On November 21 the Church keeps the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, recalling the ancient tradition that Mary, as a young child, was brought by her parents Joachim and Anne to the Temple in Jerusalem and dedicated to God. The feast arose in the East, tied to the dedication of the church of Saint Mary the New in Jerusalem in 543, and later spread to the whole Western Church.
Mary's whole life, from her earliest years, was given entirely to God — a quiet, complete offering made long before anyone could see where it would lead. She shows us that holiness begins with belonging to God first, and that even the smallest, most hidden acts of dedication are precious in His sight.
Blessed Virgin Mary, presented in the Temple and wholly given to God, help us to offer our lives — and those we love — into the Father's faithful hands. Amen.