Homily: Nov 21 - Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today’s feast is ancient.  It has been celebrated by Christians since the 6^th century and commemorates an event before the birth of Christ. When Mary was a young girl of the age of 3,  her parents, Joachim and Ann brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem to be presented to God, according to the Jewish custom.

There, Mary would receive her religious formation—brought up by the consecrated virgins of the Temple until she was 11 or 12.  Not long after, she would be betrothed to Joseph.

There in the Temple, Mary would have had a truly blessed childhood: busy with prayer, chores, studying the Sacred Scriptures, learning the prayers should would one day pass on to her son, and loving God with her whole heart.  What a wonderful example she must have been to the other young girls there, to the holy women, and to the priests of the Temple.  And what a wonderful example for us.

On this day, consecrated persons renew their vows to the Lord in memory of the offering of Mary to the Lord’s service. 

In just a few days, this year, on the first Sunday of Advent, we will begin a Year of Consecrated Life.  In the past, the Popes have declared the Year of the Rosary in 2002 the Year of the Eucharist in 2004, Year of St. Paul in 2008, Year of the Priesthood in 2009, Years of Faith in 1967 and 2012.  So this year, Catholics around the world look to the example of the Consecrated Religious, thank God for their wonderful calling, and pray that they can be ever more faithful in being a sign of devotion and a sign of God’s love for the Church.

We will do well to thank God personally for the consecrated religious who have touched our lives, who have taught us our prayers, who have shown us how to practice the works of charity, to pray with them and for them, if they are living, or to raise them up to God if they have passed from earthly life.

At baptism, each of us has been dedicated to the Lord.  We look today and all days the model of discipleship, the Blessed Virgin devoted to God in all things, offering to him her whole pure and immaculate heart, may she continue to teach us to love God as she does, that we may be presented to God as a worthy offering for His glory and the salvation of souls.