We read of Mary’s presentation in the temple only in
apocryphal literature. In what is recognized as an
unhistorical account, the Protoevangelium of James tells us
that Anna and Joachim offered Mary to God in the Temple
when she was three years old.
"Hail, holy throne of God, divine sanctuary, house of glory,
jewel most fair, chosen treasure house, and mercy seat for
the whole world, heaven showing forth the glory of God.
Purest Virgin, worthy of all praise, sanctuary dedicated to
God and raised above all human condition, virgin soil,
unplowed field, flourishing vine, fountain pouring out
waters, virgin bearing a child, mother without knowing man,
hidden treasure of innocence, ornament of sanctity, by your
most acceptable prayers, strong with the authority of
motherhood, to our Lord and God, Creator of all, your Son
who was born of you, steer the ship of the Church and
bring it to a quiet harbor."
(adapted from a homily by St. Germanus on the
Presentation of The Mother of God.
St. Germanus of Paris
St. Germanus, the glory of the church of France in the
sixth age, was born in the territory of Autun about the year
469. He was brought up in piety and learning under the
care of Scapilion, his cousin, a holy priest. In his youth no
weather could divert him from going to Matins at midnight.
Being ordained priest by St. Agrippinus bishop of Autun,
he was made abbot of St. Symphorian's. It was his custom
to watch a great part of the night in the church in prayer.
One night he dreamt that a venerable old man presented
him with the keys of the city of Paris and said to him, that
God committed to his care the inhabitants of the city. Four
years after this divine admonition, in 554, he happened to
be in Paris when that see became vacant, he was exalted
to the episcopal chair. His promotion made no alteration in
his continual fasts and other austerities. In the evening at
nine o'clock he went to the church, and stayed there in
prayer till after Matins, that is, in summer till about break of
day His house was perpetually crowded with the poor and
the afflicted.
God gave to his sermons a wonderful influence over the
minds of all ranks of people; so that the face of the whole
city was in a very short time quite changed. Vanities were
abolished, as were profane amusements, and enmities
and discord extinguished, and sinners reclaimed. King
Childebert, who till then had been an ambitious worldly
prince, was entirely converted to piety, and reformed his
whole court. The King was so desirous of exchanging the
perishing goods of this world for eternal treasures, that, he
made many religious foundations, and sent incredible sums
of money to the good bishop, to be distributed among the
indigent.
In the third council of Paris, in 557, he had the principal
share in drawing up the canons. By his advice, King
Childebert issued an edict commanding all idols to be
destroyed throughout his dominions. The saint continued
his labors for the conversion of sinners until his death on
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