Memorial of The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Presentation of Our Lady. At a tender age, the Immaculate Virgin was brought to the Temple by her parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne, where she was consecrated to God’s service.
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5
I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the first fruits of the human race for God and the Lamb. On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 (R. see 6)
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see Your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For He founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers. R.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in His holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain. R.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God His savior.
Such is the race that seeks for Him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. R.
Gospel – Lk 21:1-4
When Jesus looked up He saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and He noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
Featured Saints
St. Gelasius I, Pope (†496). To avoid the imperial authority from harming the unity of the Church, he clearly explained the competencies of the two powers and their mutual independence.
St. Agapius of Caesarea, martyr (†306). After suffering torture and imprisonment for two years in Caesarea Maritima, he was drowned by being thrown into the Mediterranean with stones bound to his feet.
St. Rufus, of whom St. Paul, in his Letter to the Romans, calls “elect in the Lord”.
Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, virgin (†1902). Founded the Institute of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Rome, to help immigrants from her homeland, Poland.
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