# Novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception: Day 6
*2008-12-03*

> Bill Young leads the sixth day of the novena, reflecting on Mary as 'Mother Most Pure' through the lens of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

## The Presentation in the Temple

In the Gospel according to Luke, we read of the day when Mary and Joseph took the child Jesus to Jerusalem to be purified and presented to the Lord, observing the law of Moses. In the temple, they encountered Simeon, an upright and devoted man who had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had seen Christ the Lord. Upon seeing the child, Simeon blessed God, recognizing that his eyes had seen the salvation prepared for all nations.

## The Sword of Sacrifice

While blessing the child, Simeon spoke to Mary, prophesying that Jesus would be a sign that is opposed and that a sword would pierce her own soul. Mary went to the temple for two purposes: her own purification and the presentation of her son. However, Simeon saw that she did not need purification. Instead, he revealed that her heart would be pierced by the sword of sacrifice and the suffering of her son's cross.

## Cooperating in Redemption

Mary shared intimately in the extraordinary act of her son, cooperating in the work of redemption to help take away the sins of the world. By allowing her most pure heart to remain open, she became a refuge for sinners seeking grace and forgiveness. Through the sorrow of her heart, Mary made up for the hardships Christ underwent for the sake of His body.

## Purifying the Heart

The fact that Mary's heart was pierced by a sword indicates that the heart is the origin of sin—the place where evil hides. From the heart emerge evil intentions such as fornication, murder, adultery, malice, deceit, and pride. Because the heart of each of us needs to be redeemed, we must allow our hearts to be purified so that grace may enter. The best way to accomplish this purification is to go to confession regularly and to persevere in prayer, asking Mary to impart her purity to us.

*We can find spiritual refuge and purification by entering into the Immaculate Heart of Mary and maintaining a disciplined life of confession and prayer.*