Sunday, December 8 : 1st book of Samuel 1,9-11.19b-22.

After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the LORD. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.
She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly.
She made this vow: ‘O LORD of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants,
They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.
In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked him of the LORD.’
The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow.
But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, ‘As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the LORD, and remain there for ever; I will offer him as a nazirite for all time.’

maronite readings – rosary,team