why is the presentation in the temple a joyful mystery

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The Deeper Meaning of the Presentation in the Temple

By Clement Harrold

For many Catholics, the fourth joyful mystery—the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple—can be a difficult scene to meditate on. What’s the episode about, anyway? And what might be its deeper meaning?

Beginning with the first question, it’s important to remember that the Presentation described in Luke 2:22-38 is not the circumcision of Jesus. That already took place eight days after His birth. Rather, the Presentation took place in order to fulfill two different dictates of the Mosaic Law.

The first of these, drawn from Leviticus 12, mandated that mothers needed to be purified forty days after giving birth to a male child. This is why the Presentation is celebrated in the Church’s calendar on February 2nd—also known as “Candlemas,” an allusion to Simeon’s words about the boy Jesus being “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Lk 2:32)—because the event takes place forty days after the nativity (counting December 25 as day one).

In order to make the purification, the mother in question was required to sacrifice a lamb as well as either a pigeon or a turtledove. The law made provision, however, for those families who were too poor to afford a lamb, in which case they could sacrifice two pigeons or two turtledoves instead. St. Luke goes out of his way to inform the reader that this is exactly what the Holy Family did, thereby reminding us of their material poverty (see Lk 2:24).

The second precept of the Mosaic Law which Mary and Joseph were following is the requirement from Exodus 13:2 that all firstborns be consecrated to God in a special way. More specifically, this ritual rested on the understanding that the firstborn naturally belonged to God, and so the child’s human parents were expected to “redeem” (from the Latin redimō , meaning to “buy back”) their child by paying five shekels to the priest.

All of this helps us to see that the Presentation in the Temple was about two important things: (1) the purification of Mary and (2) the redemption of baby Jesus. So far so good. But there are two other elements here which are worth paying attention to. For one thing, the Mosaic Law nowhere demanded that the purification or the redemption take place within the Temple. This means that the Holy Family was being extra devout by going to the Temple for this special day.

Additionally, there is one detail in the Presentation narrative which is startling for its absence. While St. Luke does mention that Mary and Joseph bought the two turtledoves, he never takes the time to mention the paying of the five shekels to redeem baby Jesus. In other words, he cites the redeeming-of-the-firstborns precept laid down in Exodus 13:2, but he leaves out a description of this redemption taking place. Why might that be?

For the late Pope Benedict XVI, in his Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives , the answer was obvious. St. Luke leaves a literary silence in the passage in order to drive home the point that the infant Jesus belongs to His Heavenly Father:

Evidently Luke intends to say that instead of being “redeemed” and restored to his parents, this child was personally handed over to God in the Temple, given over completely to God. . . . Luke has nothing to say regarding the act of “redemption” prescribed by the law. In its place we find the exact opposite: the child is handed over to God, and from now on belongs to him completely. (p. 3)

Understanding this detail can help us bring the fourth joyful mystery to life in a new way. The Presentation isn’t just another boring religious ritual. On the contrary, it is a deeply symbolic moment pointing to Jesus’s divine identity, and to Mary and Joseph’s perfect cooperation with His divine mission.

Further Reading:

http://jimmyakin.com/how-the-accounts-of-jesus-childhood-fit-together

https://www.ncregister.com/blog/whats-happening-at-the-presentation-of-the-lord

Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives (Image, 2012)

Clement Harrold is a graduate student in theology at the University of Notre Dame. His writings have appeared in First Things , Church Life Journal , Crisis Magazine , and the Washington Examiner . He earned his bachelor's degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2021.

The liturgical year invites us to walk with Jesus through the most wonderful story ever told: the Gospel. In Through the Year with Jesus: Gospel Readings and Reflections for Children , catechist and popular blogger Katherine Bogner reveals the rich mystery of the seasons we celebrate in the Church.

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Fourth Joyful Mystery— The Presentation in the Temple

By: Guest blogger on February 7th, 2023

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Fourth Joyful Mystery— The Presentation in the Temple

Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary | To Jesus Through Mary | how to pray the rosary

Forty days after His miraculous birth, Jesus was brought to the Temple by Mary and Joseph to be formally consecrated to the Lord.

As I think about this event in the life of Christ, my heart and mind are drawn to Mary. What was she thinking and feeling when she walked into the Temple—a mere forty days postpartum? Was she exhausted? In pain, her body still healing from giving birth?

Was she still reeling from the miraculous events in Bethlehem? Pondering the visits by the shepherd and the choirs of angels that announced her Son’s birth?

I imagine Mary and Joseph walking into the Temple, proud yet exhausted. Excited for this moment in their Son’s life, but also, maybe ready to be home.

I imagine that Mary and Joseph, like most new parents, were settling into their new normal. A routine that revolved around nursing and diapers and sleeping when Jesus slept. Perhaps, in the quiet of their home, the miraculous was fading into the ordinary, the gentle rhythm of life with a newborn taking hold of the household.

