presentation of the blessed virgin mary quotes

Email Login

Subscribe to CE (It’s free)

• CE in the News
• Apologetics & Education
• Art & Culture
• Culture of Life
• Food & Travel
• The Blessed Virgin Mary
• Marriage & Family
• Prayer & Spirituality
• Spiritual Warfare

10 Quotes about the Blessed Virgin Mary from St. John Vianney

I don’t know about you, but I love reading the Lives of the Saints and the many great things they said in the course of their lifetime. What makes the Saints so special for us today is that they are as human as we are and the life we live today, with all the struggles, sufferings, and the day in and day out hardships, they also endured. Every saint in heaven, either canonized officially by the Church or not, sought to live a life of sanctity here on earth, as we do today.

The greatest of the Saints read the Lives of the Saints before them. I can think of St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. John Bosco. Both led very different lives, but there were two things that united them in the end, their love for Jesus Christ and His Church and their zeal for the saints that came before them. I think reading the Lives of the Saints and their words can only assist us as we continue to walk on this earth seeking holiness.

A great little book I own is the Thoughts of the Curé D’Ars  a.k.a. Saint John Vianney . It’s small enough to fit into your back pocket, purse, or car console (which is where mine is usually kept). Often at stop lights or when sitting in traffic, I will take out this little book and read the practical wisdom he shares on a variety of subjects regarding faith and life.

From my series  “Mondays with Mary” , I’d like to provide you with ten memorable quotations from St. John Vianney on the Blessed Virgin Mary. Read them, read them again, pray with them, and utilize them when you see fit. They are very good!

St John Vianney on the Blessed Virgin Mary

1. “Avarice is an inordinate love of riches and the good things of this life. Jesus Christ, to cure us of it, was born in extreme poverty, deprived of all comforts. He chose a Mother who was poor. He willed to pass as the Son of a humble workman.”

2. “Happy is he who lives and dies under the protection of the Blessed Virgin.”

3. “I LOVE St. Joseph so much because he had the care of the Blessed Virgin.”

4. “Humility is like a pair of scales: the lower one side falls, the higher rises the other. Let us humble ourselves like the Blessed Virgin and we shall be exalted.”

5. “Let us live as the Blessed Virgin lived: loving God only, desiring God only, trying to please God only in all that we do.”

6.  “The Blessed Virgin is like a good mother who, not content with looking after all her children in general, watches over each one separately.”

7. “Jesus on the Cross said to the disciple whom He loved: “Behold your Mother!” How sweet are those words to the Christian who is able to understand what depths of love they contain!”

8. “JESUS CHRIST, after having given us all He could give, that is to say, the merit of his toils, His sufferings, and His bitter death; after having given us His Adorable Body and Blood to be the Food of our souls, willed also to give us the most precious thing He had left, which as His holy Mother.”

9. “The Blessed Virgin’s life was full of sorrow…Every time her tender glance fell upon her Divine Son, she suffered…”

10. “It is impossible to meditate with devotion upon the Mysteries of the Rosary and live in a state of sin.”

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on the author’s website titled “ ‘Mondays with Mary’ – 10 Memorable Quotes about the Blessed Virgin Mary from St. John Vianney,” and is reprinted here with kind permission. Tom is available for speaking events and welcomes you to contact him . 

image:  Llann Wé / Wikimedia Commons

Tagged as: John Vianney , Mary , saints , St. John Vianney , Tom Perna , virgin mary

By Tom Perna

Tom Perna is the Director of Adult Evangelization and Catechesis at Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church where he oversees RCIA, Adult Confirmation, the faith formation ministries, and the Porta Fidei Adult Faith Formation Program. In addition to his work at the parish, Tom spends time writing on his blog – TomPerna.org . He is the author of Understanding Catholic Teaching on the Blessed Virgin Mary (Emmaus Road Publishing). Tom holds a Masters in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, a Masters in Education from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of San Francisco, which includes a Great Books Certificate from the St. Ignatius Institute.

Subscribe to CE (It's free)

More on catholic exchange.

The Mystery of Redemption in Work

Something That Makes Our Blessed Mother Cry

The Power of Being Silent in Our Suffering

Go to Catholic Exchange homepage

Adeodatus | The Renewal of Catholic Education feat. Dr. Alex Lessard

The Vocation of Consecrated Virginity | feat. Mary Beth Bracy

Modern Miracles at Lourdes | feat. Marlene Watkins

Most shared.

© Copyright 2024 Catholic Exchange. All rights reserved.

Catholic Exchange is a project of Sophia Institute Press .

Advertise on Catholic Exchange Design by Perceptions Studio .

Privacy Policy

Design by Perceptions Studio .

• Books and Art
• Catechetics
• Dating & Singles
• Faith & Spirituality
• Health & Spirituality
• Marriage & Family
• Media & Culture
• Money & Economics
• Lives of Saints
• Same Sex Attraction
• Science and Discovery

• Saint of the Day

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• November 21
• Franciscan Media

Image:   Presentation of Mary in the Temple  | Alfonso Boschi | photo by sailko

Saint of the day for november 21.

The Story of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary’s presentation was celebrated in Jerusalem in the sixth century. A church was built there in honor of this mystery. The Eastern Church was more interested in the feast, but it does appear in the West in the 11th century. Although the feast at times disappeared from the calendar, in the 16th century it became a feast of the universal Church.

As with Mary’s birth, we read of Mary’s presentation in the temple only in apocryphal literature. In what is recognized as an unhistorical account, the  Protoevangelium of James  tells us that Anna and Joachim offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was 3 years old. This was to carry out a promise made to God when Anna was still childless.

Though it cannot be proven historically, Mary’s presentation has an important theological purpose. It continues the impact of the feasts of the Immaculate Conception and of the birth of Mary. It emphasizes that the holiness conferred on Mary from the beginning of her life on earth continued through her early childhood and beyond.

It is sometimes difficult for modern Westerners to appreciate a feast like this. The Eastern Church, however, was quite open to this feast and even somewhat insistent about celebrating it. Even though the feast has no basis in history, it stresses an important truth about Mary: From the beginning of her life, she was dedicated to God. She herself became a greater temple than any made by hands. God came to dwell in her in a marvelous manner and sanctified her for her unique role in God’s saving work. At the same time, the magnificence of Mary enriches her children. They—we—too are temples of God and sanctified in order that we might enjoy and share in God’s saving work.

Click here for more on Mary!

Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter​

Includes Saint of the Day, Minute Meditations, and Pause + Pray.

We are Franciscan Media, a sponsored ministry of the Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province. We strive to inspire a loving world that embraces the Franciscan spirit of harmony, joy, and simplicity. May our resources renew your spirit as we share God’s love in the spirit of St. Francis.

