(All photos, except for the "CTV" screen capture, are courtesy of Daylife.)
From the Vatican booklet for these Vespers:
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is the celebration of Jesus Christ, “Light of the Nations”. Today's feast also celebrates the encounter (“Hypapante”) of the Messiah with his People in the Temple of Jerusalem.
Mary and Joseph acted in obedience to the Law and its demands when they offered the Child Jesus to the Lord. Their generosity in making this offering to God has been the inspiration for the many men and women Religious gathered around the Holy Father for today’s celebration. These Religious represent all who have chosen the path of the evangelical counsels and of religious consecration. In the rich variety of her charisms, the Church is made radiant by the gifts of the Spirit and is prepared to carry out her mission of preaching the Gospel to all nations. The Religious men and women present today have come here in order to renew their own religious consecration and commitment to the Church’s mission, and to manifest by their presence with the Pope the communion and the unity of charisms in the whole People of God.