And then, suddenly, during a ritual with prescribed actions and words, something unexpected happened. The predictable and ordinary were overtaken by the extraordinary.

Someone intrudes on their family moment.

Simeon’s pronouncements, his recognition of the Messiah, must have hit Mary like a thunderbolt. His words a reminder that this Child belonged to more than just her- He was destined for the rise and fall of many so that the hearts of many would be revealed.

The Gospels mention only a few moments of Jesus’ childhood, but in each of them, we see Mary sharing her Son with others at what usually would have been intimate family moments. She welcomed the shepherds at His birth. She opened her arms and allowed Simeon and Anna to hold her Baby. And later, she will realize He has left her side on a family pilgrimage. She finds Him teaching in the Temple, only to be reminded that He has work to do.

Time and again, I am grateful that the Mother of Christ opens her arms to me, as she did in each of those moments, making space for me close to her Son. She does not get frustrated at sharing Him; she welcomes any and all into her family.

Click here to learn how to pray the Rosary.

Colleen Pressprich is a wife and mom with a passion for helping other families grow their domestic church. Author of Marian Consecration for Young Children and The Women Doctors of the Church . You can read more of her writing at ElevatorToHeaven.com.

Why the 4th Joyful Mystery is joyful only because Mary is Mary

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If it were me or Eve in this scene, things would be different. At first glance, the mystery of Jesus’ presentation at the Temple seems a largely joyful one. It’s the Fourth Joyful Mystery, after all, in which his glowing mother takes him to church for something like a baptism. We picture Mary buying a sheet cake at Costco before the big day and smiling to herself as Simeon and Anna coo over her chubby cherub.

But there is nothing in the life of Christ that doesn’t cast a Cross-shaped shadow, and a moment with the footnotes of this particular reading makes it clear that this is more than just a rite of passage. When Jesus was eight days old, Luke tells us, he was circumcised. When he was 40 days old, his parents went to the temple to make an offering of two turtle-doves, the sacrifice made by the poor for purification after childbirth.

What Luke doesn’t mention is an offering of five shekels to ransom Jesus, the first-born son. This exchange goes back to the time of the Exodus, when God called the Israelites to consecrate all firstborn sons to him (Exodus 13:2). Later, when the Levites were chosen to serve in the temple and to be priests of the Most High, God commanded the people to ransom each consecrated firstborn son from priestly service by making an offering of five shekels when the child was one month old (Numbers 18:16).

The reason, it seems, that Joseph and Mary did not fulfill this element of the law is that Jesus was not to be ransomed. Instead he was to remain consecrated as a priest of God, offered in sacrifice. Though Jesus was already in a covenant relationship with the Father, he was still circumcised, in order to be faithful to the Law. Though Mary had no sin, she made a sin offering, in order to be faithful to the Law. Here, though, Joseph and Mary were faithful to the Law not in offering the prescribed ransom but in offering their Son instead.

When Luke tells us that Jesus was presented at the Temple, the word he uses is the same that is used of sacrifices. Mary and Joseph brought their baby that day to offer him as a sacrifice, to offer him back to the Father. Mary was once again giving her fiat, once again consenting to the agony of Good Friday. She was bringing the Lamb of God to the temple.

For years, all I saw in Mary’s heart that day was pain. She held in her arms the object of all her longings, the desired of all nations, and after only 40 days God was demanding him back. Oh, he would be hers for another 30 years, but not entirely. Already he had been promised to the Father. Already she knew she would lose him. And as I meditated on this mystery, all I could do was ask for the grace to surrender my deepest desires to the Father, to let him take away all I wanted and trust him in that pain.

But Mary was never one to grasp and cling, the way Eve and I do, the way all of us do. The Father has to pry open the fingers I clench around my plans or blessings or addictions, his gentle touch causing me pain because of my refusal to trust him, but Mary held everything with open hands. Whatever she received, she delighted in offering back to the Father.

When Mary brought her infant Lamb to the Temple, she rejoiced to offer him to the Father. She delighted in Simeon’s prayer, “Lord, I can die happy. This is all I ever wanted.” Even his prophecy of the pain she would suffer sparked no bitterness or resentment; when the Immaculate Mother of God told the Father to do what he liked in her life, she held nothing back. At the Presentation, she affirmed once again her prayer from the Annunciation: “Let it be done to me according to your word.”

This is what the Lord asks of us at every Mass. When the bread and wine are offered to the Father, he invites us to place our lives on the altar, our joys and our suffering. He asks us to take all that we have and all that we are and offer it to God, as Jesus did on the Cross, as Mary did at the temple. The remarkable thing is that when we do this, we often find our offerings transformed and handed back to us, but even when his mercy is more severe than tender, we rejoice because we know him to be a good Father.

On February 2 , the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation. Together with the Blessed Mother, let’s offer our lives to the Lord, trusting that he will consecrate them for his glory. And having given him permission to be Lord of our lives, let’s rejoice. Come what may, we are his, and there’s nothing more we could ask.