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple recalls – according to the apocryphal gospels, the day on which Mary, while still a child, was brought to the temple in Jerusalem to be offered to God. The Church wants to emphasize not so much the historical event in itself, of which there is no trace in the Gospels, but the total gift that Mary made of herself, by listening: “ Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and observe it” (Lk. 11:28). This experience prepared the young girl from Nazareth to become the “temple of the Son of God”.

The celebration of this feast dates back to the 6 th century in the East with the dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary the New built by the Emperor Justinian I near the ruins of the temple in Jerusalem. There is evidence that various monasteries in Italy celebrated the feast in the 9 th century. It was not until the 15 th century that it was included in the Roman Missal.

This is also the on which the Church celebrates the World Day of Cloistered Life, established by Pope Pius XII in 1953.

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother”. (Mt. 12:46-50)

Bonds of love, not of blood

For the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the liturgy proposes the passage from Matthew that speaks about how we are “related” to Jesus. It is a relationship not formed by blood, but by imitation: “ Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother”. To become a member of “His family”, one must do so not by blood or belonging to a particular religion. Rather, it is a free and personal choice that translates into a commitment to do the will of the Father.

Mary, the first disciple

Confirming what has just been said, Jesus Himself said this in responding thus to a woman who was praising His Mother: “ ‘ Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.’ He replied, ‘Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.’ ” Mary is the woman who knows how to listen, who knows how to contemplate, who knows how to refer everything to her Son – “ Do whatever He tells you” (Jn. 2:5). Mary is the One who never abandoned her Son Jesus, not even along the way of the Cross. She “stood” under the Cross. She is a disciple who never abandons the Lord Jesus, who always “stands behind” Him.

Mary, model for Christians

All of this can help us imitate the Virgin Mary. Every Christian is called to look at Mary so as to learn from her, to entrust themselves to her intercession and to guard the “purity of the faith” against any idols that surround us.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

• liturgical year

More upcoming events:

Subscribe to our newsletters

To get the latest news

Santa Marta Mass

Regina Coeli

Papal audiences

Daily readings

Saint of the day

All prayers

Home » Saints’ Quotes Praising Mary, The Mother of God

Saints’ Quotes Praising Mary, The Mother of God

• By Ray Sullivan
• 17 November AD 2020
• 59 Comments

As Catholics, we have 2000 years of saints’ quotes praising the Mother of God.  While their quotes do not carry the same weight as sacred scripture, they do tell us what holy men and women on earth, who are now in heaven, thought about the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The takeaway from reading these quotes is that we should all imitate them in this endeavor.  After all, Jesus was subject to His mother for thirty years before starting His public ministry. If we are to imitate Christ in our own lives, then asking Mary to be our own mother as well is a great way to start. If Marian devotion was the lens that the saints used to focus on Jesus in their lives, then why don’t we as well? We live in very dark times, but turning to Mary will lead us into the  light of her son, Jesus.

Mary in Scripture

Genesis 3:15 says that there will enmity between THE WOMAN and Satan. Luke 1:46 says that Mary’s soul magnifies the Lord, which then makes Jesus larger, clearer, and more focused in our lives. For sure, Mary’s soul is still very much alive, as are all souls in heaven. John 19:27 Jesus says to his disciple (we are ALL disciples of Christ),  “Behold YOUR mother.”  Revelation 12:17 says that we are her children if we obey the commandments and bear testimony that Jesus is the messiah.

Quotes From the Saints

St. augustine.

“Him whom the heavens cannot contain, the womb of one woman bore. She ruled our Ruler; she carried Him in whom we are; she gave milk to our Bread.”

St. Louis Marie de Montfort

“Satan, being proud, suffers infinitely more from being beaten and punished by a little and humble handmaid of God, and her humility humbles him more than the Divine power; and, secondly, because God has given Mary such a great power against the devils, that, as they have often been obliged to confess, in spite of themselves, by the mouths of the possessed, they fear one of her sighs for a soul more than the prayers of all the Saints, and one of her menaces against them more than all other torments.”

“God has never made or formed but one enmity; but it is an irreconcilable one, which shall endure and develop even to the end. It is between Mary, His worthy Mother, and the devil,—between the children and the servants of the Blessed Virgin and the children and instruments of Lucifer. The most terrible of all the enemies which God has set up against the devil is His holy Mother, Mary. He has inspired her, even since the days of the earthly Paradise, though she existed then only in His idea, with so much hatred against that cursed enemy of God, with so much industry in unveiling the malice of that old serpent, with so much power to conquer, to overthrow, and to crush that proud impious rebel, that he fears her not only more than all Angels and men, but in some sense more than God Himself. It is not that the anger, the hatred, and the power of God are not infinitely greater than those of the Blessed Virgin, for the perfections of Mary are limited, but it is, first, because Satan, being proud, suffers infinitely more from being beaten and punished by a little and humble handmaid of God, and her humility humbles him more than the Divine power; and, secondly, because God has given Mary such a great power against the devils, that, as they have often been obliged to confess, in spite of themselves, by the mouths of the possessed, they fear one of her sighs for a soul more than the prayers of all the Saints, and one of her menaces against them more than all other torments.”

“God the Father gathered all the waters together and called them the seas or maria [Latin, seas]. He gathered all His grace together and called it Mary or Maria . . . This immense treasury is none other than Mary whom the saints call the ‘treasury of the Lord.’ From her fullness all men are made rich.”

St. Bernardine of Siena

“You must know that when you ‘hail’ Mary, she immediately greets you! Don’t think that she is one of those rude women of whom there are so many-on the contrary, she is utterly courteous and pleasant. If you greet her, she will answer you right away and converse with you!“

“If God did not destroy man after his first sin, it was on account of his singular love for this holy Virgin, who was destined to be born of this race.  I have no doubt but that all the mercies granted by God under the old dispensation were granted only in consideration of this most Blessed Lady”

St. Bernard of Clairveaux

“O Blessed Mary, whoever loves you honors God; whoever serves you pleases God; whoever invokes your holy name with a pure heart will infallibly receive the object of his petition.”

“Go to this Mother of Mercy, and show her the wounds which thy sins have left on thy soul; then will she certainly entreat her Son, by the breast that gave him suck, to pardon thee all. And this divine Son, who loves her so tenderly, will most certainly grant her petition”

“Mary is that happy ark, in which those who take refuge will never suffer the shipwreck of eternal perdition”

“Remember that it has never been heard of in any age, that any sinner who turned to you was rejected by you. I am a miserable sinner, but I turn to you and trust in you.”

“As breathing is not only a sign but even a cause of life, so the name of Mary, which is constantly found on the lips of God’s servants, both proves that they are truly alive, and at the same time causes and preserves their life, and gives them every succor.”

St. Maximillian Kolbe

“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”

“The conflict with Hell cannot be maintained by men, even the most clever. The Immaculata alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan. She seeks souls that will consecrate themselves entirely to her, that will become in her hands forceful instruments for the defeat of Satan and the spread of God’s kingdom.”

