21st November: The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Ancient pious tradition relates that Mary,

at the age of three, was brought by her parents to the Temple, in fulfilment of a vow, that she be educated there. It came to be commemorated as a feast for the first time in the East, probably in Syria, from where we have a great liturgical poem written in Greek for this feast, composed by a monk called Georgios about the seventh or eighth century. Eventually, the devotion found its way towards the west, introduced by a French nobleman, Philippe de Mazières, Chancellor of the King of Cyprus, who spent some time at Avignon during the pontificate of Gregory XI. There is documented evidence that it was celebrated in the presence of Gregory and his cardinals in 1372, with an office accommodated from the liturgy belonging to the Greeks. In 1373 it was adopted in the royal chapel at Paris and in 1418 at Metz and 1420 at Cologne. Pius II granted (1460) the feast with a ‘vigil’ liturgy to the Duke of Saxony. It was taken up by many dioceses, but at the end of the Middle Ages, it was still missing in many calendars. At Toledo the feast was assigned in 1500 by Cardinal Ximenes to the 30th of September. Sixtus IV received it into the Roman Breviary (this the old version of the liturgy which all monks, bishops, priests, deacons and religious say each day, according to the status or rules of their way of life). Pius V removed it from the liturgical calendar, but Sixtus V reinstated it a second time (1 September, 1585). Since then, it has grown in popularity, especially in those places where the parents of Mary -the grandparents of Jesus- Saints Anne and Joachim, are held in great veneration.

 

Lord,

as we honour the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

and seek her help,

grant that we, like her,

may share in the fullness of your grace.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.