Old Testament

He is not yet bound by the observance of the Law. Cf. Leviticus 23:36; Numbers 29:35. The end of the festival was a day of rest. The eighth day (Shemini Atzereth) is the Feast of the Joy of Torah (Sim'Hath Torah). It's a day of rest. The rain prayer is recited on this day. This festival closes the series of three pilgrimage festivals.

Book of Leviticus 23, 36

Lv 23, 36 : Seven days you shall offer sacrifices made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day, you shall have a holy assembly, and you shall offer sacrifices made by fire to Yahweh; it is a closing feast: you shall do no servile work.

Book of Numbers, 29, 35

Num 29, 35 : On the eighth day, you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no servile work.

I still think the same thing will happen to you as to Hannah of Elkanah. Reference to 1 Samuel 1:1-20

- May God grant it... and may I soon hear a voice say to me: "Go in peace. The God of Israel has granted you the grace you asked for!" Reference to 1 Samuel 1, 17. This reference to Hannah of Elkanah is repeated in Volume 1, chapter 5, page 25 (EMV 4).

First Book of Samuel 1, 1-20

Sa 1, 1-20: There was a man of Ramathaim-Sophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, named Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliu, son of Thohu, son of Suph, an Ephrathite. He had two wives, one of whom was called Hannah, and the other Phenna; and Phenna had children, but Hannah was childless. This man went up from his city every year to worship Yahweh of hosts and offer sacrifices to him at Shiloh. There were Heli's two sons, Ophni and Phinehas, priests of Yahweh. On the day Elkanah offered his sacrifice, he gave portions of the victim to Phenna, his wife, and to all his sons and daughters; and he gave Hannah a double portion, for he loved Hannah, and Yahweh had made her barren. His rival still afflicted him exceedingly, in order to embitter him that Yahweh had made her barren. And every year Elkanah did so, whenever she went up to Yahweh's house, and Phenna mortified her in the same way. Then she wept and ate nothing. Elkanah, her husband, said to her: "Hannah, why do you weep and not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

Anne got up, after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. - Heli, the high priest, was sitting on a seat before one of the posts of Yahweh's temple. - Her soul full of bitterness, she prayed to Yahweh and shed many tears; and she made a vow, saying, "Yahweh of hosts, if you deign to look upon the affliction of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget your handmaid, and if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to Yahweh for all the days of his life, and the razor shall not pass over his head." As she remained in prayer before Yahweh for a long time, Heli observed her mouth. Anne spoke in her heart and moved only her lips, without her voice being heard. So Heli thought she was drunk, and said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Pass your wine." Anne replied: "No, my lord, I am a woman afflicted in her heart; I drank neither wine nor intoxicating liquor, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh. Do not take your servant for a wife of Belial, for it is in the excess of my sorrow and pain that I have spoken thus far." Heli spoke again and said to her, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel answer your prayer to him!" She said, "May your servant find favor in your sight!" And the woman went her way; she ate, and her face was not the same. They got up early in the morning, bowed down before Yahweh and returned to their house in Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah, his wife, and Yahweh remembered her. When the time was up, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel, "because," she said, "I asked Yahweh for him."

Tomorrow is the last day of supplication. The seventh day of Sukkot (Tishri 21) is called "Hochaana Rabba". This is the day on which the divine judgment begun on "Rosh Hashanah" is finally decided. It is therefore marked by special prayers of supplication in which we implore God to judge us favorably (Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Leviticus 23:34-43; Numbers 29:12-34; Deuteronomy 16:13-16; 30:10-13).

Book of Exodus 23, 16

Ex 23, 16 : Thou shalt observe the Feast of Harvest, of the first-fruits of thy labor, of that which thou sowest in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering, at the end of the year, when thou gatherest in the field the fruit of thy labor.

Book of Exodus 34, 22

Ex 34, 22 : You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, of the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year.

Book of Numbers 29, 12-34:

On the fifteenth day, in the seventh month, you shall have a holy assembly: you shall do no servile work. And you shall keep a feast to Yahweh for seven days. You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor to Yahweh: thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, and for their meat offering, fine flour mingled with oil: three tenths for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams, and one tenth for each of the fourteen lambs. You shall also offer a he-goat as a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering with its oblation and libation.

