The Presentation

The Presentation

The Presentation, also referred to as The Purification and is sometimes called Candlemas is the subject of this blog post. This article will deal with the Presentation and Purification with reference to their Biblical origins. Candlemas is more of a traditional Christian feast not often called or referred to as such by people today. I do not intend to write about Candlemas, though I could, but instead refer you to a site that narrates the nice story and takes one off into a few intriguing tangents. 

https://www.showerofrosesblog.com/2008/01/preparing-for-candlemas.html

The Feast of The Presentation is celebrated on February 2^nd, forty days after Christmas. While saying The Rosary it is the fourth decade of the Joyful Mysteries, recognizing The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple in obedience to the law of God.

I enjoy praying The Rosary. For me the enjoyment is reading the Biblical verse or other literature associated with the Mystery. Sometimes there is sacred music association with the Mystery. Luke 2: discuses Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the Temple to make the required presentation and sacrifice for their first born son. Often one sees a picture of Joseph holding a small cage with two doves. I've always taken this as another part of Joseph's role in The Holy Family, the father presenting the gift's to God.

Meditating of The Rosary is not just a simple few minutes on each Mystery and then moving on. It is a lifetime of learning a little more about the incident and what it was like for Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and in the case of The Presentation Simeon and Anna. As The Book of Luke describes the occasion as a very happy one but Simeon then mystifies Mary and Joseph with his dire prophecy of the sorrow Mary and her beautiful baby will encounter with her journey through life with the suffering adult Jesus. The foundation for The Presentation and obedience to the law of God laid out in the Book of Leviticus: 12. The law deals specifically with the rite circumcision of a male child and timing of purification of a woman after childbirth. Mary and Joseph were presenting themselves to the Temple to fulfill their obligation and make the required sacrifice.

The rest of the story is better told by Luke:2

21 And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.

22 And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord:
23 As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:
24 And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons:
25 And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him.
26 And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
28 He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29 Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace;
30 Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:
32 A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted;

35 And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.
36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity.
37 And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.
38 Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.
39 And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in him.
41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch,
42 And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast,
43 And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not.
44 And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance.
45 And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers.
48 And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father's business?
50 And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.
52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA) Public Domain

There are a few good musical selections that are a direct correlation to The Presentation. An unusual and extremely beautiful composition written by Sergei Rachmaninoff; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh4UTdyansM.
Vesper's was one of Rachmaninoff's two favorite compositions and this movement was the only piece he requested to be played at his funeral.

Another good piece is by a French group, Taize, called Nunc Dimittis. This is from the Latin Vulgate Book of Luke.
A YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkVoRt73-4U.
29 Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace:

30 quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum,

31 quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum:

32 lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel. Biblia Sacra Vulgata (VULGATE) by Public Domain

And the English translation:29 Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace;

30 Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

32 A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA) Public Domain

A beautiful renidition, in English, sung by St. John's Choir, Cambridge, England.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc9a3hB99ZQ

Sir Charles Stanford blends four voices; tenor, soprano, alto and bass and creates a magnificent piece of music to pay homage to this Joyful Mystery.

An aid to help one learning to say The Rosary, or remembering the Mysteries, can be found here: http://www.how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com/support-files/pocket-rosary-booklet-1.pdf

This is a free one page sheet that can be made into a small 8 page booklet that fits nicely in a child's small hand or pocket. It's also handy for us that have a distant memory of childhood and need a little nudge every now and then to remember.
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