Presentation of the Lord

[Consecrated one]

I just wanted to comment on the perfect and beautiful obedience to God of Mary and Joseph.
I wanted to mention, for those of us who have ever had to wait for a scary diagnosis, who have ever
laid awake at night in dread.  Can you imagine how Mary felt when told "and a sword shall pierce your
heart, too".  What could that possibly mean?  When? What kind of "sword"?  And we know Our Lady
pondered these things in Her heart.  Never feel alone as we suffer with anxiety over what may be,
Our Blessed mother has been there before us, and will be there with us.
Just a thought.

[Brigid]

What a lovely thought. That one neveroccurred to me.

[Consecrated one]

That's what's so great here, we give each other fresh ways
of viewing and interpreting!

[Patricia]

I read somewhere that the moment Simeon spoke to Our Lady in the Temple about the sword that would pierce her Heart  all her joy turned into sorrow. From then onwards the death of Her Son would always be present in her thoughts. Whenever She thought of the violent way He would die, a cold sweat would cover her.
 :'(

[Consecrated one]

WOW! I had never heard of this.  Really is very moving and powerful.

[CyrilSebastian]

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord was known originally as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary.   
The Church at Jerusalem observed the feast as early as the first half of the fourth century.