The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

November 21st is the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is also known in the East as the “Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple”.

Surprisingly, it is not found in scripture but is found in the Protoevangelium of James,  an apocryphal text.

[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered” background_color_class=”otw-silver-background”]…Mary was in the temple of the Lord as if she were a dove that dwelt there, and she received food from the hand of an angel. When she was twelve years old there was held a council of the priests, saying: Behold, Mary has reached the age of twelve years in the temple of the Lord. What then shall we do with her, lest perchance she defile the sanctuary of the Lord? And they said to the high priest: stand by the altar of the Lord; go in, and pray concerning her; and whatever the Lord shall manifest unto you, that also will we do. And the high priest went in, taking the robe with the twelve bells into the holy of holies; and he prayed concerning her. Behold an angel of the Lord stood by him, saying unto him: Zacharias, Zacharias, go out and assemble the widowers of the people, and let them bring each his rod; and to whomsoever the Lord shall show a sign, his wife shall she be. And the heralds went out through all the circuit of Judæa, and the trumpet of the Lord sounded, and all ran. 9.   Protoevangelium of James.[/otw_shortcode_quote]

Joseph ends up being the chosen one.  He, at first, protested, saying he was too old, but he eventually agreed.

Here is the Collect from today’s Mass from the Roman Catholic Daily Missal.

Collect:

O God, Who didst will that this day the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, dwelling-place of the Holy Ghost, should be presented in the temple: grant, we beseech Thee, that through her intercession, we may be worthy to be presented in the temple of Thy glory. Through our Lord.”

What are your thoughts on this account?