On the second day, you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, the rams and the lambs, according to their number, according to the rule. You shall also offer a goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and their drink offerings.

On the third day you shall offer eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, the rams and the lambs, according to their number, according to the ordinance. You shall also offer a goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and its drink offering.

On the fourth day, you shall offer ten bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number according to the rule. You shall also offer a he-goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and its drink offering.

On the fifth day, you shall offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, according to the ordinance. You shall also offer a goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and its drink offering.

On the sixth day, you shall offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, according to the ordinance. You shall also offer a he-goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and its drink offering.

On the seventh day you shall offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, 33with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, the rams and the lambs, according to their number, according to the ordinance. 34You shall also offer a he-goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and its drink offering.

Book of Deuteronomy 16, 13-16

Dt 16, 13-16 : You shall keep the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days, when you have gathered in your threshing floor and your winepress; 14you shall rejoice at this feast, you, your son and your daughter, your man-servant and your maid-servant, as well as the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow who are within your gates. You shall keep the feast seven days in honor of Yahweh your God, in the place which Yahweh has chosen; for Yahweh your God will bless you in all your crops and in all the work of your hands, and you will be full of joy. Three times a year, every male among you shall appear before Yahweh, your God, in the place he has chosen: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Tabernacles; he shall not appear before Yahweh empty-handed.

Book of Deuteronomy, 30, 10-13

Dt 30, 10-13 : if you obey the voice of Yahweh, your God, by keeping his commandments and precepts written in this book of the law, if you return to Yahweh, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul. This commandment that I am commanding you today is not above you or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, for you to say, "Who will go up to heaven for us and fetch it for us, and make us hear it, so that we may fulfill it?" It is not beyond the sea, so that you say, "Who will pass for us beyond the sea and fetch it for us, and make us hear it, that we may fulfill it?"

In all truth, they could repeat what the Book says when it sings the praises of Wisdom in the book of the same name: See Wis 8:2 below.

Anne, daughter of Aaron, was the strong woman of whom our forefather speaks. Solomon, from whom Jesus descended. Author of the "Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel" (Proverbs 1:1). For the quotation, see Proverbs 31:10-27.

Joachim had thus twice married wisdom "loving her more than any other woman": God's wisdom contained in the heart of the righteous woman. See Wis 8:9 below.

To be the emblem of the "strong woman", all she needed was to be crowned with children, for this is the glory of a wife, the justification of marriage, of which Solomon speaks. See Pr 31, 28.

Now an old woman, Joachim's wife for decades, she remained for him "the wife of his youth, his joy, his beloved hind, his graceful gazelle". See Pr 5:18-19. Almost unanimous tradition has it that Anne was married for more than 20 years (4 lustres) (cf. P.V. Charland, Les trois légendes de Madame Saincte Anne, volume 1 1898, page 11), and that she had Mary in her old age. This tradition is also confirmed by Marie d'Agreda(La Cité mystique de Dieu - Livre 1, Chapitre 15, § 209, page 518), as well as by Anne-Catherine Emmerich (La Vie de la Vierge Marie, Presses de la Renaissance, 2006, page 45).

In their sadness at being childless, they spoke to each other "words of comfort in their cares and woes": see Wis 8, 9 below.

The words of the Book of Wisdom seem to have been written for them: "For her sake I will have glory among the multitudes... For her sake I will have immortality, and I will leave an everlasting memory for those who come after me. "See Wis 8, 9-10.

Book of Wisdom 8, 2 and 8, 9-10

Wis 8, 2 : I loved her and sought her out from my youth; I sought her as my wife, and was enamored of her beauty.

Wis 8:9-10 : So I resolved to take her as my life's companion, knowing that she would be to me a counsellor of all good, and a comfort in my cares and sorrows. Through her, I said to myself, I would have glory in the assemblies, and, still young, honor with the old men.

Book of Proverbs 5, 18-19

Pr 5, 18-19 : Bless your spring, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. Charming doe, graceful gazelle, - let her charms intoxicate you at all times, be always enamored of her love!

