The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Feast Day Nov. 21st 

Today’s feast day is in commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary being dedicated to God at the temple as a young child. Remembering Mary’s consecration to the Lord, is a beautiful opportunity to discuss the Sacrament of Baptism with your children, and remind them that through our baptism, we become a part of God’s family—we have been set apart as Christians and people of the Lord as we are baptized in “The name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Today is also a great time to think about how grateful we are that Mary, through her free will, said  “yes” to God to be the mother of Jesus and allowed herself to be an instrument of His divine will. When was a time in your life that you said “yes” to God?

Celebrating Through Food:

Today, we made Joanna Gains’ wonderfully named recipe, Dedication Casserole, for dinner. This yummy chicken and rice dish pairs nicely with salad. If you want to make a “Marian inspired salad,” toss fresh spinach with blueberries, blue cheese, chopped walnuts, and toss with a vinaigrette of your choice. 

Celebrating Through Crafts—Renewing Baptismal Promises:

For younger children, the website “Look To Him and Be Radiant” has a free printable water-droplet Baptismal promises worksheet. Color and cut the water-droplets out and then, reading them one by one with your child/children, glue them onto a large sheet of paper in the shape of a cross. 

For older children, make a “renewal of Baptismal promises” wheel. Using a paper-plate, write the baptismal promises around its edges. Then take another paper-plate and cut a small triangle out of its edge. Place the paper-plate with the triangle cut-out on top of the other paper-plate, and adhere the palates together with a craft button. Spin the wheel and renew your baptismal promises.

Here is a link, from Creighton University, for Baptismal promises and prayers. 

Celebrating Through Prayer:

Say the “Hail Mary” prayer together as a family. You can also say the prayer I wrote below:

Dear Mary, Mother of God most humble and most blessed and pure, please pray that I may always have the courage and faith to say yes to God’s will in my life. I beseech you, dear mother, hold me in your heavenly embrace and through your intercession bring me closer to your son, our Lord Jesus. Pray that I may live out my baptismal promises and a life that is pleasing to the Father. Amen. 

Additional Readings:

Here is a reading from Loyola Press and reading from the Catholic News Agency.