Meditate on the Mystery of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

The prayer of the Rosary begins with the Rosary of the Joyful Mysteries. Among these 5 mysteries corresponding to the birth and childhood of Jesus, is the presentation of Jesus to the Temple by his parents, Mary and Joseph. It is on this occasion that they meet old Simeon, who announces his prophecy. This event, drawn from the Gospel according to Luke, celebrated on the feast of Candlemas, invites us to recognize Jesus, the light of the nations. Find out how to pray and meditate on this beautiful Christian mystery.

What is the mystery of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple?

The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple in the Bible (Luke 2:22-40)

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it 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.”

 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.  And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

(Luke 2:22-40)

When and how to meditate on the mystery of the presentation of the child Jesus in the prayer of the rosary?

This mystery is meditated on during the Rosary of the Joyful Mysteries, often prayed on Monday and Saturday (find the rosaries of each day of the week). This mystery is the fourth in the series, after the annunciation, the visitation, the nativity and before the Finding of Jesus in the Temple. He is therefore the subject of a decade of the rosary, during the first rosary of the prayer of the rosary.

This mystery is particularly honored in the liturgical calendar, the day of Candlemas, which is the day of the feast of the presentation of Jesus to the Temple. Indeed, this festival celebrates light and in particular “the light that is revealed to the nations.”

This mystery invites us to meditate on the humble and obedient attitude of Mary and Joseph, but also the words of old Simeon (found in Simeon's Song) and the attitude of the prophetess Anne, the first evangelizer! The graces that we can ask for when praying this mystery are those of the spirit of obedience but also of purity of heart. Indeed, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:8.

Meditations and Quotes on the Mystery of the Presentation of Jesus to the Temple

Meditate on the spirit of obedience of Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary

“The extreme discretion with which Joseph fulfilled the role that God had entrusted to him further highlights his faith, which consisted in always listening to the Lord, seeking to understand his will, in order to obey it with all his heart and all his strength. This is why the Gospel defines him as a “righteous” man (Matthew 1:19). Indeed, the righteous is a person who prays, who lives by faith and who seeks to do good in every circumstance of life.” (Saint John Paul II)

“The coming of the Christian faith was made possible because there were people in Israel with a heart in search, people who did not settle into their habits, but were in search of more: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna, Mary and Joseph, the Twelve and many others. Because their hearts were expectant, they were able to recognize in Jesus the Father's Envoy, and thus be at the origin of his universal family.” (Benedict XVI)

Meditate on the importance of witnessing, with Simeon and Anne

“The awakening to Christian faith was made possible because in Israel there were people with a heart in search, people who did not settle into their habits, but were in search of more: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna, Mary and Joseph, the Twelve and many others. Because their hearts were waiting, they were able to recognize in Jesus the Father's Envoy, and thus be at the origin of his universal family.” (Benedict XVI)

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