Hannah and Mary

[caine]

I’m trying to get some confirmation on an interpretation.

In 1 Samuel 2, Hannah praises God when offering Samuel in the temple using words that are echoed by Mary in the Magnificat. In English translations, Hannah uses present and future tenses, while Mary uses past tense.

Hannah: “The Lord puts to death and he gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again.”

Mary: “He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly.”

Should I assume that the tenses are accurately carried over from the orignal languages? If so, is there any commentary out there about the profound relationship between these prayers? Hannah is praising the work of God in progress, while Mary seems to be praising it’s full accomplishment in the Incarnation.

 

[Todd_Easton]

In A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, edited by Dom Bernard Orchard M.A. and others, published by Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1953, on page 308, referring Anna’s [Hannah’s] Hymn of Thanksgiving in 1 Kings [1 Samuel] 2:1-10, it says in part:
This is sometimes called ’ the Magnificat of the OT '. Both Mary’s song and Anna’s canticle are poetry and prophecy. St. Luke’s narrative (Lk 1:46-55) shows how deeply Anna’s words had affected our Lady’s mind. But when they pass through her soul, they catch something of the fragrance of her personality and are clothed with her own quiet restraint and selfless humility.

 

[TOME]

I cannot comment about these particular verses, however, it might be helpfull that the Church from the times of the Apostles (brought out especially by the letters of Paul) and especially during the periodof the Church Fathers, always interpeted the OT as prefiguring/foretelling that which was fulfilled by Christ and the Church.

So I would find it very understandable if these verses have been understood and commented on as you have suggested.