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Fourth Joyful Mystery - the Presentation

why is the presentation in the temple a joyful mystery

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Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary - Presentation of Jesus at the Temple

Present God’s gift at the temple as Mary and Joseph did Jesus, and then ransom it back with your faith and your obedience to His Holy Will for you.

Go to Mass. Learn about this Jesus, whom we’ve been called to love and who loves us without condition. Be fed with His Body and Blood that you might become one with Him, blessed and sanctified, from the inside out.

St. Simeon was called by the Holy Spirit to be there that day at the temple. He recognized Jesus, and exalted God.

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (NRSV Luke 2:29-32)

He told Mary and Joseph about Jesus, about His destiny, about how He would be opposed.

“This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (NRSV Luke 2:34-35)

Simeon speaks to us, as he did to Mary, as he tells us our hearts, too, will be pierced.

As we share Christ with others, only to have them reject Him and us, our hearts, too, will break with sorrow.

As Mary watched others’ reactions to her Son, Our Lord, she saw not only their rejoicing, but their rejection of him, their fear and selfishness. She saw how deaf they were to God’s call to them through Our Jesus.

Yet, we must confirm Your gift, Oh Lord, with our acceptance and cooperation and perseverance, even unto death.

As we go forth, strengthen us and prepare us for all the trials and tribulations and the piercing pain, which we will surely witness and endure from those who do not know You.

Yet, like Anna, encourage us to go and to tell other believers about our Jesus, others who want to believe, others who are seeking redemption, that their faith and goodness might also be strengthened with renewed hope in Our Lord.

Thanks to all who joined me on this journey, as we walk with Jesus and His Mother.

I hope along the way you’ll be inspired to ask others to join with us in reflecting on these meditations. As they each publish, these meditations can be found at my Rosary Meditations Library. If you follow my blog (which I hope you will!), you will receive email alerts whenever I blog. The Meditations Library has some additional resources that you may find helpful, including a publication schedule for future meditations.

The Bible readings most associated with each mystery will eventually be added to the Library for each set of mysteries. And, I suggest the mechanics of how I pray with these meditations.

You can also find me at Walking With My Brother at Substack , which allows people to subscribe and contribute to the writing they value. Be assured, you will always be able to subscribe for free . If any of you wishes to show your appreciation, I will pass all funds received on to renovation efforts of St. Mary’s of the Seven Sorrows , the oldest church still standing in Nashville, TN. Located in downtown, St. Mary’s is a precious historical gift to Nashville natives and visitors, alike. Unfortunately, its physical condition is in dire need of major renovation and repair. It would be an honor to pass along any contributions we receive to aid in sustaining this bit of church history in Nashville.

No matter where you manage to find me online, I hope you will drop me a line at [email protected] and let me know you’re there. I would love to include you in my prayers and ask that you offer a prayer for me, too, as together, we honor our Holy Mother and her Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Next up is the Joyful Mystery of Finding Jesus in the Temple . It will publish on Monday, December 18.

Until then, I pray our Lord surrounds you in His peace, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of the Lord

Jul 3, 2014 4:30:30 PM | by Guest

The Presentation is the Mystery of Obedience, of the miracles that happen when we simply do what God asks of us.

The Third Joyful Mystery is the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. It was the duty of every Jewish couple to present their first-born son in the Temple forty days after his birth, to redeem him from the Lord according to the Law. And so Mary and Joseph obediently brought Jesus to the Temple and redeemed him with a sacrifice of two turtledoves, in the manner prescribed for those who could not afford a lamb.

This would have been a common occurrence in their world: not a day-to-day event, certainly, but as normal and expected as weddings, funerals, and similar life events, a matter than one might take for granted as being of interest only to those directly involved. And so, as we know, after presenting Jesus in the prescribed way we might expect Mary and Joseph to return home without any other events of note.

But that’s not what happened. As we read in Luke 2:25-32,

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;for mine eyes have seen thy salvationwhich thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel. (RSV-CE)

Simeon had been waiting to see the Christ for a long time, possibly for years. It had been promised to him by the Lord. And he came to the Temple on that day, and waited, and when Jesus came in he took him in his arms and blessed God. This moment with Jesus was the central moment of Simeon’s life; and it is a moment of praise that has rung down the ages, in words that we repeat nightly in the Divine Office.

Mary and Joseph had no idea, as they gathered their things and took up their infant son for the long walk to Jerusalem, that they were going to be an answer to prayer, and would be the redeemers of God’s promise to Simeon. But they went in obedience, and in His providence God used their obedience in ways they would never have imagined.

They were blessed, the two of them, by seeing how God had made use of their obedience; but this, I am convinced, is not the usual way. God is the great optimizer, who makes all things work together to His glory, and our every act of obedience plays into that. Usually we see only our own actions; we do not see how they ripple out to affect others and bring them God’s presence and love. But once in a while He shows us, as a sign of His workings, so that we may see and understand.

