ANNA PRAYS TO THE LORD.

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the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head." And it came to pass, as she multiplied prayers before the Lord, that Heli observed her mouth. Now Anna spoke in her heart, and only

her lips moved, but her voice was not heard at all. Heli therefore thought her to be drunk, and said to

EXPLANATION OF THE TYPE OF ANNA.-Anna is referred to by Isaias as a figure of the Gentiles when brought to the faith (Isaias liv., 1.) The prayer of

her: "How long wilt thou be drunk? digest a little the wine, of which thou hast taken too much.' Anna answering, said: "Not so, my lord: for I am an exceeding unhappy woman, and have drunk neither wine nor any strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thy hand-maid for one of the daughters of Belial: for out of the abundance of my sorrow and grief have I spoken till now." Then Heli said to her: "Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition, which thou hast asked of Him." And she said: "Would to God thy hand-maid may find grace in thy eyes. So the woman went on her way, and ate, and her countenance was no more changed.

§ 58. Anna brings Samuel to Heli.

God heard the prayer of Anna, and granted her a son: and when Anna and Elkana appeared before Heli to fulfil the vow, Anna said: "I beseech thee, my lord, as thy soul liveth: I am that woman who stood before thee here praying to the Lord. For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath granted me my petition, which I asked of Him. 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. And Anna prayed, and said:

CANTICLE OF ANNA.

My heart hath rejoiced in the Lord, and my horn is exalted in my God; my mouth is enlarged over my enemies, for 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.

Anna for children, is a figure of the Prayers of the Church for the conversion of heathen nations.

§ 59. The Call of Samuel.

Heli, the High Priest, was very old; and his two sons, Ophni and Phineas, acted towards the people who came to offer sacrifice to the Lord, in the most haughty and imperious manner, and subjected them to very unjust exactions, so that their sin was exceeding great before the Lord, because they withdrew men from the sacrifice of the Lord. Heli, their father, was too easy and quiet a man to take sufficiently strong measures, and instead of punishing his sons, and putting an end to the scandal, he satisfied himself with merely a goodnatured remonstrance, saying to them: "Do not so, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear, that you make the people of the Lord to transgress." The young men however hearkened not to the voice of their father, for the Lord would slay them.

The child Samuel at this time ministered to the Lord before Heli, and the word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no manifest vision. And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his eyes were grown dim, that he could not see: before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I." And he ran to Heli and said: "Here am I for thou didst call me.' : He said: "I did not call: go back and sleep." And he went and slept. And the Lord called Samuel again. And Samuel rose and went to Heli, and said: "Here am I: for

1 calledst me." He answered: "I did not call

thee, my son: return and sleep." Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither had the word of the Lord been revealed to him.

And the Lord called

and

Samuel again the third time. And he arose up went to Heli. And said: "Here am I: for thou didst call me." Then Heli understood that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: "Go, and sleep: and