Book of Proverbs 31, 10-31

Pr 31, 10-31 :

THE STRONG WOMAN.

ALEPH. Who can find a strong woman? Her price far outweighs that of pearls.

BETH. Her husband's heart trusts her, and profits will not fail her.

GHIMEL. She does him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

DALETH. She seeks wool and flax, and works with her cheerful hand.

HÉ. She is like the merchant's vessel, bringing her bread from afar.

VAV. She rises while it is yet night, and gives food to her house, and task to her maids.

ZAIN. She thinks of a field, and acquires it; with the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.

HETH. She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms.

TETH. She feels that her gain is good; her lamp is not extinguished in the night. YOD. She puts her hand to the distaff, and her fingers take up the spindle.

CAPH. She stretches out her hand to the unfortunate, she opens her hand to the needy.

LAMED. She does not fear the snow for her house, for all her house is clothed in crimson.

MEM. She makes herself blankets, byssus and purple are her garments.

NUN. Her husband is well known at the city gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.

SAMECH. She makes shirts and sells them, and delivers belts to the merchant.

AÏN. Strength and grace are her adornment, and she laughs at the future.

PHE. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and good words are on her tongue.

TSADÉ. She watches over the paths of her house, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

QOPH. Her sons rise up and proclaim her happy; her husband rises up and gives her praise:

RESCH. "Many daughters have shown themselves virtuous; but you, you surpass them all."

SCHIN. Deceitful is grace, and vain is beauty; the woman who fears Yahweh is the one who will be praised.

THAV. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works declare her praise at the gates of the city.

Were you right in seeing in me a new Anne of Elkanah? Joachim had indeed spoken of the prophet Samuel's mother in EMV 3.

Under the feet of the cherubim: Cherubim (Kerubim) abounded in the decoration of Solomon's Temple (e.g. 1 Kings 6:23-35). The stars are probably the stars of David or Solomon's seal.

I had the impression that a fire was starting from behind the sacred Veil, from Glory itself, that it was coming rapidly towards me and that, as it crossed the air, it was singing in a celestial voice: "May what you have asked for happen to you! "This is the voice of the Redeemer, as we read in EMV 4.5: "Wisdom herself came down (...) and became a word to the barren woman" (p. 31).

What kind of child will ours be, then, to appear like the light of a star in the Temple and say: "I am" during the Festival of Lights? The star is part of Balaam's prophecy. Num 24:17-19. " I see him, but not as present; I contemplate him, but not closely. A star comes out of Jacob, a scepter rises from Israel. He breaks Moab's two flanks, he exterminates all the sons of tumult. Edom is his possession; Seir, his enemy, is his possession, and Israel displays his valour. Out of Jacob comes a dominator; he destroys in the cities what remains of Edom."

"I am" : the very name of God as defined to Moses, according toExodus 3:14-15. You will speak to the sons of Israel: "The one who sent me to you is: I AM". See the fact sheet on the Divine Name.

She will never offend the Lord: indeed, Miriam offended the Lord in Numbers 12:1-10.

Book of Numbers 12, 1-10

Mary, with Aaron, spoke against Moses concerning the Cushite woman he had taken; for he had taken a Cushite woman. They said, "Has Yahweh spoken only through Moses? Has he not also spoken through us?" And Yahweh heard him. But Moses was a gentle man, more gentle than any man on the face of the earth. Suddenly Yahweh said to Moses, Aaron and Mary, "Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting." And they went out, all three of them; and Yahweh came down in the pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent. He called Aaron and Mary, who both came forward; and he said, "Listen to my words carefully: if you have any prophet of Yahweh, it is in a vision that I reveal myself to him, it is in a dream that I speak to him. Such is not my servant Moses; he is known to be faithful in all my house. 8I speak to him mouth to mouth, showing myself, not in riddles, and he beholds the face of Yahweh. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?" And Yahweh's anger was kindled against them; and he went away; the cloud withdrew from over the tent. And behold, Mary became a leper, white as snow. Aaron turned to Mary, and behold, she was a leper.