Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This feast marks the fulfillment of the promise made to God by Sts. Joachim and Anne upon learning they were blessed with a child.  At the age of three, little Mary was to be consecrated to God in the service of the Temple. 

No doubt, when she hit 3 years of age, Sts. Joachim and Anne led her to the Temple, awash in feelings of both gratitude and sadness.  I can't even begin to fathom how bittersweet that moment must have been.

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I like the painting to the right because it shows St. Anne walking her daughter, Mary, up the steps of the Temple.  Family and friends, having gathered in celebration to wish her well, look on from the foreground.  You can see by the folds in her veil that little Mary was already looking up towards those priests who would act as her guardians and teachers in the coming years.  Oh, St. Anne... how did your heart break with pride and love?  How did you manage to walk up those steps to hand over your daughter who only spent three short years in your arms?  Truly you understood the gift God granted you, and truly you are an example of what it means to take part in Divine Providence. 

God granted this special child to you... but you understood she was not only yours to love.  She was not only yours to see the face of God through.  So humbly, painfully... proudly... you took her by the hand and without complaint watched as your heart walked into the Temple to remain there.  What a selfless example of gratitude. 

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This final painting makes me smile.  I wish I could've found a clearer version for you, but this will have to suffice.  In the foreground, we see Sts. Joachim and Anne, as well as family and friends who have gathered to see her off.  She's going up the "15 steps" which signify her ascent to God's throne (the Holy of Holies in which the Ark of the Covenant rests).  This is Our Lady's wedding celebration to God... it is in this ceremony that she accepts His Proposal and willingly submits to His Divine Will for all eternity.  Our Lady is seen entranced, expectant for the Lord she knows is beckoning her to Himself.  She doesn't turn back to cast a glance behind her.  She willingly leaves everything behind in order to follow His Call.

Interestingly, I couldn't figure out what the two animals were in the foreground.  I did a bit of research and will dedicate my next blog to my findings.  :)

Anyway... for more information on The Presentation, feel free to take a look at this excerpt from the Venerable Mary of Agreda's The Mystical City of God.

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