kind of thing that Mary’s parents may have done and there is a solid ancient tradition that Mary was a temple virgin, plus the fact that it moves us to greater devotion to God as to our own vocations, I think it’s ranks well enough to be a memorial of the Church.
But, that’s not up to me or you–it’s one of those things the Magisterium decides.ThanksApparently, the Church disagrees with this limitation. After all, we believe in a good many things that have no historical events behind them, in the sense that we have no records for them. Since it is the kind of thing that Mary’s parents may have done and there is a solid ancient tradition that Mary was a temple virgin, plus the fact that it moves us to greater devotion to God as to our own vocations, I think it’s ranks well enough to be a memorial of the Church.
You’re welcome. :tiphat:Thanks
The Nativity Gospel of James also records the Annunciation as a faithful rendition of Luke’s gospel. The feast of the Presentation of Mary belongs to the sacred liturgy which is the greatest of all monuments of sacred Tradition. So the feast isn’t based on the Proto-Gospel of James. The author of this gospel drew his material from nascent traditions, but he appears to have embellished them to some degree. For instance, Mary may have entered the temple service, but it’s questionable whether she was received at the age of three. What the gospel does reveal is that Marian devotion was fervent by the mid-second century.
The Protoevangelium of James is a work of pious historical fiction; the basic historical fact of Mary’s presentation was embellished with a bunch of imaginative details. That this embellished version of Mary’s presentation is now the earliest extant writing on the subject doesn’t mean Mary’s presentation never happened. It just means that Mary’s presentation might not have happened exactly as it is portrayed in the Protoevangelium.