中正教

By Bp. Joseph  ( Ancient Church of the West ) Today, we celebrate the Presentation of the Holy Theotokos, the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Temple, where she was raised in holiness and consecration to God. In the Protoevangelium of St. James, we hear the story of her dedication as a child.  “And the child was two years old, and Joachim said: Let us take her up to the temple of the Lord, that we may pay the vow that we have vowed, lest perchance the Lord send to us, and our offering be not received. And Anna said: Let us wait for the third year, in order that the child may not seek for father or mother. And Joachim said: So let us wait. And the child was three years old, and Joachim said: Invite the daughters of the Hebrews that are undefiled, and let them take each a lamp, and let them stand with the lamps burning, that the child may not turn back, and her heart be captivated from the temple of the Lord. And they did so until they went up into the temple of the Lord. And the priest rece