” Jesus honored her before all ages , and will honor her for all ages. No one comes to Him, nor even near Him, no one is saved or sanctified, if he too will not honor her. This is the lot of Angels and of men.”

St. Thomas Aquinas

“Mary means Star of the sea, for as mariners are guided to port by the ocean star, so Christians attain to glory through Mary’s maternal intercession.”

Blessed Bartolo Longo

“My only desire is to see Mary, who has saved me and who will save me from the clutches of Satan.”

St. Hilary of Poitiers

“No matter how sinful one may have been, if he has devotion to Mary, it is impossible that he be lost.”

St. John Vianney

“Only after the last judgment will Mary get any rest; from now until then, she is much too busy with her children.”

St. Bonaventure

“O truly immense and admirable goodness of our God, which has been pleased to grant thee, O sovereign Mother, to us miserable sinners for our advocate, in order that thou, by thy powerful intercession, mayest obtain all that thou pleasest for us. O wonderful mercy of our God, who in order that we might not fly on account of the sentence that might be pronounced against us, has given us his own Mother and the patroness of graces to be our advocate”

“As the moon, which stands between the sun and the earth, transmits to this latter whatever it receives from the former, so does Mary pour out upon us who are in this world the heavenly graces that she receives from the divine sun of justice”

“Mary, having merited to give flesh to the divine Word, and thus supply the price of our redemption, that we might be delivered from eternal death; therefore she is more powerful than all others to help us to gain eternal life”

St. John Chrysostom

“Hail, Mother of God and of us all, ‘heaven,’ where God dwells, ‘throne,’ from which our Lord dispenses all grace, ‘fair daughter, Virgin, honor, glory and firmament of our Church,’ assiduously pray to Jesus that in the day of judgment we may find mercy through thee, and receive the reward prepared by God for those who love him”

St. Padre Pio

“May the Most Holy Virgin, who was the first to practice the gospel perfectly and in all its severity, even before it was proclaimed, spur us on to follow closely in her footsteps.”

“Love our Lady and make her loved; always recite the Rosary and recite it as often as possible.”

“Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother.”

“How many time I have entrusted to this Mother (the Virgin Mary) the painful anxieties of my heart. And how many times she has consoled me. With what great attention she accompanied me to the altar this morning. It seemed to me that she had nothing else to think about but me, filling my heart with holy sentiments. I felt a mysterious fire in my heart, which I could not understand. I felt the need to put ice on in in order to extinguish the fire that was consuming me.”

St. Anthony Mary Claret

“A son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary…is a man who unceasingly expends himself to light the fire of divine love in the world. Nothing stops him.”

St. John Paul II

“From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s Will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God!”

“Through Mary, we come to her Son more easily.”

St. Alphonsus Liguori

“Mary has been called an ark more spacious than that of Noah. For only two animals of every kind were brought into the ark of Noah. But under the mantle of Mary, the righteous and sinners all find their place.”

St. John of Damascus

“Behold, all generations will call you blessed, just as you have said . You are the royal throne that angels surround, seeing upon it their true King and Lord. You are a spiritual Eden, holier and more divine than the Eden of old. For that Eden was the dwelling of the mortal Adam, while the Lord himself came from heaven to dwell in you. Noah’s ark foreshadowed you, for you held the seed of the new world. You brought forth Christ, the salvation of the world, who destroyed sin and its angry waves. Just as Jacob saw the ladder bringing together heaven and earth, so you are placed between us, and have become the ladder of God’s communion with us, of him who took upon himself our weakness, uniting us to himself, and enabling us to see God.”

Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego

“Am I not here, I, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need anything more? Let nothing else worry you or disturb you. ”

“Behold YOUR Mother.”

To consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary, click here .

• Share on Tumblr
• Praised in quotes by saints , Praising the Mother of God , Ray Sullivan

Ray Sullivan

59 thoughts on “saints’ quotes praising mary, the mother of god”.

Pope Francis says to put 2022 under the protection of Mary. What a great idea! I hereby put all of my articles for 2022 under her protection, as well as my life, my family, and my endeavors. I hope you all will too.

Have a very Mary New Year!

1 Timothy 2:5-6 New American Standard Bible 1995 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

Why would we need to seek another???

Happy Mary, Mother of God Feast Day to one and all…

No Mary, no Jesus.

Know Mary, know Jesus!

Here’s an interesting article written by a former Catholic. What Do We Really Know About Mary? https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/c6c15290-b8d0-11eb-b10f-0614187498c1/sites/c6f4ef1a-b8d0-11eb-8655-0614187498c1/files/426c9c00-4be9-11ec-8ecd-3f1cce1cdd1e/original/file.pdf

Happy Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day to one and all…

While Mr. Luther was leading millions of Europeans away from the sacraments and into hell, at the same time in 1531 Mother Mary was leading millions of Aztecs away from hell and into the sacraments. As Gabriel once said, HAIL MARY! FULL OF GRACE! THE LORD IS WITH YOU!

How do you know who is going to hell or the kingdom of God? Are you the judge? Bible clearly tells us that Jesus has earned that role.

Mary did need a savior, which she even says. He saved her from the pit before she fell into it. He saves us from the pit after we fall.

She is FULL of Grace, according to the bible – No room for sin if you are FULL of the life of God…

Doesn’t Paul, the Apostle, disagree with you?

Hebrews 4:14-16 New American Standard Bible 1995 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Happy Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary day to all!

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Find Your Educational Consultant
• Review Our Catalogs
• Catholic Resources
• Saints Stories for All Ages

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

When Mary was asked to be the mother of the Savior, she was completely free to accept or reject the offer. Her response, “Let it be done to me,” was a great act of faith. Because she did not understand what was happening, she must have known that there would be difficulties ahead.

She replied yes to the angel's announcement and agreed to become the mother of Jesus, and the Church has declared Mary to be the Mother of God. Because she was the first to say yes to the Messiah, the Church has declared her to be the Mother of the Church.

The feast of the presentation of Mary dates back to the 6th century in the East and the 15th century in the West. It is based on an ancient tradition that says Mary was taken to the temple in Jerusalem when she was 3-years-old and dedicated to God. What we celebrate on this day is the fact that God chose to dwell in Mary in a very special way. In response, Mary placed her whole self at the service of God. Every moment since your Baptism, God invites you to be open to his grace and dedicate yourself to him, as Mary did.

from Saints and Feast Days , by Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio

Image credit: Presentation of Mary by Titian, 1538. Public Domain via Wikimedia.

This Week's Stories

Óscar arnulfo romero, 1917-1980, the annunciation of the lord, saint braulio.

Why do we celebrate Mary’s presentation?

