Prophet Hosea
Date of celebration: 17/10
The Prophet Hosea was the son of Beeri (or Benii) from Galemoth (or Balethom) of the Issachar tribe and lived in the eighth century before Christ, under the kings of Judah, Uzzi, Joatham, Ahaz, Hezekiah and Jeroboam II of Israel. In the Old Testament, he is the first of the twelve minor so-called prophets.
Hosea was a soul full of zeal for the divine Law, which is why in his prophetic book he directly denounces the people of Israel, who were infected by idolatry.
Its symbolism is considered difficult to explain, but it clearly manifests its faith in Christ the Savior. In fact, our Lord himself used a great phrase of Hosea, to the Pharisees (Matthew 8:3), which says: “I want mercy and not sacrifice and acknowledgment of God or burnt offerings” (Hosea, v. 6). That is, God says through Hosea:
“I prefer your peaceful love to me rather than formal sacrifices, and I want you to be aware of the divine will more than the meaningless and insubstantial burnt offerings you offer.” Also, the Apostles Peter and Paul used phrases from Hosea in their letters.
Hosea is said to have lived 75 years, and then surrendered his righteous soul to God.