20 August: St. Samuel, Old Testament prophet

Many of the great figures of the Old Testament are considered by Holy Church to be saints. They are not on the Latin Church’s universal calendar – except for a few of those mighty ones who stand astride the two covenants, whom you could name if you tried – but they are in the Roman Martyrology.

Today is feast of St. Samuel, the prophet of the Old Testament.

Many people do not realize that Old Testament figures are often considered saints.

Here is the entry for St. Samuel in the Roman Martyrology:

2. Commemoratio sancti Samuelis, prophetae, qui puer a Deo vocatus, dein iudicis in Israel munere fungens, Deo iubente, Saulem unxit regem super populum, sed, illo postea a Domino ob infidelitatem reiecto, regalem unctionem contulit etiam Davidi, cuius ex semine Christus erat nasciturus.

Would some of you like to take a shot at a flawless and yet smooth translation?