December 22 2007 Saturday 3rd Week of Advent
About the sources used. The readings on this site are not official for the Mass of Roman Rite of the Catholic Church in the USA, but are from sources free from copyright. They are here to present the comparable readings alongside traditional Catholic commentary as published in the Haydock Bible. Readings vary depending on your national calendar.
Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/122207.shtml – Note. The Official Liturgical readings may not match the current NAB you may have.
1 Samuel (1 Kings in LXX/Latin/Douay) 1:24-28
Douay-Rheims Challoner
24 And after she had weaned him, she carried him with her, with three calves, and three bushels of flour, and a bottle of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord in Silo. Now the child was as yet very young:
25 And they immolated a calf, and offered the child to Heli.
26 And Anna (Hannah) said: I beseech thee, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord: I am that woman, who stood before thee here praying to the Lord.
27 For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath granted me my petition, which I asked of him.
28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord all the days of his life, he shall be lent to the Lord. And they adored the Lord there. (note: the verses following this are a continuation of the reading above and the inspiration for the Magnificat and they are the responsorial Psalm for today’s reading)
Responsorial Psalm 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (officially 1-8, but this isn’t official)
Douay-Rheims Challoner Text.
The Canticle of Anna (Hannah)
My heart hath rejoiced in the Lord,
and my horn is exalted in my God:
my mouth is enlarged over my enemies:
because I have joyed in thy salvation.
There is none holy as the Lord is:
for there is no other beside thee,
and there is none strong like our God.
Do not multiply to speak lofty things, boasting:
let old matters depart from your mouth:
for the Lord is a God of all knowledge,
and to him are thoughts prepared.
The bow of the mighty is overcome,
and the weak are girt with strength.
They that were full before, have hired out themselves for bread:
and the hungry are filled,
so that the barren hath borne many:
and she that had many children is weakened.
The Lord killeth and maketh alive,
he bringeth down to hell, and bringeth back again.
The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich,
he humbleth and he exalteth:
He raiseth up the needy from the dust,
and lifteth up the poor from the dunghill:
that he may sit with princes, and hold the throne of glory.
For the poles of the earth are the Lord’s,
and upon them he hath set the world.
He will keep the feet of his saints,
and the wicked shall be silent in darkness;
because no man shall prevail by his own strength.
The adversaries of the Lord shall fear him:
and upon them shall he thunder in the heavens:
The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth,
and he shall give empire to his king,
and shall exalt the horn of his Christ.
The Gospel According to Saint Luke 1:46-56
Haydock New Testament
Magnificat
46 And Mary said:
My soul doth magnify the Lord:
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my Saviour.
48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid:
For behold, from henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done great things to me:
And Holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is from generation to generations,
To them that fear him.
51 He hath shewed might in his arm:
He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat,
And hath exalted the humble.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things:
And the rich he hath sent away empty.
54 He hath received Israel, his servant,
Being mindful of his mercy.
55 As he spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham, and to his seed, for ever.
56 And Mary abode with her about three months: and she returned to her own house.
Haydock Commentary 1 Samuel 1:24-28
- Ver. 24. Three calves. Sept. “a calf three years old,” such as Abraham sacrificed, Gen. 15:9. We only find one offered up, v. 25.—Bushels. Heb. epha, (C.) each of which contained three bushels or measures. Ruth, 2:17. H.—Bottle. Heb. nebel, a large measure containing above 87 pints. C.—The sacrifices seem to have been for thanksgiving, accompanied with an ephi for each calf, and with wine. Num. 15, Ez 46:7
- Ver. 26. Liveth: a strong attestation. M.—As sure as you live; or, may you enjoy a long and happy life. See C. 17:55 & 20:3. Dan 3:9, 2 Esdras 2:3.
