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Chapter 11MedVC.1.11

De Purificatione B. Virginis

The Journey to the Temple

The Holy Family travels from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to present the child Jesus at the temple according to the law, bringing the humble offering of the poor.

When the fortieth day had come, just as the law required, the Lady set out with the child Jesus and Joseph, and they traveled from Bethlehem to Jerusalem—five or six miles—in order to present him to the Lord according to the law.✦ Go, you too, with them, and help carry the child, and watch attentively each thing that is said and done, for these are the most devout matters. And so they bring the Lord to the temple of the Lord.✦ And when they had entered the temple, they bought two turtledoves or two young pigeons to offer for him, just as was done for the poor.✦✦ And because they were very poor, it is more likely that it was young pigeons, since these are found at a lower price and are therefore listed last in the law; and the Evangelist says nothing about the lamb, which was the offering of the rich.✦✦

Simeon and Anna in the Temple

Simeon recognizes Christ by the prophetic spirit, receives him with joy, prophesies of his Passion, and Anna joins in worship, while Mary treasures all these things in her heart.

And behold, Simeon the just came in the spirit into the temple, so that, just as he had received the response, he might see the Christ of the Lord.✦ And when he came in haste and saw him, he immediately recognized him by the prophetic spirit, and hurrying forward he knelt and adored him in his mother's arms.✦ The child, however, blessed him, and looking at his mother, inclined himself toward her, showing that he wished to go to her. The mother looked on — marveling, yet holding him out to Simeon. He, however, joyfully and reverently received him into his arms, rose up blessing God, and said: 'Now you dismiss your servant, Lord, etc.'✦ He prophesied about his Passion.✦ The prophetess Anna also came forward, and worshipping him, was likewise speaking from Psalm 117.✦✦ But Mary, marveling at these things, kept all of them in her heart.✦

The Procession of Humility and Praise

The Holy Family processes to the altar with Joseph and Simeon leading in jubilant psalmody, while Mary follows carrying Jesus and Anna walks beside her in reverent gladness.

Then the boy Jesus, stretching out his arms toward his mother, returned to her. Afterward they went to the altar, making the procession that is represented today throughout the whole world. Going eagerly before them were those two honored elders — Joseph and Simeon — holding each other by the hand, jubilantly singing psalms with great exultation: 'Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever, etc.'✦ 'The Lord is faithful in all his words, etc.'✦ For this is the Lord our God, forever and ever; he himself will guide us through all ages. We have received your mercy, O God, in the midst of your temple.✦ The mother follows, carrying the King Jesus; and Anna joins her, walking at her side with reverence, rejoicing and praising the Lord with unspeakable gladness. From these, then, the procession is made — few in number, yet very great in what is represented, because among them are people of every kind: men and women, old and young, virgins and widows.

Mary's Offering of the Firstborn

Mary kneels at the altar and offers her beloved son to God the Father, pleading that he be returned to her, then rises and places him upon the altar.

When they arrived at the altar, the mother knelt with reverence and offered her most beloved son to God his father, saying: 'Receive, most excellent Father, your only-begotten Son, whom according to the commandment of your law I offer to you, because he is the firstborn of his mother.'✦ But I beg you, Father, that you would give him back to me. And rising, she placed him upon the altar. O God!

The Unrepeatable Sacrifice

The text marvels that never before nor ever again has such an offering been made, and urges the reader to look closely at every detail.

What an offering this is! Never before in all the ages has such an offering been made, nor ever will be again. Look closely at every detail.

The Redemption of the Lord

Jesus waits humbly on the altar like any child, is redeemed with five shekels like a servant, and his mother joyfully receives him back.

The boy Jesus stands sitting upon the altar, just like any other little child; and with a mature expression he looked at his mother, and at the others, and humbly and patiently waits to see what should be done next. The priests are brought forward, and the Lord of all is redeemed, like a servant, with five shekels, in the same manner as the others.✦1 A shekel was a kind of coin. When these had been paid by Joseph to the priest, the mother joyfully received back her son.

The Offering of the Poor

Mary offers the two birds with a prayer of poverty, Jesus lifts his hands toward them, and the humble sacrifice is received with great joy by the heavenly court through the angels.

She also took from Joseph's hand the aforementioned birds, so that she might offer them; and kneeling, holding them in her hand, with eyes raised and hands stretched out toward heaven she offered them, saying: Receive, most merciful Father, this offering, and this small gift, and the first present which your little one today offers you from his poverty.✦2 But the boy Jesus, extending his hands toward the birds and lifting his eyes to heaven, was resting with his mother through gestures, not yet speaking, and they placed them on the altar. Have you seen what sort of offerers these are, mother el tilius? Could such a sacrifice, even though small, be rejected? Far from it! Rather, through the hands of angels it was presented in the highest court and greatly received, so that the whole court, rejoicing, exulted.

