For many centuries this feast was known as "The Purification of Our Lady", but since 1960 has been called "The Presentation of the Lord". The change of name was meant to emphasize that it was a feast of Our Lord Jesus. Both "purify" and "present" occur in the first sentence of today's Gospel, so that either name for the feast could be accepted. In changing the name of the Feast, the Church had no intention of "downgrading" Our Lady, as it were. The intention is rather to help us focus on the life of Jesus and so to recognize that the whole mystery of Mary cannot be understood apart from the mystery of Christ.

Speaking of "purification" of a mother after childbirth can create quite a wrong impression. Though not everything in this regard is fully understood, according to the Old Testament worldview, giving birth put the mother in special contact with God, the source of life. This created a certain aura of mystery around her. "Purification" meant the removal of this aura, so that the mother could re-enter ordinary life, especially the liturgical and ritual life of the community.