- Ver. 28. Lent. This is equivalent to giving entirely. Anna presents her son to the Lord, to serve in his tabernacle as long as God shall thing proper. He dispensed with his personal attendance, when he appointed him judge. C. 7:15. C.—As much as depended on Samuel’s mother, he was consecrated for ever. But he was at liberty to ratify the vow if he pleased. M.—The expression, lent, seems to reserve the dominion of the thing, which Anna had entirely given up, so that we might translate the Heb. “Therefore I have him simply as one lent … he is a thing lent, which belongs to the Lord.” C.—They. Heb. “he worshipped the Lord there.” Grabe found not these words in the Alexandriuan copy, which by a comparison of this chapter with the Vatican edition, appears to be more accurate. Both omit this sentence: but it is found in the Aldine edition of the Sept. Proleg. C. iv. The Targum adds, “and she prayed in the spirit of prophecy, and said.” H.
Haydock Commentary 1 Samuel 2:1-10
- Ver. 1. Rejoiced. LXX and Chal. “been strengthened.” Anna composed this canticle at the nativity of her son; or rather at his presentation in the tabernacle. She foretells the reign and glory of the Messias, and of his church. S. Aug. de C. xvii. 4.—Horn. The horn in the Scripture signifies strength, power, and glory: so the horn is said to be exalted, when a person receives an increase of strength or glory. Ch.—So Horace (3 Ode, 21) says, addis cornua pauperi.—Englarged. Chal. “I have opened my mouth, to speak great things against my enemies.” She has Phenenna principally in view, and compares her present glory with her former distress. C.—I may boast more on account of Samuel, than my rival can of her numerous offspring. M.
- Ver. 2. Holy. This is frequently a title of God, the holy one of Israel. Isai i. 4. and v. 19. He is essentially holy.—Strong. Heb. “no rock like,” &c. The rocks of Palestine were the common fortresses of the nation, having caverns to which the people fled for refuge. Hence God is often called a rock, (C.) as none can afford such protection. H. Ps. xvii. 2. Deut. xxxii. 15.
- Ver. 3. Old. Heb. hathak means also, “hard things.” D.—“Let arrogance come out of your mouth,” to return no more. Yet most people supply the negation from the former member; “Let not arrogance or hard things.” Chal. “blasphemy,” &c. C.—Cease to praise idols, as you have done. W.—Use not the malevolent language to which you have been accustomed.—Knowledge. The secrets of hearts are open to him.—And to him. Heb. “and by him actions are weighed,” as in scales; (H.) or, “thoughts (and actions) are not established.” Sym. The Syr. And Arab. Also read the negation, “there are no pretexts before him;” or, “are not actions founded upon him?” Will he not execute what he has wisely designed, in spite of opposition? H.—Sept. “and God prepares his thoughts;” C. (Greek reference here) or, “what is convenient for him.” H.—They have read lu, “of him” instead of la, “not,” as they are authorized to do by the Keri, (or various readings in the margin) and by several Heb. MSS. The Prot. think rightly, and suppose that la, “not,” has been omitted, “Let not arrogancy’” because we find it in Chal. Sept. Syr. and Arab. Versions. Lu is substituted for la, v. 16. When some have been pressed with the argument of variations, called Keri, they have said that they were rather explanations of obscure words in the text: but is there any obscurity in lu, ”to him,” and la, “not;” or can they explain each other? Leusden answers in the affirmative, v. 16! Kennicott.
- Ver. 4. Overcome. Heb. “broken.” Sept. “he has weakened the bow,” having deprived it of its elasticity. H.
- Ver. 5. Many. Heb. “seven,” which is often used in the same sense. Anna had never more than six children; *C.) whereas Phenenna had perhaps ten. C. i. 8. and iii. and 21. H.—The Rabbins pretend that she lost one every time that Anna brought forth. But the text says nothing of the kind. It only insinuates at most, that she had no more. This admirably represents the state of the Synagogue, compared to the Christian Church. S. Aug. sup. C. W.—The blessed Virgin conveys the same idea in other words. Luke i. M.