The Visit to Elizabeth

After leaving Jerusalem, the holy Virgin visits Elizabeth and they celebrate a great feast, especially rejoicing in their children.

Afterward the holy Virgin departed from Jerusalem and visited Elizabeth, wanting to see John before she left those parts. Go, and you, always with her wherever she goes, and help carry. When therefore she had come to her, they made a great feast, and especially about their children.

John and Jesus at Play

The children play together and John behaves reverently toward Jesus, and the reader is invited to receive John with reverence because this child is great before the Lord.

But the boys were playing together, and John, as if he understood, behaved reverently toward Jesus. You too receive John reverently, because this child is great before the Lord — perhaps he will bless you.

Return to Nazareth and Reflection

After some days they depart for Nazareth, and the reader is invited to reflect further on the humility, poverty, offering, redemption, and observance of the law shown in these events.

After staying there for some days, they set off, wanting to go to Nazareth. If you wish to be instructed further in what has been described — about humility and poverty, the offering and redemption, and the observance of the law — you can easily perceive it. Tuesday.

Read the original Latin

Adveniente autem quadragesima die, prout in lege statutum erat, exivit Domina cum puero Jesu, et Joseph, et iverunt de Bethleem in Hierusalem, quae sunt quinque vel sex miliaria, ut secundum legem ^ sisterent eum Bomino. Vade et tu cum eis, et juva portare puerum, et conspice attente singula, quae dicuntur et fiunt, quae devotissima sunt. Adducunt ergo Dominum temph, ad templum Domini. Cumque intrassent templum, emerunt ^ duos turtures, aut duos pullos columbarum, ut offerrent pro eo, sicut pro pauperibus fiebat. Et quia erant pauperrimi, credendum magis de pullis columbarum, quia et pro minori pretio inveniuntur, et ideo in lege ponuntur in ultimo loco, et Evangehsta tacet de agno, qui erat oblatio divitum. Et ecce Simeon justus in spiritu venit in templum, ut, sicut responsum acceperat, videret Christum Domini. Cum autem festinanter veniens vidisset eum, statim cognovit eum prophetico spiritu, et accelerans genuflexit, et adoravit eum inter brachia matris. Puer autem benedixit eum, et aspiciens matrem, inclinavit se, ostendens se velle adeum ire.

Quodmater inteUigens, quamvis admirans, porrexit eum Simeoni. llle autem gaudenter et reverenter in ulnis suis eum recipiens, surrexit benedicens Deum, et dixit: Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, etc. De passione ipsius prophetavit. Supervenit et ipsa prophetissa Anna, et adorans eum, simiHter de cxvii, 1, ipso loquebatur. Maria vero de his admirans, omnia conservabat in corde suo. Deinde puer Jesus extendens brachia versus matrem, ad eam rediit; postea vadunt ad altare processionem facientes, quae hodie repraesentatur per universum mundum. Praecedunt aiacriter illi duo honorabiles senes, scilicet Joseph et Simeon, tene^tes se per manus, et cum exultatione magna jubilantes, et psallentes ^: Confilemini Domino, quoniam bonus, quoniam in sceculum, etc. ''Fidelis Dominus in omnibus verbis suis, etc.

^ Quoniam hic est Dominus Deus noster inceternum etinsceculum sceculi,ipse reget nos in scecula. ^ Suscepimus, Deus, misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui. Sequitur mater portans Regem Jesum; et Anna sociat eam, vadens ex latere, cum reverentia jubilans, et ipsa gaudio indicibili laudans Dominum. Ab istis ergo fit processio, paucis quidem, sed valde magna repraesentantibus, quia de omni genere hominum sunt inter eos de masculis et feminis, senibus et juvenibus, virginibus et viduis. Cum autem pervenerunt ad altare, mater cum reverentia genuflexit, et obtulit dilectissimum filium suum Deo patri suo, dicens: Accipite, pater excellentissime, unigenitum vestrum, quem secundum mandatum veslrae legis vobis offero, quia primogenitus matris est. Sed rogo, pater, ut eum mihi reddatis. Et surgens dimisit ipsum super altare. 0 Deus!

