Presentation of the Virgin, Bartolo di Ferdi, c. 1360
from Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours:
“This feast commemorates the dedication of the church of St. Mary, which was built in Jerusalem near the site of the Temple. With Christians of the East, the Latin Church also recalls on this day the tradition according to which Mary as a small child was presented to the Lord by her parents in the Temple.”
from Benedictine Daily Prayer:
An excerpt from the Sermons by St. Augustine:
“Pay heed to what the Lord Christ says as he points to his disciples: ‘These are my mother and my brother’; and, ‘Whoever does the will of the Father who sent me is my brother and sister and mother.’ Did not the Virgin Mary do the Father’s will? In faith she conceived, she who was chosen to bring our salvation to birth among people, and she who was created by Christ before Christ was created in her. Of course holy Mary did the will of the Father!
Beloved, you are members of Christ, you are Christ’s Body. In what way? ‘Behold my mother and my brothers.’ How can you be the mother of Christ? ‘Whoever hears and does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother and sister and mother.’ We are brothers and sisters because we all have a single inheritance.”
Sermon on the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple by St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica
https://oca.org/fs/sermons/sermon-on-the-entry-of-the-theotokos
The portion of Augustine’s Sermon for Nov 21 in the Office of Readings (quoted in part above) is a real gem.
Be with us O Mary along the way – Guide every step we take.