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| Religion Forum Index » Apologetic Forum » November 5th - Elizabeth, Widow, and Zachary, Prophet... |
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 Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:28 pm |
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November 5th - Elizabeth, Widow, and Zachary, Prophet (RM)
1st century. Elizabeth and Zachary were the parents of John the Baptist,
forerunner of Jesus. All we know about them is found in the first chapter of
Luke's Gospel. "Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly" (Luke 1:6, NAB).
Zachary was a priest of the Old Covenant and Elizabeth was of the family of
Aaron.
Having reached middle age without the blessing of children, Zachary, while
officiating in the temple, had a vision of an angel who told him that his
prayers for a son would be answered. Zachary was incredulous. Perhaps to
prevent Zachary from sinning against hope, he was struck dumb until the
birth of his son who was to be called John, "who shall be filled with the
Holy Spirit even in his mother's womb and who should bring back many of the
sons of Israel to the Lord their God."
Elizabeth was visited by Mary, the Mother of God, at which time Mary spoke
the hymn of praise now known as the Magnificat, although a few manuscripts
indicated it was Elizabeth who sang it.
Generally a child is named after a dead relative. This is what Elizabeth and
Zachary's friends and neighbors expected. Yet his mother insisted that he
was to be named John, and his father wrote that he agreed.
The Canticle of Zachariah or Benedictus is prayed daily by Christians in
Morning Prayer. It is a song of high praise:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel. He has come to His people to set
them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of His
servant David.
Through His holy prophets He promised of old that He would save us from our
enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant.
This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the
hands of our enemies, free to worship Him without fear, holy and righteous
in His sight all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go
before the Lord to prepare His way, to give His people knowledge of
salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon
us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to
guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:68- 79).
Tradition, supported by Saint Basil and Cyril of Alexandria, asserts that
Zachary died a martyr, killed in the Temple "between the porch and the
altar" by command of Herod, because he refused to disclose the whereabouts
of his son. The Roman Martyrology does not report this incident (Attwater,
Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, White).
In art, Elizabeth is shown clad as an elderly lady, holding the infant John
the Baptist (anonymous Russian icon); or pregnant and greeting the Virgin
Mary (Piero di Cosimo; Marx Reichlich). Zacharias (anonymous Russian icon)
is generally pictured as an old priest with a censer and Saint Elizabeth
nearby. Sometimes he is shown in scenes of the birth and childhood of Saint
John the Baptist (Roeder), or holding a lighted taper (White).
Saint Quote:
Let us endeavor to show ourselves full of compassion towards the faulty and
the sinful. If we do not show compassion and charity to these, we do not
deserve to have God show it towards us.
-St. Vincent de Paul
Bible Quote
1 But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death
shall not touch them. 2 In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and
their departure was taken for misery: 3 And their going away from us, for
utter destruction: but they are in peace. (Wisdom 3:1-3)
<><><><>
Padre Pio's Sacred Heart Novena
This powerful prayer was recited every day by Padre Pio for all those who
recommended themselves to his prayers:
I. O my Jesus, You said "verily I say to You, ask and you shall receive,
seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you", behold I
knock, I seek and I ask for the grace of...
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father. Sacred Heart of Jesus I put
all my trust in Thee.
II. O my Jesus, You said, "verily I say to You, whatsoever you shall ask the
Father in My name, He will give it to you", behold in your name I ask the
Father for the grace of...
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father. Sacred Heart of Jesus I put
all my trust in Thee.
III. O my Jesus, You said, "verily I say to You, heaven and earth shall pass
away but My words shall not pass away", behold I encouraged by your
infallible words, now ask for the grace of...
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father. Sacred Heart of Jesus I put
all my trust in Thee.
O sacred Heart of Jesus, to whom one thing alone is impossible, namely, not
to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and
grant us the grace which we ask of Thee through the Sorrowful and Immaculate
Heart of Mary, your and our tender Mother.
Say the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen) and add, St. Joseph, foster father of
Jesus, pray for us. |
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