It is true that scholars debate the authenticity of the feast of the Presentation of Mary, which finds its origin in the apocryphal work  The Protoevangelium of James . As a devotee of the Marian biographies published by Maximus the Confessor, Venerable Maria of Agreda and Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, I can affirm each gives an account of Mary’s presentation in the temple at the age of 3. Rather than dwelling on the historicity of today’s event, though, let’s lend our meditation to the feast itself — more specifically: Why do we celebrate Mary’s presentation? The answer is straightforward: The life of Mary provides an example for us, especially in our own spiritual lives. Christians can appropriate spiritual insights for ourselves from the feast of Mary’s Presentation.

The importance of pilgrimage

Tradition believes that Joachim and Anne were barren, and for that reason people of the biblical era would have viewed the couple with suspicion and looked down on them. Like any other couple hoping to conceive, Joachim and Anne prayed to God, asking for the blessing of a child. God heard their prayer, and they were grateful to Him. The story of Joachim and Anne like the Old Testament account of the barren Hannah, who begged God for a child and later gave birth to Samuel. Maximus the Confessor, draws out the similarity in his  The Life of the Virgin , comparing the name Hannah and Anna. The Presentation of Mary reminds us of Hannah’s willingness to offer Samuel back to God because Joachim and Anne bring the child Mary to the temple in a similar fashion at the age of 3.

Joachim, Anne and Mary lived in Nazareth, meaning if they presented Mary in the temple they had to go on a pilgrimage. Many Catholics go on pilgrimage. 2017 was a popular year for pilgrimage because of the centennial anniversary of the Fatima apparitions. There are pilgrimage sites all over the world, including the Holy Land, Marian apparition sites and shrines to saints. A person might go on pilgrimage because of their fascination with a place or story of a saint, or to ask God for a special favor. The Presentation of Mary reminds us that we can go on a pilgrimage of thanksgiving, to give thanks to God for a blessing received. In their gratitude, Joachim and Anne pledged to dedicate Mary to God and give her to His service in the temple. To carry this out, it meant they had to make sacrifice and go on pilgrimage.

 Mary’s choice for God

The Presentation of Mary also highlights the fact Mary chooses God at this point in her life, even if at such a young age. On Dec. 8 the Church celebrates Mary’s preservation from Original sin, called her Immaculate Conception. We could say that God chose Mary, as he foresaw the merits of Christ’s cross and applied them to Mary. But the Presentation allows Mary to exercise her free will and choose to live her life devoted to God. Mary’s choice lends us an example to follow. Each day is an opportunity for us to renew and recommit ourselves to the Lord’s service, just as she did in the temple.

Mary’s preparation for Advent

The biographies of Mary suggest Mary remained in the temple after her Presentation. This means she dedicated herself in service to the temple and to whatever tasks she was assigned. It was a time of spiritual formation. She heard the word of God proclaimed, including the prophecies that would be fulfilled through her. Perhaps hearing the story of Hannah and Samuel resonated with her as she would later make Hannah’s prayer her own in the Magnificat. She also would have spent much time in personal prayer, living in the presence of the Holy of Holies only to receive the All Holy One within her very being at the Annunciation. Catholics can look back and see Mary’s time in the temple, from the age of 3 to 12, as a time of advent and preparation. God called her to be there, and, in turn, she chose God. Because of this, God prepared her to receive the savior of the world. The celebration of Mary’s presentation in the temple is an anticipation of the Advent we commence around the time of this feast. Throughout the holy season of Advent, with Mary we can listen to the prophecies, watch and pray for the coming of the Dawn from on high.

The historical details of Mary’s presentation should not be our primary concern in celebrating her feast. The tradition of observing it reminds us that Mary lived her life for God, and we should too. She is the model of the Church, and in her life we find the example for how to live our own.

Fr. Looney is a priest of the diocese of Green Bay.

You might also like...

Understanding the immaculate conception, why call mary queen.

Type on the field below and hit Enter/Return to search

Inspirational Quotes About the Virgin Mary and Miracles

Inspiring Quotes on Saint Mary's Miraculous Power

• All About Miracles
• An Introduction To Angels
• Prayer and Meditation
• Religious Texts
• Famous Archangels

Whitney Hopler is a writer and editor who has covered faith since 1994. She is the author of the book "Wake Up to Wonder."

• B.A., English, George Mason University

People worldwide often report God performing miracles through Mary (who served as the mother of Jesus Christ on Earth and is known popularly as Saint Mary or the Virgin Mary). Those miracles range from apparitions that encourage people to prayers for healing that are answered. Here are some inspirational quotes about Mary's miraculous power:

"If you ever feel distressed during your day -- call upon our Lady -- just say this simple prayer : 'Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.' I must admit -- this prayer has never failed me." -- Blessed Mother Teresa

"Mary, give me your Heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love him as you love him and serve him in the distressing guise of the poor." -- Blessed Mother Teresa

"Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary." -- Saint Bonaventure

"We never give more honor to Jesus than when we honor his Mother, and we honor her simply and solely to honor him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek -- Jesus, her Son." -- Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

"Before, by yourself, you couldn't. Now, you've turned to our Lady, and with her, how easy!" --Saint Josemaria Escriva

"In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal." -- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

"If you invoke the Blessed Virgin when you are tempted, she will come at once to your help, and Satan will leave you." -- Saint John Vianney

"When we were little, we kept close to our mother in a dark alley or if dogs barked at us. Now, when we feel temptations of the flesh, we should run to the side of our Mother in Heaven, by realizing how she is to us, and by means of aspirations. She will defend us and lead us to the light." -- Saint Josemaria Escriva

"Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle." -- Saint Josemaria Escriva

"All the sins of your life seem to be rising up against you. Don't give up hope! On the contrary, call your holy mother Mary, with the faith and abandonment of a child. She will bring peace to your soul." -- Saint Josemaria Escriva

"To serve the Queen of Heaven is already to reign there, and to live under her commands is more than to govern." -- Saint John Vianney

"Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children , cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence." -- Saint Francis de Sales

"For God, having given her power over his only-begotten and natural Son, also gave her power over his adopted children -- not only in what concerns their body -- which would be of little account -- but also in what concerns their soul." -- Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

"Always stay close to this Heavenly Mother, because she is the sea to be crossed to reach the shores of Eternal Splendor." -- Saint Padre Pio

"In trial or difficulty, I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear." -- Saint Therese of Lisieux

"Seek refuge in Mary because she is the city of refuge. We know that Moses set up three cities of refuge for anyone who inadvertently killed his neighbor. Now the Lord has established a refuge of mercy, Mary, even for those who deliberately commit evil. Mary provides shelter and strength for the sinner." -- Saint Anthony of Padua

"Prayer is powerful beyond limits when we turn to the Immaculata who is queen even of God's heart." -- Saint Maximilian Kolbe

