Catholic Thought discussion

Summary

Subchapters
- The Age of the Prophets
- The Age of the Prophets
- The Types of Prophecy
- The Prophecy of Hannah, Mother of Samuel
- The Transformation of the Priesthood: the Prophecy to Eli
- The Transformation of the Kingship: Saul and Samuel
- David, Solomon, and the Prophetic Anticipation of Christ
- David’s Prophecies of Christ and the Church: the Psalms
- Solomon’s Prophecies of Christ and the Church
- Prophecy after Solomon

Augustine continues the establishment of the City of God, now picking up from the end of Genesis and glossing over Moses and the other four books of the Pentateuch, focusing on the prophets leading to the Kingships of David and Solomon. Abraham’s seed has taken root in the Promised Land, which can be still seen as the city of man but now with the projection and prophesying of the heavenly city of God. The prophesying starts with of all people Hannah, the mother of the Samuel, and continues through Kings David and Solomon and fulfilled in Christ.

Yes, I know. I'm almost a week late in posting. The chapters do get longer toward the end of the book. I was surprised at how long Book XVII was.

I was particularly taken by Augustine’s praise and characterization of Hannah. After quoting Hannah’s great canticle in 1Sam 2:1-10, this is what Augustine writes:

Are we really to suppose that these are simply the words of one insignificant woman giving thanks for the birth of her son? Are people’s minds so turned away from the light of truth that they do not recognize that the words this woman poured forth go far beyond her own measure? Can anyone who is rightly moved by the things which have already begun to be fulfilled in this earthly pilgrimage fail to notice and see and recognize that through this woman (whose very name, Hannah, means “his grace” [17]) there speaks the Christian religion itself, the city of God itself, whose king and founder is Christ, and ultimately the grace of God itself? Through her, then, by the spirit of prophecy, there speaks the very grace of God, from which the proud are estranged so that they fall and by which the humbled are filled so that they rise—which was, in fact, the main theme resounding throughout her song of praise.

But perhaps someone will suggest that this woman was not speaking in prophecy at all but was merely praising God in exuberant terms for the son she had obtained in answer to her prayers. If that is true, however, what does it mean that she says, He has made weak the bow of the mighty, and the weak are girded with strength. Those sated with bread have been reduced to want, and the hungry have passed over the earth. For the barren woman has given birth to seven, and she who has many children has been enfeebled (1 S 2:4-5 LXX)? Had Hannah herself given birth to seven, despite the fact that she was barren? In fact, she had only one child when she spoke these words, nor did she later bear seven children—or even six, with whom Samuel would have made the seventh—but only five children, three male and two female.[18] And furthermore, since this was a time when no king ruled over that people, how could she conclude by saying, He gives strength to our kings and shall exalt the horn of his anointed (1 S 2:10 LXX), unless she was prophesying?

I need to re-read the books of Samuel. I did not remember Hannah having that great a role in salvation history. But apparently she does.

What impressive work, Manny. Thank you.

Hannah's song is much like Mary's Magnificat, in style and substance. I've read somewhere that the Magnificat was not original, but an older canticle that might have been known when Mary studied in the temple. Possibly Hannah's words or perhaps both songs were echoes of an older source?

Madeleine wrote: "Hannah's song is much like Mary's Magnificat, in style and substance. I've read somewhere that the Magnificat was not original, but an older canticle that might have been known when Mary studied in..."

I have noticed the similarities Madeline. I’m no Biblical scholar but the way I think of it I assumed the Blessed Virgin knew Hannah’s canticle and she “riffed” on it like a jazz musicians riff on other melodies. After all when I create a prayer, it’s mostly an echo of prior prayers or Biblical passages. I don’t find anything unusual that Mary echoes Hannah.