Tahsas 3 — December 12

Little Mary Comes to God's House

A long time ago there lived a kind man named Joachim and his wife named Hannah. They loved God very much, but they were sad, because they had no children. Hannah prayed and prayed. One day she made a special promise to God: if He gave her a child, she would give that child right back to Him, to serve Him.

God heard their prayer. He gave them a baby girl, and they named her Mary. This little girl would one day become the mother of our Lord Jesus. Hannah kept her promise. When Mary was three years old, her parents brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem, God's special house where people went to pray.

So tiny Mary went to live in God's house with other girls who loved God too. The Bible tells us something we can hardly imagine: God's angels brought her food with their own hands. She stayed in the Temple for many years, praying and growing, until the day came for God's Son to be born from her.

When Mary was older, God chose a gentle, good man named Joseph to take care of her. To show that Joseph was the right one, God made a little white dove appear and rest on his head. Everyone saw it and thanked God. Joseph took Mary safely into his home. Later the angel Gabriel came to tell her the happiest news of all: that she would be the mother of God's own Son.

Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord. Do for me whatever God commands.— the words of Saint Mary

She lived in God's house, and the angels of heaven brought her food with their own hands.

Fanuel the Archangel

Today we also celebrate a shining archangel named Fanuel. An archangel is one of the very important angels who stand close to God. Fanuel is called the ladder of prayer, because he helps carry our prayers up to God in heaven.

Fanuel is strong and good, and he keeps us safe from harm. We ask this kind angel to pray for us, so that we may always stay close to God who loves us.