"Think of what the saints have done for their neighbor because they loved God. But what saint's love for God can match Mary's? She loved Him more in the first moment of her existence than all the saints and angels who ever loved Him or will love Him. Our Lady herself revealed to Sister Mary Crucified that the fire of her love was most extreme. If heaven and earth were placed in it, they would be instantly consumed. And the ardors of the seraphim , compared with it, are like cool breezes. Just as there is not one among all the Blessed who loves God as Mary does, so there is no one, after God, who loves us as much as this most loving mother does. Furthermore, if we heaped together all the love that mothers have for their children, all the love of husbands and wives, all the love of all the angels and saints for their clients, it could never equal Mary's love for even a single soul." -- Saint Alphonsus Liguori

• Mother Mary's Healing: The Procession of the Miracles in Costa Rica
• Miracles in Movies: 'Miracles from Heaven'
• Spiritual Quotes About Birds
• What Is the Easter Miracle of the Resurrection?
• How Angels and Trees Can Renew Your Soul
• What Was the Christmas Star of Bethlehem?
• Prayer Quotes from Saints: How to Pray
• The Virgin Mary's Apparitions and Miracles in Assiut, Egypt
• Send Me Your Angel: Saint Padre Pio and Guardian Angels
• Smelling the Roses: Rose Miracles and Angel Signs
• Do Animals Go to Heaven?: Afterlife Animal Miracles
• Inspirational Quotes About Mothers, Angels, and Miracles
• Famous Quotes About Guardian Angels
• The Virgin Mary's Apparitions and Miracles in Beauraing, Belgium
• The Virgin Mary's Apparitions and Miracles in Guadalupe, Mexico
• Meditation Quotes from Saints

12 Quotes from the saints about Mary on the feast of her Nativity

Pianobits | CC BY-SA 4.0

Today, September 8, we celebrate the Nativity of Mary. From the moment her parents, Sts. Anne and Joachim, conceived their daughter, God had laid out a difficult but glorious path for their little girl.

As we celebrate the birth of Our Lady, take a look at what some well-known saints have said about the woman who was not afraid to say yes to being the mother of Jesus. We can join them in giving thanks to God for blessing us with so great a spiritual mother.

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

EWTN News, Inc. is the world’s largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the Catholic Church.

• National Catholic Register
• News Agencies
• Catholic News Agency
• CNA Deutsch
• ACI Afrique
• ACI Digital
• Digital Media
• ChurchPOP Español
• ChurchPOP Italiano
• ChurchPOP Português
• EWTN News Indepth
• EWTN News Nightly
• EWTN Noticias
• EWTN Pro-life Weekly
• Register Radio

Get HALF OFF the Register!

National Catholic Register News https://www.ncregister.com/blog/how-do-we-know-about-the-presentation-of-mary

• Synod on Synodality
• Most Popular
• Publisher’s Note
• College Guide
• Commentaries
• Culture of Life
• Arts & Entertainment
• Publisher's Note
• Letters to the Editor
• Support the Register
• Print subscriptions
• E-Newsletter Sign-up
• EWTN Religious Catalogue

How Do We Know About the Presentation of Mary?

When we celebrate the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we give honor and respect to the Purest Virgin, who is an example for all of us in our struggle for holiness

It’s easy to conceptualize the Presentation of the Lord because we find it in Scripture. Luke’s Gospel tells of the Holy Family’s journey to the Temple when Jesus was 8 days old. According to Jewish custom, Jesus was to be circumcised and Mary purified. There Mary and Joseph meet the prophets Anna and Simeon, who recognized the Child as the Messiah who would bring about the fall and rise of many, become a sign of contradiction and the cause of a sword that would one day pierce Mary’s heart. We celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord annually on Feb. 2.

The Presentation of Mary, however, is not found in Scripture. Instead, we learn about Mary’s presentation from accounts that have come to us from apostolic times. What we know is found mainly in Chapter 7 of the Protoevangelium of James , which has been dated by historians before the year A.D. 200.

The Protoevangelium of James was ostensibly written by the apostle of the same name. It gives a detailed account in which Mary’s father, Joachim, tells his wife, Anna, that he wishes to bring their daughter to the Temple and consecrate her to God. Anna responds that they should wait until Mary is 3 years old so that she will not need her parents as much. On the agreed day for Mary to be taken to the Temple, Hebrew virgins accompanied the family with burning lamps. The Temple priest received Mary, kissed her, and blessed her. According to James’ writing, the priest then proclaimed, “The Lord has magnified thy name in all generations. In thee, the Lord will manifest his redemption to the sons of Israel.” After that, Mary was placed on the third step of the Temple and danced with joy. All the House of Israel loved Mary, and she was nurtured from then on in the Temple while her parents returned to their Nazareth home, glorifying God.

The celebration of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary grew slowly over the years. On Nov. 21, 543, Emperor Justinian dedicated a church to Mary in the Temple area of Jerusalem. Many of the early church Fathers celebrated this feast day, such as St. Germanus and St. John Damascene. In 1373, it was formally celebrated in Avignon, France, and in 1472, Pope Sixtus IV extended it to the universal Church. The Byzantine Church considers Mary’s Presentation one of the 12 great feasts of the liturgical year.

In 1974, Pope Paul VI wrote about this feast in his encyclical Marialis Cultus , saying, “despite its apocryphal content, it presents lofty and exemplary values and carries on the venerable traditions having their origins in the Eastern churches.”

The Memorial of the Presentation of Mary has been noted in the Church since its early years and yet is easily forgotten or misunderstood. Since it’s classified as a memorial and not a solemnity or holy day of obligation, it doesn’t draw much attention to itself other than a special opening prayer in the Mass. With this memorial, we celebrate the fact that God chose to dwell in Mary in a unique way. In response, she placed her whole self at his service. By our Baptism, God invites us, too, into his service.

But there’s more to celebrating the Presentation of Mary! This feast gives us cause for great joy since Mary is truly our Mother, given to us by Christ as he hung dying on the Cross. Because we are part of her Son’s body, she loves us with as much devotion and tenderness as she loves Jesus. When we celebrate Mary’s Presentation, we are giving Mary the honor she deserves and witnessing to her perfect purity as the Virgin of Nazareth, the Mother of God, and our Mother.

Sts. Joachim and Anne surrendered their only daughter to God so that she would be completely free to follow his holy will. Although they loved her dearly, they knew that in the Temple Mary would always be near the Holy of Holies, surrounded by an atmosphere of godliness and grace. She would be instructed in Scripture and the history of the Jewish people. She would be under the guardianship and tutelage of the holy women of the Temple who had given their lives to God. One of them, Scripture scholars believe, was Anna — the woman who prophesied at the Presentation of Our Lord. In the Temple, Mary would be completely focused on God and well prepared for becoming the Mother of the Savior and Mother of the Body of Christ.

When we celebrate the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we remember the tremendous sacrifice Sts. Joachim and Anne made for our sakes. We give honor and respect to the Purest Virgin, who is an example for all of us in our struggle for holiness. It is a privilege and an opportunity to express our gratitude for the gift of a pure, tender and always-loving Mother.

