I love the fourth Joyful mystery as it is full of holy people and holiness In Jerusalem at that time there lived a man, Simeon, who was just and devout and was awaiting the consolation of Israel. Led by the Holy Spirit into the temple on the day that the holy family brought the Child Jesus to fulfill the law, Simeon took the Child into his arms and blessed God by saying: "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared in Hebrew before the face of all people, a light to lighten the gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32). "And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary His mother, 'Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:33-35). Anna the prophetess, who was a widow of 84 years and did not depart from the temple, but served God by fasting and praying, was also there. "And she, coming in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of Him to all they that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city, Nazareth" (Luke 2: 38-39). I think Simeon and Anna are just wonderful. Can we pray to Old Testament saints and have a devotion to them?
When we were young our father used to take us up to Saint Gerald's Redemptorist Church for the Confraternity every Tuesday. There was the most beautiful wooden statue there of Saint Anne standing with the child Mary and because of this I developed a great devotion to Saint Anne . I looked at the statue and though how holy Saint Anne must have been to have been chosen to be the mother of the Blessed Virgin. The statue also made me wonder about the Life of Our Lady when she was a child growing up. The locals has a great devotion to Saint Anne as well and used to receive copies of the Saint Anne Beaupre magazine from the great shrine in Canada, also run by the Redmptorists Statue at Sainte Ann Beaupre Shrine, Quebec, Canada So certainly the Church not only permits, but encourages us to pray to the Old Testament Saints. The ancient MARTYROLOGIUM ROMANUM (the Church's official "calendar book" of saints) that was re-edited and re-published in 2001 lists the days of several Old Testament saints--and calls them by the title "Saint". Saint Melchisedech, August 26. Saint Abraham, October 9. Saint Moses, September 4. Saint Joshua, September 1. Saint Ezra, July 13. Saint Hosea, October 17. Saint Obadiah, November 19. Saint Jonah, September 21. Saint Elijah, July 20. Saint Elisha, June 14. Saint Jeremiah, May 1. Saint Samuel, August 20. Saint David, December 29. Saint Michael and Saint Raphael, September 29. Saint Isaiah, May 9. Saint Job, May 10. Saint Zechariah, September 6. Saint Joel, October 19. Saint Amos, June 15. Saint Ezekiel, July 23. Saint Nahum, December 1. Saint Habakkuk, December 2. Saint Zephaniah, December 3. Saint Haggai, December 16. Saint Malachi, December 18. Saint Micah, December 21. All the Forefather Saints of Jesus Christ, December 24. (In Latin this can include "foremothers". I looked for Old Testament women's names, but didn't find any ... yet. The book has nearly 800 pages.) Notice the prophets in December ... leading up to the Birth of the Savior. I always think that Moses was a great model of prayer, especially for these present times. Scripture clearly shows that God has a prediliction for Moses because of his role as a great man of prayer. God honoured him by talking to him, 'face to face'. Exodus 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. Deuteronomy 34:10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. Moses climbed the Holy Mountain of Sinai and so close did he draw to God in prayer that his face was actually illumined with the light of God Exodus 34:29 It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. Moreover when the Hebrews reach the Promised Land Moses prays for victory, he raises his hands in supplication for Victory and as he does so the Jews win in the battle but when he tires and his arms drop the tide of battle goes against the Jews. These are prefect types of the person at prayer for the Church and the world today, for only prayer and those who prayer will save us. Our Lady calls us to be second Moses. Exodus 17:8-16 8Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. 10So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. 15And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: 16For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
