Sisters, Cojourners and Friends of Nano from all around the world are invited to join in the 2015 Presentation Day Novena prepared by the Presentation Sisters leading up to this feast day. Click here to download the 2015 Presentation Day Novena
Presentation of Mary
On November 21 Presentation Sisters worldwide celebrate a special feastday – the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. How did this tradition arise? Scripture makes no reference of Mary’s hidden life. Yet before the year 200 AD religious tradition, especially in the Eastern Orthodox Church, have celebrated this day. According to tradition, Joachim and Anna, who had been childless, received a heavenly message that they would have a child. In thanksgiving for the gift of their daughter, when Mary was three years old, they brought her to the temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God. The priest received her and blessed her saying, “The Lord has magnified your name in all generations. In you, the Lord will manifest His redemption to the children of Israel” The priest set her down upon the third step of the altar and the Lord God sent grace upon her. She danced with her feet for joy and all the house of Israel loved her. Her parents left marveling and praising God because the child did not turn back. Even in childhood, Mary was completely dedicated to God. The Presentation Sisters look to this, their name day, for inspiration. We reflect on how Mary surrendered her life joyfully to God and was chosen by God for her special role as Theotokos or God-bearer. Mary, the mother of Jesus, would become the new Temple. While God is infinitely beyond us, God also dwells within us, as we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?” 1 Cor 6:19 As Mary was chosen by God, so too, we were also chosen. Presentation spirituality is about linking our experience with the experience of Mary. What are the moments when we are asked to surrender or make a sacrifice motivated by our love for God and the other person? Sometimes we struggle to serve joyfully yet how much we value when another is able to serve us with a cheerful spirit. The sisters and all who share this ministry look to Mary as a role model and guide. We joyfully seek to serve as a God bearer to each person we meet. By the grace of God, we can serve wholeheartedly as Mary did.
