Today is the feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
The Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple is the celebration of this time when our Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself to come and dwell among us, not only fulfilling the Law and Prophets, but also submitting Himself to persecution, torture and death in order to redeem each of us.
Scripture tells us that after the days of her purification were complete, according to the laws of Moses, our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Joseph took the Child Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to present Him to God. As it was written in the law, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord" (Ex 13:2).
In the monastery, we celebrate this feast day as a Solemnity (holiday for the monks- means no work,- schedule looks like a Sunday schedule) because on this date falls the foundation anniversary of the Benedictine community for women in our neighborhood: the Monastery of our Lady of the Desert!...
The sisters are cooking today for the 4PM banquet.
Last night, at seven Pm, four postulant monks were presented to the Chapter as they started their year-long Novitiate on the eve of the feast of the Presentation of our Lord.
The four monks who were clothed with their Holy Scapulars were brother Johnpaul (American) who is now Dom Michael, OSB ; brother Henry (Korean) who is now Dom Evagrius, OSB ; and brother John baptist (Vietnamese) who retains its name and is now Dom John The Baptist, OSB.
The ceremony of the presentation was a moving one as Dom Michael couldn't stop his tears specially in the part when the Abbot did the symbolic and solemn washing of the feet of the three monks presented to the Congregation.
The evening party followed shortly at the refectory with the mother of Dom Evagrius together with her lady Korean friend as our guests of honor.
