Today is the Feast of the Presentation of Mary at the temple, a Christian feast that was first celebrated in the sixth century. According to Sacred Tradition and the non-canonical Protoevangelium of St. James, St. Anne and St. Joachim were righteous Jews but childless. Their lack of children was a cause of being scorned by other Jews who saw childlessness as a curse from God. St. Anne and St. Joachim each poured their hearts out in prayer, and they were each greeted by an angel who told them that their prayers were heard and answered. St. Anne praised God and said that in thanksgiving she would dedicate the child to the service of God. On this day we celebrate when Jesus’ grandparents brought the infant Mary to the temple for a blessing.
CHALLENGE
St. John Damascene said, “Anne was to be the mother of the Virgin Mother of God, and hence nature did not dare to anticipate the flowering of grace. Thus nature remained sterile until grace produced its fruit.” What in your nature is sterile? Maybe it’s something physical, or emotional, or spiritual. Now pray to God to give you the graces necessary to produce good fruit.
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