• Presentation of Mary
• Blessed Virgin Mary
• Protoevangelium of James

Marge Fenelon Marge Steinhage Fenelon is an award-winning author, international speaker, and professional life coach. She has written several books on Marian devotion and Catholic spirituality. As life coach, she is passionate about helping others grow personally and spiritually. Her podcast, Simply Holy, airs on many popular podcast platforms. Learn more about Marge at MargeFenelon.com .

• Related Stories
• Latest News

On the Presentation of Mary — Who Were Sts. Joachim and Anne?

Catholics observe the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Nov. 21.

The Presentation of Mary: All the House of Israel Loved Her

Why do we love the Blessed Virgin Mary? Because we loved her Son first. Thus, Mary has become the Refuge of Sinners, Comforter of the Afflicted and the Help of Christians everywhere.

3 Things Benedict XVI Taught Me About the Blessed Virgin Mary

Without Mary, there would be no Church, or reverence for women, or holy priests.

Mary Is Our Mother, and She Gathers Her Children With Her Rosary

Our Lady can unite people with words of praise and peace when there are no other words to say.

Byzantine Catholic Priest ‘Overjoyed’ to Join Special Synod on Synodality Meeting

In February, the Vatican announced that synod organizers invited 300 parish priests from around the world to meet in Rome from April 28 to May 2 in an effort to shape synodal discussions.

Crisis in Haiti Worsens: Minor Seminary Attacked by Gangs

The Spiritan missionaries have been the latest in a long list of religious and laypeople who have been victims of violence.

Why Our Lady Loves the Akathist Hymn

The Akathist inspires us to contemplate the mysteries of the Christian faith and find solace in the protective embrace of the Mother of God.

Eucharistic Revival Launches Video Series to Help People ‘Enter Into the Mysteries at Mass’

Several bishops will also be leading episodes.

Think You’re Too Busy to Pray? The Cloisters Can Help

The new Ignatius prayer app is designed to accommodate individuals’ schedules and interests.

A Closer Look at a Synodal Mystery

Time will tell whether this enigmatic study is something big or not much at all.

Why Did I Become Catholic? Because That’s Where the Eucharist Is

Nearly all Protestant converts testify to the power of the Holy Eucharist in their conversion stories.

Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Peruvian Archbishop

Laicized spanish bishop emeritus marries in the church, pope francis and conclave secrecy, from mobile kitchen to mitre: bishop-elect’s food truck feeds body and soul, catholic convert-soccer star glorifies god and scores one for moms and babies, vatican to publish document on ‘moral questions’ regarding human dignity, gender, surrogacy, ‘me first’ to ‘family first’: brad wilcox ‘gives voice to the value of marriage’, blessed karl of austria may be canonized someday — here’s how you can help, california weighs physician-assisted suicide for patients with dementia, subscription options.

Subscriber Service Center Already a subscriber? Renew or manage your subscription here .

Subscribe and Save HALF OFF! Start your Register subscription today.

Give a Gift Subscription Bless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register.

Order Bulk Subscriptions Get a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization or school.

Sign-up for E-Newsletter Get Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox.

• Asia - Pacific
• Middle East - Africa
• Apologetics
• Benedict XVI
• Catholic Links
• Church Fathers
• Life & Family
• Liturgical Calendar
• Pope Francis
• CNA Newsletter
• Editors Service About Us Advertise Privacy

Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Feast day: Nov 21

Latest news

Illinois diocese creates Boy Scouts patch honoring Venerable Father Augustine Tolton

Pennsylvania diocese puts retired police officers in Catholic schools to protect, ‘mentor’

Experts preview U.S. Supreme Court’s abortion pill case

PHOTOS: New York pro-lifers march with ‘joy on steroids’ despite heavy rain and taunting

Thousands of young people gather in Rome to delve deeper into meaning of Holy Week

English bishop-elect whose installation was canceled returns to ministry

PHOTOS: Palm Sunday procession in Holy Land celebrates ‘joy in being Christians’

U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference urges Holy Week prayers for end to Israel-Hamas war 

Why isn’t the Annunciation celebrated today?

Pope Francis to offer Mass in Venice’s St. Mark’s Square

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Novena

Sts Joachim and Ann presented their daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Temple in Jerusalem when she was a little girl, consecrating her to God. Pray this novena for consecrating your children to God through Our Lady’s intercession.

You can pray the full Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Novena below.

Day 1 Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Intro Prayer

O great Virgin and dear Mother! by the marvelous promptitude with which you dedicated your earliest years to the service of God, obtain that we may from this time forward be enabled to consecrate our hearts to the divine service without ever being diverted from our purpose. Pray one Hail Mary now. O great Virgin and dear Mother! by that seraphic zeal with which in your childhood you served in the temple, thereby becoming an object of admiration to angels and men, obtain for us that we may approach the holy Sacraments with the true spirit of devotion. Pray one Hail Mary now. O great Virgin and dear Mother! by the admirable courage with which you subdued your attachment to home and parents, in your first years of life, that you might devote yourself to the service of God, obtain for us that, no longer seduced by the deceits of our enemies, we may be able to keep our hearts detached from all earthly things, seeking for our true and perfect good alone, and may enjoy one day with you the eternal delights of Paradise. Pray one Hail Mary now.

Concluding Prayer

Our Father Hail Mary Glory Be Blessed Mother, pray for us!

Day 2 Prayer

Day 3 prayer, day 4 prayer, day 5 prayer, day 6 prayer, day 7 prayer, day 8 prayer, day 9 prayer, email me answered prayers.

Send me your answered prayers from the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Novena

⏰ Reminder Signup

Click here to get the Catholic Novena Ebook for FREE, as well as reminders of when novenas begin

More About Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Read more about the patron saint of consecrating your children to God through Our Lady's intercession on the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Saint Page .

Related Novena

St Joseph Novena

The Spiritual Life

“Windows To Spirituality”

Presentation Of Mary

Page Contents

The  Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary , known in the East as  The Entry of the Most Holy  Theotokos  into the Temple , is a liturgical feast celebrated on November 21 by the  Catholic ,  Orthodox Churches, and some Anglo-Catholic Churches.

The feast is associated with an event recounted not in the  New Testament , but in the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James. According to that text,  Mary ‘s parents, Joachim and Anne, who had been childless, received a heavenly message that they would have a child. In thanksgiving for the gift of their daughter, they brought her, when still a child, to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God. Later versions of the story (such as the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew and the Gospel of the Nativity of Mary) indicate that Mary was taken to the Temple at around the age of three in fulfillment of a vow. Tradition held that she was to remain there to be educated in preparation for her role as Mother of God.

In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, this is one of the days when women named Mary ( Μαρία  in Greek) and Despoina ( Δέσποινα ) celebrate their name day.

