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Stamps Portray Presentation in the Temple

By Maureen Schlangen

On Saturday, Feb. 2, Catholics around the world mark the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple (Luke 2:22-40). It commemorates Mary and Joseph fulfilling their Jewish obligation to present Jesus in the temple 40 days after his birth.

The Gospel of Luke describes their encounter with a devout man named Simeon, who takes Jesus in his arms and proclaims to heaven, “My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

To the Blessed Mother, he says, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Anna, an elderly prophetess in the temple at the time, “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”

This momentous occasion has been depicted in many a work of fine art across the ages. Several appear in the Marian Library’s international Marian stamp collection, in part the work of Brother Eugene Claret, a Swiss Marianist who organized the collection and completed it with the gift of a great number of stamps of his own. His work is being completed and updated by another Marianist, Brother Raymond Boutin of Canada.

Much of the collection has been digitized and is available for download from UD’s institutional repository, eCommons. Here are 17 that depict the Presentation in the Temple:

— Maureen Schlangen is e-scholarship and communications manager in the University Libraries.

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