Today is the feast of St. Isaiah. Yes, that is Isaiah the Prophet. Many of you might not know that great figures of the Old Testament are considered saints by the Church, though they are not remembered at the altar for Mass.
Here is the entry about Isaiah from 9 May in the Martyrologium Romanum. Maybe one or more of you you can take a crack at it? It isn’t too difficult.
1. Commemoratio sancti Isaiae, prophetae, qui, in diebus Oziae, Iotham, Achaz et Ezechiae, regum Iudae, missus est ut populo infideli et peccatori Dominum fidelem et salvatorem revelaret, ad implementum promissionis David a Deo iuratae. Apud Iudaeos sub Manasse rege martyr occubuisse traditur.
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1. Commemoratio sancti Isaiae, prophetae, qui, in diebus Oziae, Iotham, Achaz et Ezechiae, regum Iudae, missus est ut populo infideli et peccatori Dominum fidelem et salvatorem revelaret, ad implementum promissionis David a Deo iuratae. Apud Iudaeos sub Manasse rege martyr occubuisse traditur.
Commemoration of Saint Isaiah, prophet, who, in the days of Oziah, Jotham, Achaz, and Hezechiah, kings of Judah, was sent that he might reveal to an unfaithful and sinful people the faithful and saving Lord, for the fulfilling of the promise sworn by God to David. Among the Jews he is held to have fallen as a martyr under King Manasses.
Fr. Z,
Besides trying to find out in the Marytrologium Romanum, do you know of a site or place where one can find a list of Old Testament figures considered as saints by the Church?
Hmmm…. good question. I can’t think of one right now. I get them conveniently printed on the daily page of my Vatican calendar, printed for offices of the curia. They would be in the Acta Sanctorum I suppose. Not too convenient, that.
Maybe it would be a good project to start compiling them in a convenient list!
Just on a hunch, I took a quick glance at the Catholic Encyclopedia on New Advent and they noted under the entry for “Isaias”: “The Roman Martyrology commemorates Isaias on 6 July.” I guess it got shuffled under the feast calendar reorganization (excuse me for lacking the proper term)?
I am curious to see if the list of OT figures who have feast days include any women.
I can think at least of these four women:
Anna prophetissa, the sisters of Lazarus, Maria and Martha and Anna the Mater of the BVM.
The Holy Maccabbees were remembered at the altar, no?