Meditation for the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - November 21

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

O God, by Whose will the blessed Mary, ever Virgin, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, was on this day presented in the temple, grant, we beseech You, that by her intercession we may be found worthy to be brought into the temple of Your glory.  Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.  Amen.



Hail, holy Mother, who in childbirth brought forth to King Who rules heaven and earth world without end.

Ps 44:2
My heart overflows with a goodly theme; as I sing my ode to the King.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Hail, holy Mother, who in childbirth brought forth to King Who rules heaven and earth world without end.



A Reading from the book of EcclesiasticusEcclus 24:14-16

Before all ages, in the beginning, He created me, and through all ages I shall not cease to be. In the holy Tent I ministered before Him, and in Sion I fixed my abode. Thus in the chosen city He has given me rest, in Jerusalem is my domain. I have struck root among the glorious people, in the portion of my God, His heritage, and my abode is in the full assembly of Saints.

Thanks be to God.




Blessed and venerable are you, O Virgin Mary, who, without spot to your maidenhood, were made the Mother of the Savior.

O Virgin Mother of God, He Whom the whole world does not contain, becoming man, shut Himself in your womb. Alleluia, alleluia.

After childbirth you still remained an inviolate virgin: O Mother of God, intercede for us. Alleluia.




A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to LukeLuke 11:27-28

At that time, as Jesus was speaking to the multitudes, a certain woman from the crowd lifted up her voice and said to Him, Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts that nursed You. But He said, Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.

Praise be to Thee, O Christ.




Joachim married Anna a most excellent and praiseworthy woman. Once there had lived another Anna who overcame physical sterility through prayer and a promise to God, and then gave birth to Samuel. In a similar waY our Anne received from God the Mother of God through a vow and heartfelt petition; for she would not yield in any way to the illustrious women of previous ages. Accordingly grace (for the word Anne means grace) gave birth to the Lady (this is signified by the name Mary). Truly Mary became the Lady above all creation in her role as the Mother of the Creator. She was born in Joachim's house near the Probatica, and was presented in the temple. Thereupon "planted in the house of God" had nurtured by His Spirit; like a fruitful olive tree she flowered forth in every virtue. From her mind she drove every worldly or sensual desire; she preserved virginity of soul as well as of body, as was becoming to one destined to carry God in her very bosom.