Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the moment when Mary, at age three, was presented by her parents, Joachim and Anne, in the Temple in Jerusalem as part of a vow made by her parents when they were childless. This event serves an important theological purpose. It extends the impact of previous feasts such as the Immaculate Conception and Mary's birth, emphasizing the holiness that was bestowed upon Mary from the very beginning of her earthly existence.

Historically, the celebration of this feast has its origins in the Eastern Church, with documented evidence dating back to the 11th century. It was later introduced into the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Gregory XI in the 15th century but was removed from the calendar by Pope Pius V in the mid-16th century. The feast was eventually reinstated by Pope Sixtus V in 1585 and continues to be celebrated today, underscoring the faith of Mary's parents and her own purity.

The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the presentation of Mary as a child in the Temple and is rooted in both historical and apocryphal accounts. It serves to highlight the sanctity of Mary from her earliest days and is celebrated in both the Eastern and Western Christian traditions, reaffirming the significance of her role in the Christian faith.
 
Celebrate the memorial by doing the following:

• Learn more at The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Attend mass.
• Pray the rosary.
• Sing/learn Marian hymns.