How have you seen your own obedience to God bear unexpected fruit?

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In this fourth week of Advent, voices from east London help us to meditate on the Presentation and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple - the final two Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.

Hear them explain how meditating on these events helps them to discern and respond to god's call on their lives..

Click here for an introduction to the People's Rosary Project, and a guide to how to pray the Rosary

Reflections on the first three Mysteries - the Annunciation , the Visitation and the Birth of Christ - are also online

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; his man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word;for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Luke 2.22-38

Mary shows me that God can be in the pain as well as in the joy... the Christmas story is not a fairy-tale but helps us experience real life. Renee Nembhard Andrade, St Andrew's N16

Watch Renee speak about Simeon's prophecy that a sword will pierce Mary's heart.

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In the pandemic... I have seen love at work in the heart of humanity here in Stamford Hill The Revd Charis Enga, parish priest at St Andrew's

Charis reflects on the rejoicing of Anna in the Temple, and the signs of grace in daily life.

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.

When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.

When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Luke 2.41-51

Some people are asking questions during the pandemic, maybe for the first time...during my praying of this mystery of the Rosary I am holding these people before God Sr Josephine Canny, Oblate of the Assumption in Waltham Forest

It is okay to feel lost at the moment, and it may take a while to feel found again, but we are not lost in the sight of Christ. Rámond Mitchell, St George-in-the-East

You are invited to pray the Rosary now.

Hail mary, full of grace, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb jesus, whom you o virgin presented in the temple., holy mary, mother of god, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death., hail mary, full of grace, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb jesus, whom you o virgin found in the temple., if you have not prayed the rosary before, you can read our introductory page here ..

A Polish hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary

If you would like to pray the Rosary in an online group this Advent, email peoplesrosary [at] theology-centre.org

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We are grateful for the support of the Lady Peel Trust and MB Reckitt Trust in developing this project.

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The Joyful Mysteries

(The Church suggests praying the Joyful Mysteries on Monday and Saturday.)

Annunciation of the birth of Jesus to Mary by the angel Gabriel
Visitation of Mary to her cousin, Elizabeth
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Presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple
Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple by Mary and Joseph

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(The Church suggests praying the Luminous Mysteries on Thursday.)

Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River
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(The Church suggests praying the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday.)

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(The Church suggests praying the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sunday.)

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4th joyful mystery: the presentation in the temple.

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He was given no special treatment, no exceptions. God was not about to break His own rules. He came to fulfill the Law, not toss the Law out the window. He came to live our human experience is every single way that we do, including obeying the law. We needn't ever worry when obeying God's law. God's blessing is always in His law.

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Keywords: Rosary , Joyful mysteries , presentation , Mary , obedience , Jennifer Hartline

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - "When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, (as is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord.") and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: a pair of doves or two young pigeons." Luke 2:22-24

Let this mystery teach us obedience.

It's rather humorous to read that paragraph. Mary and Joseph took the Lord to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord! The Lord presented Himself to Himself!

The Father demanded no special treatment for His Son. No exceptions, no favoritism. The Law of Moses was the Law and the Law was to be obeyed. God was not about to break His own rules. He came to fulfill the Law, not toss the Law out the window. He came to live our human experience is every single way that we do, including obeying the law.

But notice, please, which law we're talking about here. God's law - the law that is always just and right and good. We needn't ever worry when obeying God's law. It will always be for our benefit and His greater glory. Obeying God's law will never steer us wrong or lead us down a destructive path. God's blessing is always in His law.

We live in a time when there are many unjust and just plain immoral laws, and one day we just might have to choose between following God's law and following the law of the land because the two may be in irreconcilable contradiction. But that is then; today is now, and for today, there will most assuredly be occasions, however small, where I have to choose to obey God. I may be sorely tempted to ignore or "forget" His commands and then try to justify my rebellion. No surprise - that never works out well!

Time to refresh my memory about why it's so good for me to follow God's law:

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes." Psalm 19:7-8

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"I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path." Psalm 119:104

"The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end." Psalm 119:110-112

"Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." Psalm 119:165 Strength, wisdom, joy, light and clarity, understanding, courage, and sure footsteps. All the benefits of obedience.

Faithful Mother, teach me to humbly, willingly obey the Lord and keep His commands always, in everything.

Jennifer Hartline is a grateful Catholic, a proud Army wife and mother of four precious children (one in Heaven). She is a contributing writer for Catholic Online. She is also a serious chocoholic. Visit her at My Chocolate Heart.

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Praying the Rosary in October: The Joyful Mysteries

by The Ascension Team | Oct 7, 2016 | Mysteries of the Rosary | 3 comments

October is the month we dedicate to the Holy Rosary , and today is the Memorial of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, so there is no better time to begin diving deeper into each mystery of this powerful prayer with renewed reverence. On each Friday of October, we will offer reflections on the mysteries of the Rosary, starting today with the Joyful Mysteries.