Fresco from the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in Kučevište near Skopje

Main article:  Marian Feast Days

The account of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple is principally based on the Protoevangelium of James, which has been dated by historians prior to the year 200 AD. The story relates that in thanksgiving for the birth of their daughter Mary, Joachim and Anne decide to consecrate her to God, and bring her, at the age of three years, to the temple in Jerusalem. Mary’s presentation in the temple draws parallels to that of the prophet Samuel, whose mother Hannah, like Anne was also thought to be barren, and who offered her child as a gift to God at Shiloh.

Mary remained in the Temple until her twelfth year, at which point she was assigned to Joseph as guardian. According to Coptic tradition, her father Joachim died when Mary was six years old and her mother when Mary was eight. It is from this account that arose the feast of Mary’s Presentation.

The feast originated as a result of the dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary the New, built in 543 by the Byzantines under Emperor Justinian I near the site of the ruined Temple in Jerusalem. This basilica was destroyed by the Sassanid Persians under Khosrau II after the Siege of Jerusalem (614). The first documented celebration of the feast in any calendar is the mention of the  Εἴσοδος τῆς Παναγίας Θεοτόκου  (Entry of the All-Holy  Theotokos , i.e., into the Temple) in the  Menologion of Basil II , an 11th-century menology of the Eastern Roman (also known as Byzantine) emperor Basil II.

The feast continued to be celebrated throughout the East, was celebrated in the monasteries of Southern Italy by the ninth century, and was introduced into the Papal Chapel in Avignon in 1372 by decree of Pope Gregory XI. The feast was included in the Roman Missal in 1472, but was suppressed by Pope Pius V in 1568. As a result, it did not appear in the Tridentine Calendar. Pope Sixtus V reintroduced it into the Roman Calendar in 1585. Pope Clement VIII made this feast a greater double in 1597. The feast also continued as a memorial in the Roman Calendar of 1969.

Liturgical celebration

The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates it on November 21 as one of its twelve Great Feasts. For those churches which follow the Julian Calendar, November 21 falls on December 4 of the modern Gregorian Calendar. In the Orthodox Church the feast always falls during the Nativity Fast, and on the day of the feast the fasting rules are lessened somewhat so that fish, wine, and oil may be eaten.

For the Roman Catholic Church, on the day of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary,  “we celebrate that dedication of herself which Mary made to God from her very childhood under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit who filled her with grace … .”  In the 1974 encyclical  Marialis Cultus , Pope Paul VI wrote that “despite its apocryphal content, it presents lofty and exemplary values and carries on the venerable traditions having their origins in the Eastern churches”.

The three feasts of the Birthday of Our Lady, the Holy Name of Mary, and her Presentation in the Temple correspond in the Marian cycle with the first three feasts of the cycle of feasts of Jesus: namely, Christmas, the Holy Name of Jesus, and His Presentation at the Temple. November 21 is also a  “Pro Orantibus”  Day, a day of prayer for cloistered religious “totally dedicated to God in prayer, silence, and concealment”.

During the World Youth Day in July 2016, Pope Francis paid a private morning visit to the Convent of the Sisters of the Presentation (lat.  Congregatio Virginum a Praesentatione Beatae Mariae Virginis ), founded in 1627 in Cracow as the first Polish active Religious_institute.

St. Peter’s Basilica contains the  Cappella della Presentazione  (Presentation Chapel); the altar is dedicated to St. Pius X.

The Presentation of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Monastery was located in Marshfield, Missouri, before the nuns relocated to Holy Archangel Michael and All Angels Skete in Weatherby, Missouri.

The Presentation Sisters, also known as the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM for short), a religious institute of Roman Catholic women, was founded in Cork, Ireland, by Honora (Nano) Nagle in 1775.

The congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, dedicated to the education of youth, was founded November 21, 1796, in Thueyts, France, by Anne-Marie Rivier.

The Sisters of Mary of the Presentation is a Catholic religious institute founded in 1828 in Broons, France, known for schools and hospitals in Europe, Africa, and North America.

Western depictions of the subject usually focused on the lone figure of the child Mary climbing the steep steps of the Temple. Having left her parents at the bottom, she is to be received by the High Priest and other Temple officials waiting at the top of the steps.

The Presentation was one of the usual scenes in larger cycles of the Life of the Virgin, although it was not usually one of the scenes shown in a Book of Hours. One of the most important illustrations of this event was Pietro Testa’s famous painting.

• Presentation Sisters

Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
• Next story  Hutterites
• Previous story  Visitation In Christianity

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

• Quote of the Day
• Picture Quotes

Virgin Mary Quotes

Standart top banner.

Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.

Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle.

O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all you necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity.

Have confidence. Return. Invoke our Lady and you'll be faithful.

May the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, always smile on your spirit, obtaining for it, from her Most Holy Son, every heavenly blessing.

If you invoke the Blessed Virgin when you are tempted, she will come at once to your help, and Satan will leave you.

If you ever feel distressed during your day - call upon our Lady - just say this simple prayer: 'Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.' I must admit - this prayer has never failed me.

Mary, my dearest Mother, give me your heart so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate, your heart so full of love and humility, that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life, love Him as you loved Hitn and serve Him in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor.

As mariners are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to heaven by Mary.

Let us then cast ourselves at the feet of this good Mother, and embracing them let us not depart until she blesses us, and accepts us for her children.

The world being unworthy to receive the Son of God directly from the hands of the Father, he gave his Son to Mary for the world to receive him from her.

She is more Mother than Queen.

When you see the storm coming, if you seek safety in that firm refuge which is Mary, there will be no danger of your wavering or going down.

In trial or difficulty I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear.

Prayer is powerful beyond limits when we turn to the Immaculata who is queen even of God's heart.

All the sins of your life seem to be rising up against you. Don't give up hope! On the contrary, call your holy mother Mary, with the faith and abandonment of a child. She will bring peace to your soul.

The foundation of all our confidence is found in the Blessed Virgin Mary. God has committed to her the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation. For this is His will: That we obtain everything through Mary.

It is impossible to save one's soul without devotion to Mary and without her protection.

After the love which we owe Jesus Christ, we must give the chief place in our heart to the love of His Mother Mary.

Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary.

The day of the Nativity of the Mother of God is a day of universal joy, because through the Mother of God, the entire human race was renewed, and the sorrow of the first mother, Eve, was transformed into joy.

The Christian who does not feel that the Virgin Mary is his or her mother is an orphan.

In myself I am nothing. It all comes from God and the Virgin Mary.

Always stay close to this Heavenly Mother, because she is the sea to be crossed to reach the shores of Eternal Splendour.

last adds STANDART BOTTOM BANNER

Send report.

