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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Athanasius of Alexandria
But when was the Lord hid from His Father's eye, that He should not be seen by Him, or what place is excepted from His dominion, that by remaining there He should be separate from His Father, unless brought to Jerusalem and introduced into the temple? But for us perhaps these things were written. …
Cyril of Alexandria
After His circumcision, she next waits for the time of her purification: and when the days were fulfilled, and the fortieth was the full time, God the Word, Who sitteth by the Father's side, is carried up to Jerusalem, and brought into the Father's presence in human nature like unto us, and by the shadow of the law is numbered among the firstborn. For even before the Incarnation the firstborn were holy, and consecrated to God, being sacrificed to Him according to the law. O! how great and wonderful is the plan of salvation! …
Theophylact of Ohrid
He rightly said "according to the law of Moses," for truly the Virgin had no need to await the days of purification, which, in the case of a male birth, were forty. In the Law it is said: "a woman shall conceive and bear a male child" (Lev. 12:2); but the Virgin conceived not from seed, but gave birth by the Holy Spirit. Therefore she had no need, but came to the temple out of a desire to fulfill the law. Why then in the case of a male birth are the days of purification seven, but for a female double? …
Western Saints
Bede
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. It was indeed a decree of the law that a little one, on the thirty-third day after his circumcision, be brought to the temple of the Lord and an offering be given for him; and that the firstborn male be made holy to the Lord. …
Bonaventure
First, therefore, with respect to the appointed time, it says: And after the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled. Leviticus 12: "If a woman, having received seed, shall bear a male child, she shall be unclean seven days. And she shall remain thirty-three days in the blood of her purification." In this, however, that it says: "If, having received seed, she shall bear," it is shown that the blessed Virgin was not subject to that law by necessity, but was obedient out of humility. …
Hippolytus of Rome
When they brought Him to the temple to present Him to the Lord, they offered the oblations of purification. For if the gifts of purification according to the law were offered for Him, in this indeed He was made tinder the law. But the Word was not subject to the law in such wise as the sycophants fancy, since He is the law Himself; neither did God need sacrifices of purification, for He purifieth and sanctifieth all things at once in a moment. …
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