The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

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V. A SON IS PROMISED TO ZACHARIAS

I saw Zacharias talking with Elisabeth of his grief; it was near the time for his turn of service in the Temple, and it was always with sorrow that he went, for he was looked on with contempt there because of his unfruitfulness. Zacharias had to perform his service in the Temple twice a year.81

They lived not in Hebron itself, but in Jutta, about an hour’s distance from it. There were many remains of walls between Jutta82 and Hebron, as if these two places had once been connected with each other. On the other sides of Hebron were also many scattered buildings and groups of houses, the remains, it seemed, of the former city of Hebron, which must once have been as large as Jerusalem. Priests of lower rank lived at Hebron, while those of higher rank lived at Jutta. Zacharias was a kind of superior of the latter. He and Elisabeth were held in great honour there for their virtue and their unbroken descent from Aaron.

I then saw how Zacharias and several other priests of the neighbourhood met together on a small farm which he owned near Jutta. There was a garden with various arbours and a little house. Zacharias prayed here with his companions and taught them. It was a kind of preparation for the forthcoming service at the Temple. I also heard him speak of his heaviness of heart, and how he had a presentiment that something was about to befall him.

I then saw him go with these people to Jerusalem; he had to wait four days more before it was his turn to sacrifice. In the meantime he prayed in the Temple. When it was his turn to kindle the incense-offering, I saw him go into the Holy Place, where the golden altar of incense stood in front of the entrance to the Holy of Holies. The ceiling above it had been opened so that one could see the sky. One could not see the sacrificing priest from outside, but one could see the smoke rising up. When Zacharias had entered, another priest said something to him and then went away.83

Now that Zacharias was alone, I saw him go through a curtain into a place where it was dark. He brought something out from there which he placed on the altar, and kindled fire to make smoke. Then I saw a radiance descending upon him from the right side of the altar, and within it a shining figure approaching him, and I saw how he sank down towards the right-hand side of the altar in alarm and at the same time rigid in ecstasy. The angel lifted him up and spoke with him for a long time, and Joachim answered him. I saw the heavens opening above Zacharias, and two angels descending and ascending as if on a ladder. His girdle was loosened and his robe was open, and it appeared to me as if one of the angels took something from him and as if the other put into his side as it were a little shining substance. That was what happened also when Joachim received the blessing of the angel for the conception of the Blessed Virgin. It was usual for the priests to leave the Holy Place as soon as they had kindled the incense-offering, so when Zacharias was so long in coming out, those praying outside became anxious. He had become dumb, and I saw him writing on a tablet before coming out. When he emerged from the Temple and came into the outer court, a crowd gathered round him and asked why he had stayed so long. But he could not speak; he waved his hands and pointed to his mouth and to the tablet, which he at once sent to Elisabeth at Jutta, to tell her of the merciful promise of God and of his own dumbness. After a short time he returned there himself; Elisabeth had also been given a revelation, but I can no longer remember what it was.

[This rather incomplete account is all that Catherine Emmerich, who was ill at the time, related on this subject; see St. Luke 1.5-25.]


81. During this time period, there were 24 courses (or groups) of priests who took turns at service in the Temple of Jerusalem. For the regular rotation, each group was on duty for one week, from Sabbath to Sabbath, twice a year (Ant. 7.365). Thus, each Sabbath saw two courses of priests on duty at the same time. This was necessary because of the larger number of worshipers who would come to the Temple on the Sabbath. For much the same reason, all 24 priestly courses were on duty at the Temple of Jerusalem during the three great feasts of the Jewish faith: feast of Passover, feast of Weeks, feast of Tabernacles (Mishna, m Sukka 5.7). Thus, each priestly course actually served five times a year at the Temple, two in the regular rotation, and three for the three great feasts. Every able-bodied Jewish man was required to worship God at the Temple for those three feasts (Deut 16:16). (RC)

82. Jutta, the modern Yattah, lies about five miles south of Hebron. See also n. 2, p. 146. (SB)


83. Probably he had said to him, as was the custom, ‘Kindle the incense-offering’. See Mishnah, tract. Tamid, 6, § 3, edit. Surenh, p. 305. (CB)

The tractate Tamid, IV-VII, describes the whole course of the daily sacrifice. This passage is in tome V, p.305, in the edition of Surenhusius. (SB)