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Biography
The Presentation of Jesus is an early episode in the life of Jesus Christ, describing his presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem. It is celebrated by many churches on February 2nd, 40 days after Christmas on Candlemas, or the "Feast of the Presentation of Jesus". The episode is described in chapter 2 of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament. Within the account, "Luke's narration of the Presentation in the Temple combines the purification rite with the Jewish ceremony of the redemption of the firstborn (Luke 2, Luke 2:23–24)." In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Presentation of Jesus at the temple is celebrated as one of the twelve Great Feasts, and is sometimes called Hypapante (Ὑπαπαντή, "meeting" in Greek). The Orthodox Churches which use the Julian Calendar celebrate it on 15 February, and the Armenian Church on 14 February. In Western Christianity, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is also known by its earlier name as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin or the Meeting of the Lord. In some liturgical calendars, Vespers (or Compline) on the Feast of the Presentation marks the end of the Epiphany season, also (since the 2018 lectionary) in the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD). In the Church of England, the mother church of the Anglican Communion, the Presentation of Christ in the Temple is a Principal Feast celebrated either on 2 February or on the Sunday between 28 January and 3 February. In the Roman Catholic Church, especially since the time of Pope Gelasius I (492–496) who in the fifth century contributed to its expansion, the Feast of the Presentation is celebrated on 2 February. In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and the Lutheran Church, the episode was also reflected in the once-prevalent custom of churching of women forty days after the birth of a child. The Feast of the Presesentation of the Lord is in the Roman Rite also attached to the World Day of Consecrated Life.
Prayers
Novena for the Purification
novenaMost holy Virgin, bright mirror of all virtues, the forty days after thy delivery were no sooner passed than thou, though the purest of all virgins, didst will to be presented in the Temple to be purified; oh, help us then to keep our hearts unstained by sin, that so we too may be made worthy one day to be presented to our God in Heaven. Ave Maria. Virgin most obedient, at thy presentation in the Temple, thou didst willingly offer the sacrifice customary among women; enable us so to follow thy example, that we may make ourselves a living sacrifice to God by practising every virtue. Ave Maria. Virgin most pure, thou didst despise the reproach of men, observing the precepts of the Law; ask for us grace always to keep our hearts pure, whatever the world may think of us. Ave Maria. Virgin most holy, by offering thy Son, the Divine Word, to his Eternal Father, thou didst make Heaven glad; present our poor hearts to God, that by his grace they may be kept free from mortal sin. Ave Maria. Virgin most humble, in consigning Jesus into the arms of the holy old man Simeon, thou didst fill his spirit full of heavenly joy; consign our hearts to God, that He may fill them full of his Holy Spirit. Ave Maria. Virgin most diligent, in ransoming thy Son Jesus according to the Law, thou didst co-operate in the salvation of the world; ransom our poor hearts from the slavery of sin, that they may be ever pure in the sight of God. Ave Maria. Virgin most clement, on hearing the prophecy of Simeon foretelling thy woes, thou didst at once resign thyself to the good pleasure of thy God; make us always resigned to the dispositions of his Providence, and enable us to bear all troubles with patience. Ave Maria. Virgin most compassionate, when thou didst fill the soul of Anna the prophetess with light, by means of thy Divine Son, thou didst make her magnify the mercies of God by recognizing Jesus as the Redeemer of the world; enrich our spirits too with heavenly grace, that we may joyfully reap in full measure the fruits of our Lord's Redemption. Ave Maria. Virgin most resigned, although thou didst feel thine own soul transfixed with sorrow, foreseeing all the bitter Passion of thy Son, yet knowing the grief of Joseph thy spouse for all thy sufferings, thou didst console him with holy words; pierce through and through our souls with true sorrow for our sins, that we may one day come to rejoice with thee in everlasting bliss, partakers of thy glory. Ave Maria. Then say the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, and then: V. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Spirit. R. That he should not see death till he had seen the Christ of the Lord. Let us pray. Almighty, everlasting God, we humbly pray thy Majesty that, as thine only begotten Son was presented in the Temple in the substance of our flesh, so Thou wouldst enable us to present ourselves before thee with clean hearts.
— The Raccolta, 1910 edition, pp. 188–190 (199. Five Novenas for the Principal Feasts of Our Lady — IV. Novena for the Purification)
Patronages
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