Presentation of the Lord

Today happens to be the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. It was a custom that any woman who had a brush with birth or death was considered impure for 40 days, and so the purification of that woman had to be done on the 40th day so that she would be allowed to even enter the temple. So was the case with Mary who also presented Jesus at the temple, both for his circumcision and to be consecrated to the Lord. The parents had to present a pair of turtledoves if they were poor, or lambs or sheep if they happen to be wealthy. Simeon received the infant Jesus at the temple and so on this occasion a triple ceremony was done, circumcision, purification and presentation, all of which have been combined together by the Catholic church as the Feast of the Presentation, beautifully portrayed in the above stained-glass window (crafted in 1923) in my former home, the Cathedral in Baker City, Oregon. The mother frequently presented a candle also to the High Priest. And so on this day, which is also called Candlemas Day, candles to be used during the year are blessed.