• The author didn't say that
• There is a mistake in the text of this quote
• The quote belongs to another author
• Other error

Virgin Mary quotes by:

• Therese of Lisieux Saint
• Josemaria Escriva Canonized
• Pio of Pietrelcina Saint
• Louis de Montfort Priest
• John Vianney Parish priest

Top Authors

Get Social with AzQuotes

Follow AzQuotes on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Every day we present the best quotes! Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends

SIDE STANDART BANNER

• Javascript and RSS feeds
• WordPress plugin
• ES Version AZQuotes.ES
• Submit Quotes
• Privacy Policy

Login with your account

Create account, find your account.

• Catholicism
• Religious Catalogue
• Give Monthly
• 1-800-447-3986
• [email protected]
• See of Peter
• Daily Mass and Readings
• Seasons and Feast Days
• Traditional Latin Mass
• Prayer Requests
• EWTN News Nightly
• EWTN Pro-Life Weekly
• EWTN News In Depth
• The World Over
• National Catholic Register
• Catholic News Agency
• Weekly Schedule
• Channel Finder
• Listen Live
• Audio Archive
• Monthly Schedules
• Podcast Central
• Galaxy 33 Transmission Plan
• SW Frequency Guide
• SW Monitoring Form
• Frequently Asked Questions
• EWTN Religious Catalogue
• My Giving Account
• Ways to Give
• Mother Angelica
• Online Learning Series
• EWTN Everywhere
• Media Missionaries
• Privacy Policy
• International Satellite Feeds

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Feast: November 21

Religious parents never fail by devout prayer to consecrate their children to the divine service and love, both before and after their birth. Some amongst the Jews, not content with this general consecration of their children, offered them to God in their infancy, by the hands of the priests in the temple, to be lodged in apartments belonging to the temple, and brought up in attending the priests and Levites in the sacred ministry. It is an ancient tradition, that the Blessed Virgin Mary was thus solemnly offered to God in the temple in her infancy.[1] This festival of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, or, as it is often called by the Greeks, the entrance of the Blessed Virgin into the Temple, is mentioned in the most ancient Greek Menologies extant.

By the consecration which the Blessed Virgin made of herself to God in the first use which she made of her reason, we are admonished of the most important and strict obligation which all persons lie under, of an early dedication of themselves to the divine love and service. It is agreed amongst all masters of Christian morality, that everyone is bound in the first moral instant of the use of reason to convert his heart to God by love; and if divine faith be then duly proposed to him (which is the case of Christian children) by a supernatural assent to it, he is bound then to make an act of faith; also an act of hope in God as a supernatural rewarder and helper, and an act of divine charity. Who can be secure that in the very moment in which he entered into his moral life and was capable of living to God, did not stain his innocence by a capital omission of this duty? How diligent and solicitous are parents bound to be in instructing their children in the first fundamental mysteries of faith, and in the duty of prayer, and in impressing upon their tender minds a sense of spiritual things in a manner in which their age may be capable of receiving it. These first fruits of the heart are a sacrifice of which God is infinitely jealous, an emblem of which were all the sacrifices of first fruits prescribed in the old law, in token that he is our beginning and last end. Such a heart, adorned with the baptismal grace of innocence, has particular charms. Grace recovered by penance is not like that of innocence which has never been defiled; nor is it the same happiness for a soul to return to God from the slavery of sin, as for one to give him her first affections, and to open her understanding and will to his love before the world has found any entrance there. The tender soul of Mary was then adorned with the most precious graces, an object of astonishment and praise to the angels, and of the highest complacence to the adorable Trinity, the Father looking upon her as his beloved daughter, the Son, as one chosen and prepared to become his mother, and the Holy Ghost as his darling spouse.

Her first presentation to God, made by the hands of her parents and by her own devotion, was then an offering most acceptable in his sight. Let our consecration of ourselves to God be made under her patronage, and assisted by her powerful intercession and the union of her merits. If we have reason to fear that we criminally neglected this duty at the first dawning of our reason, or, if we have since been unfaithful to our sacred baptismal engagements, such is the mercy and goodness of our gracious God, that he disdains not our late offerings. But that these may be accepted by him, we must first prepare the present he requires of us, that is, our hearts. They must be washed and cleansed in the sacred laver of Christ's adorable blood, by means of sincere compunction and penance; and all inordinate affections must be pared away by our perfectly renouncing in spirit, honours, riches, and pleasures, and being perfectly disengaged from creatures, and ready to do and suffer all for God, that we may be entirely his, and that neither the world nor pride, nor any irregular passion may have any place in us. What secret affections to this or that creature lurk in our souls, which hinder us from being altogether his, unless they are perfectly cut off or reformed! This Mary did by spending her youth in holy retirement, at a distance from the commerce and corruption of the world, and by the most assiduous application to all the duties and exercises of a religious and interior life. Mary was the first who set up the standard of virginity; and, by consecrating it by a perpetual vow to our Lord, she opened the way to all virgins who have since followed her example. They, in particular, ought to take her for their special patroness, and, as her life was the most perfect model of their state, they ought always to have her example before their eyes, and imitate her in prayer, humility, modesty, silence, and retirement.

Mary lived retired until she was introduced into the world and espoused to St. Joseph. Some think her espousals were at first only a promise or betrothing: but the ends assigned by the fathers, seem rather to show them to have been a marriage. These are summed up by St. Jerome as follows:[2] that by the pedigree of Joseph, the descent of Mary from the tribe of Juda, might be demonstrated; that she might not be stoned by the Jews as an adulteress; that, fleeing into Egypt, she might have the comfort and protection of a spouse. A fourth reason, says St. Jerome, is added by the martyr Ignatius: that the birth of the Son of God might be concealed from the devil. The words of that apostolic father are: "Three mysteries wrought by God in silence were concealed from the prince of this world. the virginity of Mary, the bringing forth of her Son, and the death of the Lord."[3] Not that God could fear any impediment to his designs from the devil; but he was pleased to effect these mysteries in silence and without worldly show and noise, that pride and hell might, by his all-wise and sweet providence, be more meetly triumphed over, whilst the devil himself hastened his own overthrow by concurring to the mystery of the cross. From the marriage of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, St. Austin shows[4] that marriage requires no more than the mutual consent of the will between parties who lie under no impediment or inability to an indissoluble individual society of life. In this holy marriage we admire the incomparable chastity of Mary and Joseph; and the sanctity and honour, as well as the patronage and example, which that holy state receives from this mystery. In certain particular churches the espousals of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph are honoured with an office on the 23rd of January.

1 See St. Greg. of Nyssa, Serm. In Nat. Christ., p. 779.

2 In c. 1, Mat. p. 7, ed. Ben

3 St. Ignat. ep. ad Ephes. p. 16.

4 St. Aug. lib. de Nuptits et Concup. c. 11, n. 13, p. 287.

(Taken from Vol. III of "The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints" by the Rev. Alban Butler.)