The Presentation
From "Mysteries of the Rosary" by Msgr. Edward I. Hession
“And when the days of her purification were fulfilled according to the Law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord” Lk. 2:22
Now after forty days are past,
The Virgin-Mother takes her Son,
And guided by her holy spouse,
Sets out unto Jerusalem.
The law of Moses does proclaim
The every male child should be
Presented to the Lord our God
When he has reached this tender age.
Unto the temple of the Lord
Proceeds the Holy Family.
And there the Mother of the Christ
Presents herself before the priests,
A model of humility,
Example of obedience.
She offers him two turtle doves,
The off’ring of the poorer class,
For so prescribes Leviticus.
Then o’er the Mother of the Christ
The priest recites the formal prayer
That Mary might be “purified”
According to Mosaic Law.
And Chris, Who is Eternal Priest,
Is offered of His own free will,
A ransom for the sins of men.
* * *
Within the Holy City’s walls
There lives a man names Simeon.
He is a just and pious man,
Awaiting Christ, the Promised One.
For he received the word from God
That he would not be called by death
Till after he had seen the Christ.
This man the Holy Spirit leads
Into the temple of the Lord.
And there, in Mary’s arms he sees
The Saviour of the universe.
He takes the Babe into his arms,
And blesses God, and humbly says:
“and now thou dost dismiss in pease;
Thy servant, as Thou didst proclaim
For now my eyes Salvation see,
Which Thou dost send unto all men:
A light to all Gentile seed
And glory unto Israel.”
His parents wonder at these words
Of Simeon, concerning Him.
Then turning to the Mother pure,
He speaks in words of prophecy:
“Behold this Child is set unto
The resurrection and the fall
Of many souls in Israel.”
Then visualizing things to come,
This holy man to Mary says:
“And thy own soul a sword shall pierce.”
As Simeon returns the Child,
There comes into the sacred place
A prophetess of Aser’s tribe.
This holy woman, night and day,
By prayers and fasting served the Lord,
And seeing Jesus, joyfully
Confesses Him to be the Christ.
PRAYER:
“I believe -O Jesus, my faith-
That thou art Christ the Lord;
Thou hast, for fallen humankind,
Become Incarnate Word.
As Thy sweet Mother carried Thee
Into the holy place
That two devoted souls might come
And see Thee face to face,
So grant that she might guide my steps
Unto Thy throne above,
That I might see Thee evermore
And share Thy lasting love.”
* * *
Now after all those things are done
Commanded by the ancient law,
The Holy Family returns
Unto the city Nazareth.
And Jesus grows and waxes strong,
And grace shines forth in all his deeds.
Reprinted for Council 13307 with the permission of Abbey Press, Inc.