Hey there,
It’s no surprise Mary plays a major role in Catholicism … after all, without Mary there would be no Jesus.
But would it surprise you to hear we have 19 Marian celebrations in our Liturgical Calendar? 3 of them are Holy Days of Obligation.
Lest you think I exaggerate, here they are:
- January 1 Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God*
- January 8 The Feast of Our Lady of Prompt Succor
- February 2 The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
- February 11 The Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes
- March 25 The Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord
- May 13 The Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima
- May 31 The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- June 20 The Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- June 27 The Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
- July 16 The Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- August 15 The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary*
- August 22 The Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- September 8 The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- September 12 The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary
- September 15 The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
- October 7 The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
- November 21 The Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- December 8 The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception*
- December 12 The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
* Holy day of Obligation
Local parishes have the option to add even more Marian celebrations. And then there’s the month of May that is dedicated to Mary.
The Month of the Rosary is October.
The Feast of the Immaculate Heart is the Saturday following the Second Sunday after Pentecost.
And the First Saturday of each Month is also dedicated to Marian Devotions.
With all of these Marian celebrations, I’m not sure why I was surprised to see that here at Genuflect, we’ve covered Our Lady more than 10 times.
If you are a Marian enthusiast, this issue’s for you.
On November 21st we’ll celebrate the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and that’s what we cover here in this week’s issue of Genuflect. We’ve got an overview of the celebration, why children were consecrated to God and what it meant, a biblical look at the event, simple ways to celebrate the Memorial, and how you can consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary.
And you’ll even find Genuflect’s prior issues for even more Marian information.
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Founding Editor, Genuflect
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genuflect: resources
The Presentation of the BVM
Let’s begin with this nice overview of the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Not only will you learn about the presentation, but also a little history of the celebration.
The Presentation of The Blessed Virgin Mary | Tekton Ministries
Dedicating a Child to God
Here’s a look at the realities of childbirth back in Mary’s time, why parents might dedicate their child to God, and what it meant.
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Memorial | My Catholic Life
Event or Parable?
Mary’s presentation in the temple is not included in Holy Scripture. So is it a historical event? Or is it a parable passed down through the ages? Gloria Falcão Dodd looks to the Apocryphal Gospels and Liturgy for clues … and don’t worry, she explains what Apocryphal means.
The Presentation of Mary: An Historical Event? | Missio Magazine
Temple Life
Mary was presented at the Temple at the age of 3 and remained there until the age of 14 when she married Saint Joseph. Dr. Marshall digs into the Scriptural references that support girls living at the temple and what that life was probably like.
Did Jewish Temple Virgins Exist and was Mary a Temple Virgin? | Dr. Taylor Marshall
Why We Celebrate
Father Edward Looney answers the question: Why do we celebrate the presentation of Mary? According to him, the answer is straightforward.
Why do we Celebrate Mary’s Presentation? | Simply Catholic
4 Simple Ways to Celebrate
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a memorial that is easily overlooked since it’s not a Solemnity or a Holy Day of Obligation. But Marge Fenelon argues that all the Marian feasts should be celebrated. And even better, she shares with us 4 ways to do just that.
How You Can Celebrate the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 4 Simple Ways | Marge Steinhage Fenelon
Our Presentation
In this commentary on the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Bobbi Rol makes a compelling case that God is asking for our presentation. And how we should approach our mission.
The Presentation of Mary | Blessed is She
Consecration to Jesus Through Mary
It is believed Mary was consecrated to God at the age of 3. But it’s not too late for us. We can consecrate ourselves to Jesus through Mary. Here’s how.
Consecration Explained | Total Consecration
genuflect: related
We’ve covered several other topics about Mary you may find interesting:
Praising Immaculate Mary
How Mary’s Annunciation Fiat is Key to Our Holiness
How The Immaculate Heart of Mary Will Lead us to Heaven
The Many Lessons of The Visitation of The Blessed Virgin Mary
All About The Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary
Honoring The Blessed Virgin Mary
Celebrating The Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary
Harnessing The Power of The Most Holy Name of Mary
Asking for the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Intercession
Why Mary is Called Our Lady of Sorrows (And How She Can Help You)
Celebrating The Queenship of Mary
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