Hannah, the mother of Samuel
Last Monday (6 Papi), the Church celebrated the commemoration of Saint Hannah, the mother of Samuel.
The story of this righteous woman inspires several reflections:
The first chapter of the First Book of Samuel recounts how this saintly woman was deep and successful in her prayers.
- She prayed a prayer, a prayer from the depth of her heart, a prayer with tears and contrition.
It was a long and silent prayer, without a voice: “For Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.”
- Her prayer was accompanied by a vow. She made a vow, and she was serious and faithful in fulfilling it.
Although her vow was difficult—that she would offer her only son to the Lord,
the son who would come to her after a long period of barrenness—she fulfilled this vow.
As soon as she weaned her son, she went up with him to the temple and handed him over to the Lord to serve Him all his life.
Therefore, God gave her many sons, because she did not withhold her only son from Him.
She is an example of a mother who rejoices in consecrating her only son and does not keep him beside her out of her love for him.
Therefore, God, just as He accepted her prayer, answered it, and granted her offspring, also accepted her vow and offering. Samuel became her son, a great prophet among the prophets of God, he who anointed David the prophet as king. And he was beloved by the Lord.
+And Hannah was a person who respected the priesthood:
In the depth of her fervent prayer, Eli the high priest thought that she was drunk. He said to her a hurtful statement:
“How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you.”
Nevertheless, this unjust accusation did not prevent her from answering him with all respect:
“No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink,
but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a daughter of Belial.”
When Eli prayed for her, she accepted his prayer with joy and humility.
She said to him, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight,” and in faith she departed rejoicing.
+And Hannah was generous; she did not stand before God empty-handed, but stood before Him with great generosity.
She was not content merely to offer her only son to the Lord. Rather,
she offered him and, along with him, three bulls, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine.
As she offered her son and her sacrifice, she stood in great humility and spoke to Eli, the priest,
who had thought she was drunk and had spoken to her in a hurtful manner. She said to him:
“I ask you, my lord. As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord.
For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.”
- This is the story of the barren woman who, through the work of grace in her, became the mother of a prophet.
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III — Al-Keraza Magazine — Ninth Year (Issue No. 42), 20-10-1978
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