The Annunciation

Mary stands here at the turn of salvation history, embodying the faithful of Israel and making way for the Messiah.

In fact, the angel’s greeting “Hail” (χαῖρε) is the exact same as that given to Daughter Zion in the Greek version of Zephaniah 3:14 . This is significant because “Daughter Zion” in the prophets generally refers to the eschatological people of God—that is, the people of God as God has called them to be; Mary, then, embodies this glorious radiance which God has always destined for his people. And the Zephaniah passage continues: “The King is in her midst” ( Zephaniah 3:15 ); indeed, in the Annunciation the King is in her midst, in the womb of the Blessed Virgin (see Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger’s Daughter Zion , pages 42-3).

Moreover, the angel doesn’t address Mary by name, but rather astonishingly as: “ Hail, full of grace .” This breathtaking greeting offers a glimpse of the grandeur of the Incarnation, as seen from heaven’s vantage point.

Further, the phrase “the Lord is with you,” used by the angel with reference to Mary, occurs throughout the Bible to indicate God’s presence and support for accomplishing his mission, as he did with Moses ( Exodus 3:12 ), Joshua ( Joshua 1:5 , 9 ), Gideon ( Judges 6:12 ), and Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 1:8 ). This means that Mary, too, stands on the cusp of some great moment in salvation history. And Mary responds with unflinching faith: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). In a sense, God’s plan hinges on the faith and obedience of the Virgin Mary; and for that, all generations call her “blessed” (Luke 1:42).

Sometimes much is made of the distinction between Jesus’ physical family and his spiritual family—the latter marked by those who “hear the word of God and do it” ( Luke 8:21 ; see also Luke 11:27-28 ). But a distinction need not entail a separation; and in fact, St. Luke portrays Mary as the one who quintessentially “hears the word of God and does it” (see Luke 1:38-39 , 2:19 , 51 ); in other words, she goes before us as model disciple and embodiment of the Church; and in Luke’s sequel (Acts of the Apostles), she is there persevering to the end with the disciples ( Acts 1:14 ).

May we follow Mary’s path of saying “yes” to the Lord from beginning to end: “For with God nothing will be impossible” ( Luke 1:37 ).

The Visitation

After the Annunciation, Mary arises “with haste” ( Luke 1:39 ) to visit Elizabeth, who greets her with familiar words: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” ( Luke 1:42 ).

St. Luke then depicts Mary’s journey in a manner reminiscent of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 6 . Such a parallel would be enormously significant, since the Ark was the holiest object in all of Israel—made holy because it bore the very presence of God; overlaid with gold ( Exodus 25:11 ), it held the Ten Commandments, a jar that held the manna, and Aaron’s high priestly rod (see Hebrews 9:4 ). Likewise, Mary bears Jesus who is the Word of God Incarnate, the bread of life, and eternal high priest.

Moreover, the following parallels in both journeys emerge: David and Mary “arose and went” ( 2 Samuel 6:2 ; Luke 1:39 ); David leaps before the ark, as John leaps in the womb of Elizabeth ( 2 Sam 6:16b ; Luke 1:41 ); David asks, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me ” ( 2 Samuel 6:9 ), as Elizabeth asks how can “the mother of my Lord come to me ?” ( Luke 1:43 ); the Ark remains at the house of Obed-edom three months ( 2 Samuel 6:11 ), just as Mary remained at the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth three months ( Luke 1:56 ).

It’s hard to overstate what these parallels would mean: no Jew in the ancient world could have proclaimed his love for God and yet been indifferent to the Ark.

And just in case we missed it, St. Luke uses a very rare word in Luke 1:42 to describe how Elizabeth “exclaimed” ( anaphoneo ) such praises before Mary. This Greek word occurs only here in the New Testament, and only five times in the entire Greek Old Testament— every single time with reference to Levites praising the Ark of the Covenant (see 1 Chronicles 15:28 ; 16:4 , 5 , 42 ; 2 Chronicles 5:13 ; see also Scott Hahn’s Kingdom of God as Liturgical Empire , page 65). The reference, then, is unmistakable: here we have once again a Levite—in Elizabeth (see Luke 1:5 )—praising the Ark of the New Covenant.

Mary is revered for what God has done in and through her; but she is also called “blessed” for her great faith: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” ( Luke 1:45 ).

Improve the Way You Pray the Rosary

Pocket Guide to the Rosary is a truly magnificent resource that incorporates the Bible, saints, and Catholic Tradition to help Catholics get more out of meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.

The Nativity

Ever since Jesus gave her to the Beloved Disciple, and him to her—from the Cross—Mary has been our mother. She watches over us with motherly care, to be sure, but reading the infancy narratives draws our attention to another aspect of motherhood: that she was found to be WITH CHILD of the Holy Spirit; that she BORE Jesus in her womb and gave birth to him. In that sense, anyone who bears Jesus in his or her heart and proclaims him or does his work in the world is doing the same thing – and is a child of Mary.

