The Presentation of The Blessed Virgin Mary

According to the protoevangel of James, a 2nd century work that isn’t included in the Bible, Mary was presented at the temple by her parents at the age of three, to begin a nine year stay therein, in fulfilment of a vow. The corresponding feast began in the East, most likely in Syria, around the sixth century.

The feast was introduced into the West by Gregory XI, in 1372. As the belief in this feast is merely belief, and not a point of faith, the feast was suppressed by St Pius V; Sixtus V, however, re-introduced it into the Roman calender in 1585, and Clement VIII made it a greater double. The vestments worn are white.