- Ver. 6. Hell, (infernos,) “the lower regions.” God calls us out of this world, or restores the dead to life, as he thinks proper. H.—He easily makes the greatest prosperity succeed extreme distress, which is often denoted by death, hell, &c. So Seneca says, Mortis habet vices—Lentis cum trahitur vita gemitibus. The prodigal son is said to have come to life again, when his father received him, contrary to his expectations. Luke xv. 24. Ps. xxix. 4. &c. C.
- Ver. 7. Exalteth. The same instances of God’s power and providence are related, Ps. cxii. 7. Luke i. 52. M.—Hesiod (op.) says, “Jupiter easily gives or takes away power,” &c.
- Ver. 8. World. The Hebrews represented the earth as resting on a firm basis, or on pillars, or turning on poles. Ps. ciii. 5. Prov. viii. 25. &c. The magistrates of the earth may be also thus designated, as the world is entrusted to their care. God compares Jeremias to an iron pillar. Jer. i. 18. Apoc. iii. 12. C.—The last sentence is omitted in the Sept.
- Ver. 9. Saints. Heb. “kind, merciful, pious ones;” (C.) those to whom he shews mercy, and who comply with his will in assisting others. Sept. “Granting their petition to those who ask him, and he has blessed the years of the just, because man is not strong by his own strength.” H.—Silent: condemned to death. Mox etiam Lemures animas dixere silentes. Ovid, Fast. v. Loca nocte silentia late. Virg. vi. Unable to act as they had done, and ashamed of themselves, (C.) they seek for the most obscure retreat, where they may not behold the glory of those whom they had despised. They will pray that the hills would fall upon them, and hide them from the indignation of the Lamb. H.
- Ver. 10. Him. Sept. “The Lord will render his adversary weak. The holy Lord. Let not the prudent boast of his prudence,” &c. (H. which seems to be added from Jer. ix. 23. C.) “The Lord has mounted the heavens, and thundered. He judges the ends of the earth, and gives power to those who rule, as kings, over us,” &c. H.—Heavens. This prediction against the Philistines was exactly verified. C. vii. 10. It denotes the protections which God grants to his servants. Ps. xvii. 8. 14.—Christ. Chaldee, and the best interpreters, understand this of the Messias: “He will multiply the kingdom of his Messias.” Jonathan.—Anna might also have David in view, who was one of his most express figures. C.—But neither he, nor Solomon, ever ruled over all the earth, as Christ will. Ps. ii. 18. W.—Zachary seems to allude to this text. Luke i. 69. C.—The empire of Christ rose from the smallest beginnings. M.
Haydock Commentary Luke 1:46-56
- Ver. 47. In God my Saviour, as appears by the Greek text, though literally in Latin, in God my salvation. Wi.
- Ver. 48. The humility of his handmaid, i.e. the humble, low, and abject condition; as perhaps might be translated both in this and in v.52. For the blessed Virgin does not here commend and praise her own virtue of humility; as divers interpreters observe. See. S. Francis of Sales, in his introduction to a devout life, part 3, c. vi. Wi.—As death entered into the world by the pride of our first parents, so was it proper that the path to life should be opened by the humility of Mary. Ven. Bede.—Not Elizabeth only, but all nations of believers are to call her blessed. Theophy.
- Ver. 51. The wise men of the Gentiles, the Pharisees and Scribes, were powerful; but these the Almighty cast down, and exalted those, who humbled themselves under his powerful hand. 1 Peter v. The Jews were proud in their strength, but their incredulity brought on them their humiliation; whilst, the low and mean among the Gentiles, have by faith ascended to the summit of perfection. S. Cyril Alex. In S. Thom. catena aurea. Wi.
- Ver. 53. The Jews were rich in the possession of the law, and the doctrines of the prophets; but, as they would not humbly unite themselves to the incarnate word, they were sent away empty, without faith, without knowledge, deprived of all hopes of temporal goods, excluded from the terrestrial Jerusalem, and also from that which is in heaven. But the Gentiles, oppressed with hunger and thirst, by adhering to their Lord, were filled with all spiritual gifts. S. Basil in Ps. xxxiii.