Mary had just one biological son, Jesus. But in Revelation 12 , John describes “the rest of [the] offspring” of the Woman who bears a male child who is to rule the nations—a direct reference to Christ and therefore to Mary, his mother. They are “those who keep the commandments and bear testimony to Jesus” ( Revelation 12:17 ). I wonder if he had the infancy narratives in mind when he wrote this, as the same Greek words are used.

“Those who keep the commandments”

Mary KEPT [suntereo] in her heart the word of God she heard from the shepherds ( Luke 2:19 ); her children KEEP [tereo] the commandments or word of God ( Revelation 12 ).

“Those who bear testimony to Jesus”

“Mary was found to be WITH CHILD of the Holy Spirit” … ” a virgin shall CONCEIVE and bear a son” ( Matthew 1:18 , 23 ). Her children also BEAR testimony to Jesus. The English words “with child,” “conceive,” and “bear” all translate to the same Greek word, “echo.”

As we meditate on his word today, let us show ourselves as true children of Mary so that word might be conceived and born in us that we might bear it to the world!

Meditate on Luke 2:1-22 , the mystery of the birth of Jesus, focusing on the Blessed Mother. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be open to the word of God, to plant it in your heart and nurture it there.

The Presentation

In the fourth Joyful Mystery we see how Mary is a beautiful example of faithfulness. In the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, we see her faithfully fulfilling all the necessary steps of a Jewish woman after giving birth to her first born son. The Law of Moses prescribed that the firstborn male needed to be redeemed by a sacrifice. This harkened to the time of the first Passover, when the angel of death passed over the houses of the Israelites who had blood from a sacrificed lamb over their doorways. From the time of Moses onward, the tradition of redeeming the firstborn son continued as a perpetual reminder of the saving grace of God. How fitting that Mary and Joseph brought God the Deliverer of Israel to the Temple to fulfill all righteousness.

Just as later Jesus would be baptized by John in the Jordan, though he needed no salvation, Jesus was redeemed in the Temple as the first born son. Mary’s faithfulness to obey God’s command did not go unnoticed by Simeon and Anna who were waiting for Mary to bring Jesus to the Temple. Obviously they knew the Temple would be the first stop for the Messiah to appear on his mission to redeem the world. Perhaps it was with great anticipation Mary entered the Temple, expecting a sign of confirmation from God during this significant ritual. She was met by two prophets, who recognized the gift she brought to the Temple and ultimately brought to the world.

But this sign would also be mingled with grief. St. John Paul II reflected on the significance of Simeon’s prophecy to Mary that “a sword will pierce through your own soul also…”:

Simeon’s words seem like a second Annunciation to Mary, for they tell her of the actual historical situation in which the Son is to accomplish his mission, namely, in misunderstanding and sorrow. While this announcement on the one hand confirms her faith in the accomplishment of the divine promises of salvation, on the other hand it also reveals to her that she will have to live her obedience of faith in suffering, at the side of the suffering Savior, and that her motherhood will be mysterious and sorrowful. St. John Paul II, Redemptioris Mater , 16

As we go to Mass to receive this amazing gift that has been given to us through the hands of Mary and the prophets, let us also go in anticipation of what we can receive through the reading of the word, through the prayers and through the miracle of the Eucharist.

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

The account of the boy Jesus being lost and then found three days later in the Temple is the only scene of Jesus’ childhood reported in any of the Gospels. Now twelve years old, Jesus is old enough to enter the Court of Israelites. For the first time, he will be permitted into the area where the respected teachers of the Law convene to discuss the Scriptures. So much insight can be gathered just by reflecting on how Mary and Joseph can lose their boy at this time.

This must have been a trying experience for Mary, and it foreshadows another time when she would be separated from her son: at his death on Good Friday.

The Holy Family was returning from their annual journey to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. This is one of the most important yearly feasts, and Jews from all over the ancient world would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate.

It is easy to wonder today how Mary and Joseph could leave their son behind in the big city of Jerusalem. What does this story story tell us that might shed light on how these holy and responsible parents could lose their child so easily?

When Mary finally finds her son three days later, she asks why Jesus has treated his parents this way. But Jesus replies, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49) The Scriptures say that Mary did not understand this response from her son, but “kept all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51)

Mary’s example here can teach us about how to respond when we do not understand why God allows us to experience moments of trial, uncertainty, or darkness. God may be trying to teach us through these difficulties.

Mary’s experience of losing Jesus is one we might experience in our spiritual lives. We face trials that cause us anxiety. Prayer becomes dry. We wonder why these troubles have come upon us. We seek God and wonder where God is in our lives. Jesus may seem lost and far away, but in reality, he is doing the will of the Father in the temples of our souls.

