The feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on 21 November, is one of the most significant Marian commemorations in the Catholic Church. This feast honours an episode in Mary's life that is not directly recounted in the canonical Gospels, but is derived from Christian tradition and apocryphal texts. It highlights Mary's total consecration to God from an early age, a commitment that prepares the way for her unique role in the divine plan of salvation.

Origins of the Feast and Apocryphal Sources

The story of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple comes mainly from the Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal text dating from the second century. According to this account, Mary's parents, Anne and Joachim, were old and childless, which was considered a disgrace at the time. After fervent prayer, Anne and Joachim were blessed by God with the birth of Mary. As a sign of gratitude, they vowed to consecrate their child to the Lord.

When Mary was three years old, her parents took her to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer her to God. There, she was welcomed by the high priest and introduced to the life of the Temple, where she grew up in an environment of prayer, meditation and divine service. This scene illustrates Mary's absolute devotion to God from childhood and prefigures her acceptance of becoming the mother of the Saviour at the Annunciation.

Theological Significance

Mary's Presentation symbolises her purity, her faith, and her spiritual preparation to welcome Christ into her womb. By being presented in the Temple, she is seen as Christ's first "tabernacle", sanctified to carry out the divine mission that will be entrusted to her. This moment also underlines the importance of availability to God's will, a central theme in Mary's life.

For believers, this feast is an invitation to imitate the Marian virtues: humility, obedience and total trust in God. It also reminds us of the importance of consecration and service to God in the Christian life.

Liturgical development of the Feast

The feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary was introduced into the Eastern Church in the 6th century, where it was celebrated with solemnity. It had its roots in the Byzantine Christian tradition and was part of a series of celebrations honouring key moments in the Virgin's life. In the 8th century, the feast began to spread in the West, but it was not until the 14th century that it was officially adopted by the Latin Church.

Pope Gregory XI, in 1372, introduced the feast in Avignon, and it was confirmed in 1585 by Pope Sixtus V as a universal feast of the Catholic Church. Today, the Presentation of the Virgin Mary is celebrated by the Catholic, Orthodox and some Eastern Churches, highlighting the universality of this devotion.

Artistic and Devotional Expressions

The scene of the Presentation of Mary has inspired many artists over the centuries. In Western art, she is often depicted as a young girl ascending the steps of the Temple, accompanied by her parents and welcomed by the priests. These works reflect the spiritual grandeur of this event and the Marian devotion of the faithful.

In addition, places of pilgrimage, churches and chapels dedicated to the Presentation bear witness to the importance of this festival in popular piety. It is also a time of prayer for children and young people, invoking Mary's intercession for their sanctification and future.

The Presentation of Mary and the Contemporary Church

In a world where spirituality is often put to the test, the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary remains a call to turn to God with trust and faith. It invites believers to consecrate themselves to God and to cultivate a deep interior life, inspired by the example of Mary.

For Christian families, it is also an opportunity to reflect on the education of children in the faith, just as Anne and Joachim guided Mary in her devotion. In this sense, the Presentation of Mary continues to be a source of inspiration and a model for the faithful.

By celebrating the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church honours not only a key moment in Marian life, but also the promise of salvation that is fully fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This feast reminds us that, like Mary, we are all called to be "living temples" of God, dedicated to his service and open to his infinite love.