We often have “principles” that we abide by, but how often do we abide by them? And how faithful are we to our own promises and resolutions, especially those made to God?
There is, therefore, a “Principle of principles”, that is, the principle that we must not be afraid to stand by our principles. When Daniel was serving the king in Babylon, his friends, Azarias, Ananias, and Misael, were also there. Many people know Azarias as Abdenago, Ananias and Sidrach, and Misael as Misach, their Babylonian names. (Yes, the historical account of that miracle you may be thinking about is in the Book of Daniel).
The account of the miracle appears to have been written by the King himself (as mentioned in Dan. iii. 98-100). However, according to St. Jerome, verses 25 through 90 were absent from most Hebrew texts. Maybe they once were in the Hebrew texts, but must have been lost or destroyed; or they may have been exclusively in the Chaldaic or even the Greek language. For this reason, these verses are considered to be “Deuterocanonical”, a term given to the Books of Tobias, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus (or Sirach), Baruch, and Maccabees I and II (as well as some parts of the Book of Esther). However, The Holy Ghost does guide the Church, and as He has guided the Holy Apostles in their writings and their preaching, so did he guide the Holy Doctor Jerome.
The summary before: King Nabuchodonosor attacked Jerusalem with a mighty army and wrought havoc in the city as was never even dreamed of.
One day, King Nabuchodonosor II of Babylon decides to construct a gigantic golden statue (what it looks like we really don’t know, but some say it looked like a human person). It was “60 cubits high, and 6 cubits broad” (Dan. III. 1), which, according to the conversion measurements, was 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. The king ordered it to be placed “in the plain of Dura of the province of Babylon” (Dan. III. 1).
How the three young men respond to the king shows what virtue God has truly given them for help in this beautiful trial; a powerful and strong patience, a superhuman courage in the face of danger and trial, and a complete abandonment resignation to His Holy and Adorable Wil. God gives such beautiful virtues and strengths to the holy martyrs of the new testament (from Stephen to Peter and Paul to the Diocletian martyrs and beyond), and I dare say, He even does so today!
Verses 25-45 are of the humble and contrite prayer of Azarias in the furnace, admitting that everything that transpired in Jerusalem, and during the captivity and pre-captivity, were all for the chastisement of Israel and Jerusalem for their sinfulness.
He then continues to reference, and even, I dare say, fulfill in a certain way, the beautiful 50th Psalm, in which David composed out of contrition for his adultery, and which the Church beautifully sings during the Holy Season of Lent.
The beautiful canticle known as the Benedicite (Dan. iii. 52-90) praises God for the creation of the elements and the celestial bodies, as well as all living creatures of all ranks and “kingdoms”, attributing their creation to God. This hymn appears in the Lauds of the Little Office.
All in all, The Catholic Church loves this specific chapter so much that it appears in Her liturgy at least one time in every season. Ember Saturday in Advent uses the part where the three young men say the Benedicite as one of the Lessons in the Mass on that day, which also happens on Whitsuntide Ember Saturday. The Thursday in Passion Week uses the humble prayer of Azarias for the Lesson of that day (verses 34 through 43), and the beginning of the chapter (verses 1 through 24) are read as the last of the Twelve Prophecies read on Holy Saturday. In fact, verse 40 (mentioned above) is prayed by the Priest during the Offertory, and is a permanent part of the Traditional Latin Mass.
“In the spirit of humility and with a contrite heart receive us, O Lord, and grant that this sacrifice which we offer this day in Thy sight, may be pleasing unto Thee, O Lord.”
This is one of the most beautiful miracles in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Azarias, Ananias, and Misael are all canonized Saints, and have a feast day on December 16. The Holy Prophet Daniel is also a Saint, whose feast is on July 21. The three young men can be invoked for furnace operation, metalworking, and for perseverance in tough trials.
Under Mary's Mantle 