For Discussion

What insights and inspiration have you received from the Joyful Mysteries? When you reflect upon The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity, The Presentation, and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple, what is the Lord sharing with you at this point in your journey of faith?

This reflection on the Joyful Mysteries is a combined effort of several writers for The Great Adventure blog, including Dr. Andrew Swafford , Sarah Christmyer , Emily Cavins , Dr. Edward Sri , and David Kilby .

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Praying the Rosary in October: The Glorious Mysteries

As the end of October draws near and we prepare to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, we reflect upon the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary that remind us of what God has in store for us beyond this life and this world. The Resurrection The world is coming to...

Praying Rosary in October: The Sorrowful Mysteries

On this third Friday of October, we walk with Jesus to Calvary as we reflect upon the Sorrowful Mysteries. As with the other posts in this series, this post goes deep into each Mystery yet still does not exhaust their beauty. We hope you can join us as we accompany...

Praying the Rosary in October: The Luminous Mysteries

This is the second part of a series that will explore the Mysteries of the Rosary throughout October. These posts are longer than usual, but only because the riches contained in each Mystery deserve such great attention. We hope you can join us as we explore the...

tag at the end, as well-->

The presentation of Jesus in the temple is in fulfillment with the Jewish law.

Every male child must be taken to the temple and an animal must be offered as a sacrifice.

That is why Joseph is usually artistically depicted in this scene holding a cage with two doves in it.

The prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna meet the Holy Family while at the temple in Jerusalem. Simeon was told by God that he would see the Savior before he died.

When Simeon sees baby Jesus he takes him from Mary and holds Him in his arms and praises God proclaiming, "Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; Because my eyes have seen thy salvation"

Simeon then blesses Mary and Joseph and prophesies to Mary:

"Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed."

Even though this is a joyful occasion you can see in the words of Simeon a foreshadow of the that will be shared between Jesus and his Mother Mary.

Mary suffered with Jesus from the beginning .

Anna also proclaims that this child, the baby Jesus, is the long awaited Messiah.

After all this the Holy Family leaves Jerusalem and returns to Nazareth.

There they live in peace and joy for many years before Jesus .

For the Bible says...

"The child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in him."

page

Below are some meditations to think about as you pray...

This mystery shows that it is important not to neglect the duty of teaching children about God and His laws.

Keep your religious obligations without delay, just as Mary and Joseph did.

page

here...

The Joyful Mysteries are taken mostly from St. Luke's Gospel in the New Testament. They involve the joyful events of Jesus' childhood. The most joyful event in all of human history is the Incarnation or when God became man and dwelt among us
What a gift the the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary are. Meditating on these Mysteries of Light bring even deeper understanding of the public life of Jesus. They fill in the blanks between Jesus' childhood and His suffering and death on the cross. Therefore The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary remind you of how much Jesus loves you. He suffered and died for you. "Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13. You are loved by Jesus
The Glorious Mysteries are the crown of Jesus' triumphs. How exhilarating to know that Jesus is God and that He rose from the dead, making you an heir to Heaven. Reminding yourself of these glorious events as you pray the Rosary prayer will keep your faith alive and strong page

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FOURTH JOYFUL MYSTERY: THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE The pictorial
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COMMENTS

