In the Rite of Marriage from the 1962 Missal, there is this beautiful and evocative passage:



May this yoke that she is taking on herself be one of love and peace. May she be faithful and chaste, marrying in Christ, and may she always imitate the holy women: may she be the beloved of her husband, as was Rachel; wise, as was Rebecca; long-lived and loyal, as was Sara.



I think of the passage from time to time, but it's been in my mind today because Genesis 24 has been in my mind. The first appearance of Rebecca.



And the damsel [was] very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw [water] for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw [water], and drew for all his camels.



Now this is an extraordinary thing, more extraordinary than this child of his century usually stops to realize. But this morning I was prodded to think about it. Eliezer, servant and emissary of Abraham, had brought ten camels on this journey to seek a wife for Isaac. Commentaries on the chapter suggest that ten camels would consume some 140 gallons of water. Ten camels needing to be attended to. 140 gallons needing to be drawn from the well. 140 gallons needing to be carried to the trough. Think of the calendar of qualities she displays.



Physical strength. Selflessness. Generosity. Practicality. Cheerfulness. Wisdom.



Holy woman and matriarch. Rebecca.