qualis est oblatio ista! nunquam a saeculo talis facta fuit, nec fiet. Respice bene singula. Stat puer Jesus sedens super altare, sicut quilibet alius puerulus; et facie matura respexit matrem, et alios, et humiliter et patienter expectat quid deinceps fieri debeat. Adducuntur sacerdotes, et redimitur Dominus omnium, tanquam servus, quinque siclis more aliorum. Siclus erat genus monetae. Quibus a Joseph sacerdoti solutis, mater laetanter reaccepit filium. Accepit etiam de manu Joseph praedictas aves, ut eas offerat; et genuflectens, et tenens eas in manu sua, elevatis oculis et in coelum porrectis eas obtulit, dicens: Accipite, clementissime Pater, hanc oblationem, et munusculum, et primum donum, quod parvulus vester vobis hodie de sua paupertate prieseutat.

Sed et puer Jesus manus suas ad aves porrigens, oculos ad coelum levavit, et nondum loquens, gestibus una cum matre otierebat, et posuerunt a. eas super altare. Vidisti quales sunt oblatores isti, mater el tilius. Numquid potuit talishostia, qiiamvis parva, repudiari? Absit; sed potius per manus angelorum fuit in suprema curia prwsentata, tt valde acceptata, ita quod tota curia jubilans exultavit. Postea Virgo sancta disoessit de Hierusalem, et visitavit Elisabelh, volens videre Joannem, priusquam de parlibus illis discederet. Vade et tu semper cum ea quocumque ierit, et atijuva portare. Cum ergo venisset ad eam, festum magnum fecerunt, et maxime de pueris suis.

Sed et pueri Ifetabantur adinvicem, et Joannes, quasi intelligens, reverenter se habebat erga Jesum. Accipe et tu reverenter Joannem, quia hicpuer magnus coram Domino, si forte benedixerit tibi. Ahquibus autem diebus ibi mora contracta, discedunt volentes ire Nazareth. Si autem in praidictis vis informari de humihtate et paupertate, considerata oblatione et redemptione, ac legis observatione, de facili potes advertere. TERTIA FERIA

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Luke.2.22-Luke.2.24 — And when the days of their purification were fulfilled according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Luke.2.23 — As it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord." Luke.2.24 — and to offer a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
  2. ↩Luke.2.22 — And when the days of their purification were fulfilled according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
  3. ↩Luke.2.24 — and to offer a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
  4. ↩Lev.12.8 — And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and one for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
  5. ↩Lev.12.8 — And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and one for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
  6. ↩Luke.2.24 — and to offer a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
  7. ↩Luke.2.25-Luke.2.26 — And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Luke.2.26 — And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
  8. ↩Luke.2.27-Luke.2.28 — And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, Luke.2.28 — and he received him into his arms and blessed God and said,
  9. ↩Luke.2.29 — Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace.
  10. ↩Luke.2.34-Luke.2.35 — And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed.' Luke.2.35 — and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
  11. ↩Ps.117.1 — Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.
  12. ↩Luke.2.36-Luke.2.38 — And there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her virginity. Luke.2.37 — and she was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and prayers night and day Luke.2.38 — And she, coming up at that very hour, began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
  13. ↩Luke.2.19 — But Mary treasured all these words, turning them over in her heart.
  14. ↩Ps.117.1-Ps.117.2 — Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. Ps.117.2 — For great toward us is his steadfast love, and the faithfulness of the LORD is forever. Hallelujah.
  15. ↩Ps.144.13 — Our barns are full, yielding produce of every kind; our sheep are fruitful, multiplying in our streets.
  16. ↩Ps.47.10 — The princes of the peoples have gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham; for to God belong the shields of the earth — He is greatly exalted.
  17. ↩Exod.13.2 — Consecrate to me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the children of Israel, both human and animal — they are mine.
  18. ↩Exod.13.13;Num.18.15-Num.18.16 — And every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; but if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. Num.18.15 — Every firstborn of every womb, of all flesh that is offered to the LORD, whether of human or of animal, shall be yours; nevertheless you shall redeem the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem. Num.18.16 — And those to be redeemed, from a month old you shall redeem them, according to your valuation, five shekels of silver by the shekel of the sanctuary, twenty gerahs it is.
  19. ↩Lev.1.2;Luke.2.24 — Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them: When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering from the livestock—from the herd or from the flock. Luke.2.24 — and to offer a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩The redemption of the firstborn with five shekels echoes Exodus 13:13 and Numbers 18:15–16; the text applies the Levitical prescription to Christ himself.
  2. 2 ↩The manuscript reads 'prieseutat' — an unusual spelling of 'praesentat' (presents/offers). The normalized text retains the form; the translation follows the intended sense.

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