Monday Jan 12

THE AGED SIMEON AND THE PROPHETESS ANNA IN THE TEMPLE

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple.” —“And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of Him to all who looked for the redemption of Israel” (Luke 2, 25-27; 36, 38).

First Prelude: Behold Mary and Joseph, and the Prophetess Anna, gathered round the aged Simeon, who holds in his arms the “Christ of the Lord.”

Second Prelude: Give me grace, O Jesus, to learn a lesson from each one of these holy souls.

FIRST POINT

CONTEMPLATE THE HOLY SIMEON

Holy Writ says of him that he was just, pious, feared God, that he was full of the Holy Spirit, and waited for the Consolation of Israel. What glorious praise of consummate holiness! Simeon was just and feared God—in other words, he possessed all virtues, solicitously avoided sin, and awaited the Consolation of Israel—detached from all earthly things, he longed for nothing in this world save the happiness of seeing Jesus before his death. The Holy Ghost was with Simeon. In all his actions, thoughts, and sentiments he was guided by the Holy Spirit, Who constantly dwelt within, and to Whose every inspiration Simeon was faithful.

What a beautiful example for souls consecrated to the service of God! Simeon’s holy desires won for him the assurance that he should not die till he had seen the Saviour of the world. How pleasing to God must have been the pious longing of the aged Simeon! “Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty” (Isaias 33, 17). As reward for his eager longing for the Messiah, Simeon had most likely received a divine intimation to the effect that he should not die till his desire had been fulfilled. Full of joy, Simeon hastens to the temple this blessed morning, and beholds there Mary with the Divine Child in her arms, Who differs in no way from other children. Enlightened by the Holy Ghost, Simeon penetrates the veil and recognizes in this helpless Child the Word made Flesh, the Expected for four thousand years. What may Simeon have felt as he held in his arms, and pressed close to his bosom, the “Christ of the Lord!” Full of joy and delight, he raises his eyes to heaven, and with a loud voice acclaims the mercies of the Lord. Oh, what bliss flooded his soul in that moment,—with what graces was it overwhelmed! What a glorious recompense for his long life of faithful service in the Temple of God! There now remains for him but the wish to die, to be able for all eternity to extol the mercies of the Lord.

In Holy Communion, we have the inexpressible happiness of not only holding the same Christ in our embrace, and pressing Him to our heart, but of taking full possession of Him, as the promised Salvation, and the pledge of everlasting life. Let us receive Him each morning with the lively faith, the longing and the holy love of Simeon. “Delight in the Lord, and He will give thee the requests of thy heart” (Ps. 36, 4).

SECOND POINT

LET US CONTEMPLATE THE PROPHETESS ANNA

Anna was the daughter of Phanuel and a prophetess. We read in the gospel that she received, and in turn announced, the revelations of the Holy Ghost. The sanctity of her life was in perfect harmony with the distinguished grace imparted to her by the Holy Spirit. The more she had died to the world and the flesh during the years of her widowhood, the more generously had the life of grace unfolded itself and fructified her soul. To abstinence, she joined the greatest zeal in the service of God, mortification, and prayer. So frequently did she appear in the Temple to praise God, and to implore heaven to send the Messiah, that in the words of the evangelist, she “Departed not from the Temple.” Little wonder, then, that God’s special pleasure rested upon this holy widow, and that before so many others she was vouchsafed the rare happiness of recognizing the Messiah in the Son of the Virgin Mary. Full of holy joy, she saw and contemplated this Divine Child and breaking forth in ecstasies of gratitude and exultation, gave public testimony of the Son, glorifying God.

Let us imitate the fervor and zeal of this holy widow. With holy joy, let us too, go to the temple, to the dwelling place of our dear Saviour, as often as our Holy Rule and our duties permit it. Let us adore Him with profound reverence, that we may be worthy, through the devotion to His Sacred Heart, to receive the marks of His special favor and love. The gospel adds: “She spoke of Him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.” Inundated with the consolation that filled her holy soul, she held herself bound to inform all her acquaintances and to imbue their hearts with love of Jesus. If love of Jesus has taken full possession of our heart, our conversations will, likewise, be animated by the Holy Ghost, and we will incessantly strive to impart knowledge of His love to others, that they, too, may enjoy the happiness we have found in the footsteps of our Divine Saviour.

When religious observance calls me to the house of God, do I respond cheerfully and zealously? Is it my aim to edify others by means of my conversations?

Affections: What worthy models of true sanctity do I behold in the pious Simeon and the prophetess Anna! Replenished with the Holy Spirit, they led a supernatural, holy life. I, too, am called to such a life, but, alas, I am lacking in faithful co-operation with the graces imparted to me so plentifully, daily and hourly, in religion. Oh, that my heart would no longer resist the promptings of the Holy Ghost, Who would lead me to perfection! Pardon, O my God—I am sorry for having resisted Thy enlightenments in the past, by means of which Thou wouldst advance me in virtue and perfection. From this day forward, I will walk faithfully in Thy holy presence and by prayer and mortification endeavor to render myself worthy of Thy special grace and friendship.

Resolution: In all my actions, I will be guided by the spirit and the principles of faith.

Spiritual Bouquet: “Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace.” 

Prayer: Take, O Lord . . .