Then her parents left, full of admiration, praising the Lord God because the girl had not looked back. And Mary remained in the temple like a dove, receiving food from the hands of an angel.
2But, when she completed twelve years, the priests gathered to deliberate, saying: 'Behold, Mary has completed twelve years in the temple of the Lord. What shall we do so that she may not come to defile the sanctuary?'
3And the high priest, girding himself with the robe of twelve bells, entered the holy of holies and prayed for her. But behold an angel of the Lord appeared, saying to him: 'Zechariah, Zechariah, go out and gather all the widowers of the town. Let each one come with a staff, and he in whom the Lord shall make a singular sign, of him she shall be the spouse.'