The Deeper Meaning of the Presentation in the Temple
Understanding this detail can help us bring the fourth joyful mystery to life in a new way. The Presentation isn't just another boring religious ritual. On the contrary, it is a deeply symbolic moment pointing to Jesus's divine identity, and to Mary and Joseph's perfect cooperation with His divine mission. Further Reading:
The Presentation in the Temple: 4th Joyful Mystery
THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY. Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple. "And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present ...
Fourth Joyful Mystery— The Presentation in the Temple
Fourth Joyful Mystery— The Presentation in the Temple. Forty days after His miraculous birth, Jesus was brought to the Temple by Mary and Joseph to be formally consecrated to the Lord. As I think about this event in the life of Christ, my heart and mind are drawn to Mary. What was she thinking and feeling when she walked into the Temple—a ...
Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
15.44k. The Presentation, by Fra Angelico OP. Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, forty days after his birth, 'to present him to the Lord', as the Law of Moses required (Luke 2:22). St Luke stresses that the parents fulfil all their religious obligations meticulously; and the offering of two birds shows their humble poverty.
Why the 4th Joyful Mystery is joyful only because Mary is Mary
The 4th Joyful Mystery--Mary and the presentation of Jesus at the Temple--Aleteia. At first glance, the mystery of Jesus' presentation at the Temple seems a largely joyful one. It's the fourth ...
Joyful Mysteries
Joyful Mysteries. First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation. "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary" (Lk 1:26-27). Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the ...
Fourth Joyful Mystery
Fourth Joyful Mystery - the Presentation. The spiritual FRUIT of praying the Fourth Joyful Mystery is OBEDIENCE. An audio-video presentation of the Visitation. appears at the end of this page. A Scriptural Rosary version for this. decade is available here. (Page can take a moment to load, and. text may appear further down page!)
Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
Be fed with His Body and Blood. that you might become one with Him, blessed and sanctified, from the inside out. St. Simeon was called by the Holy Spirit. to be there that day at the temple. He recognized Jesus, and exalted God. "Master, now you are dismissing your servant. in peace, according to your word;
The Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of the Lord
The Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of the Lord. The Presentation is the Mystery of Obedience, of the miracles that happen when we simply do what God asks of us. The Third Joyful Mystery is the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. It was the duty of every Jewish couple to present their first-born son in the Temple forty days after his ...
The Presentation and Finding in the Temple
In this fourth week of Advent, voices from east London help us to meditate on the Presentation and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple - the final two Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Hear them explain how meditating on these events helps them to discern and respond to God's call on their lives. Click here for an introduction to the People's ...
Mysteries of the Rosary
(The Church suggests praying the Joyful Mysteries on Monday and Saturday.) Annunciation of the birth of Jesus to Mary by the angel Gabriel; Visitation of Mary to her cousin, Elizabeth; Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; Presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple; Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple by Mary and Joseph
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Time to refresh my memory about why it's so good for me to follow God's law: "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes." Psalm 19:7-8
PDF Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, from Pope Francis
The fourth Joyful mystery, The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Pope Francis, Angelus, 2 Feb 2020, St Peter's Square (section, edited) Mary and Joseph are heading for Jerusalem; for his part, Simeon, moved by the Spirit, goes to the temple, while Anna serves God day and night non-stop. In this way, the four protagonists of the Gospel ...
Praying the Rosary in October: The Joyful Mysteries
The Presentation. In the fourth Joyful Mystery we see how Mary is a beautiful example of faithfulness. In the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, we see her faithfully fulfilling all the necessary steps of a Jewish woman after giving birth to her first born son. The Law of Moses prescribed that the firstborn male needed to be ...
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
At the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Mary united her will to Jesus, therefore they offered the same sacrifice and she thereby partook in his redeeming role. top. Mary was not a passive bystander in Salvation History. She played a very profound and active role. The Joyful mysteries show her importance.
The Fifth Joyful Mystery, the Finding in the Temple: Jesus Teaches Us
Joyful Mysteries 1. The Annunciation 2. The Visitation 3. The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus 4. The Presentation in the Temple 5. The Finding in the Temple Luminous Mysteries 1. The Baptism of Jesus 2. The Wedding at Cana 3. The Proclamation of the Gospel 4. The Transfiguration 5. The Institution of the Eucharist Sorrowful Mysteries 1. The Agony in ...
The Fourth Joyful Mystery, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
Fourth of a 20-part series on the Mysteries of the Rosary. Next week: The Finding in the Temple. The Fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, illustrates the spiritual fruit of obedience, says Fr. Mariusz Jarzabek, MIC, a Marian priest serving the Congregation's mission in the Philippines.
Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
A stained-glass window of the Presentation in Saint Mary's Church, Painesville, OH. Scott P. Richert. The Fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary is the Presentation in the Temple, which we celebrate on February 2 as the Presentation of the Lord or Candlemas. The fruit most commonly associated with the mystery of the Presentation is purity of mind and body.
A Rosary for Life: The Joyful Mysteries
The Fourth Joyful Mystery The Presentation in the Temple. Prayer Intention: That fathers of young children will model St. Joseph in devoutly practicing their faith, so that they lead their children to God by their words and example. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the ...
The Fourth Joyful Mystery
The Fourth Joyful Mystery. Lord, fill my heart with a longing to act devoutly and righteously by devoting myself to a life of active prayer. May I have the faith and hope in the many promises You have made to me and the Catholic Church. THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE FRUIT: OBEDIENCE Lord, fill my heart with a longing to act devoutly and ...
The finding of Jesus in the temple: 5th Joyful Mystery.
Fifth Joyful Mystery: The finding of Jesus in the temple. "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it ...
Presentation of Jesus
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 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. [1] Within the account, "Luke's narration of the Presentation in the ...
The Fourth Joyful Mystery
A reenactment of the Bible story from Luke's gospel of Mary and Joseph fulfilling the tradition of presenting a newborn in the Temple in Jerusalem. There th...

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Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

Introduction to the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

The Annunciation - The First Joyful Mystery of the Rosary

Meditation on the Annunciation:

The Visitation - The Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary

Meditation on the Visitation:

The Nativity - The Third Joyful Mystery of the Rosary

Meditation on the Nativity:

The Presentation in the Temple - The Fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary

Meditation on the Presentation:

The Finding in the Temple - The Fifth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary

Meditation on the Finding in the Temple:

A Rosary for Life: The Joyful Mysteries

The First Joyful Mystery

The Second Joyful Mystery

The Third Joyful Mystery

The Fourth Joyful Mystery

The Fifth Joyful Mystery