Eliza of Bethzur
"Last year her sons also died. A sudden illness for the first and no one ever understood what he died of. The second declined slowly and nothing stopped the sickness… When we returned in the month of Adar, he had been dead for two months."[1]She has common ancestors with Mary since she also descends from King David. She also went to the Temple during her childhood, where she was the "main companion" of Mary. She left the Temple two years before Mary to marry her husband. The Virgin Mary says:
"Elise was much older than me. She was waiting in the Temple for her husband’s return, who had gone to Egypt for an inheritance matter, and she stayed there until an unusual Age. She is about ten years older. The maids used to give the younger students older ones to guide them... and she was my main companion. She was good..."[2]Jesus and Mary visit her to console her and to heal her from her despair:
"I have not slept for months... I weep... I weep... I do not know how to do anything else..."[3] "... the servant who remains stunned and only repeats: ‘What a miracle, Lord! What a miracle! After so many months, she has spoken, she has thought... Oh! what a matter!... People said she was dying mad... And I was saddened because she is good.’"[4]
After all these Trials, she is taken in by Johanna of Chuza and decides to Follow Jesus, "her Peace".
Happy and fulfilled, she receives the care of Anastasica, the healed leper.[5] Gradually Elise settles in Nob, a village near Jerusalem, to serve Jesus. Indeed, he no longer has places in Judea where he can stop peacefully, except this one.[6] One of the first Trials she will face will be that of a Judas, a runaway, who plots his betrayal.[7]
Despite her aversion, she manages to hold him back while waiting for Jesus' return, but nevertheless thinks it wise to keep Anastasica away from a lustful Judas lustful. She will similarly overcome her aversion to him when it comes to watching over him, as he grows increasingly close to the final betrayal, during the exile in Samaria.[8] Very bravely, she even puts her life in danger to Save Judas during the altercation at Tirzah.[9]
Character and Appearance
She is ten years older than the Virgin Mary (around 57/60 years old). Thin, white hair. A Woman to whom the great pain of the past has given a majesty of a suffering queen.[10]
Apostolic Path
She is at Calvary with the holy Women.[11] She is also witness to the Ascension.[12]
Her Name
אליז (Elise)[13]
Elise, like Elisha (Èlisha), means "God is Salvation". Historical reference: the great prophet Elisha.
Where is she mentioned in the work?
The second paschal journey: EMV 199 - Apostolate in Judea: EMV 208 EMV 209 EMV 210 EMV 214 EMV 215 Apostolate in Philistia: EMV 224The conversion of Mary Magdalene: EMV 226 EMV 228 Perea, Gilead and Trachonitis: EMV 281 EMV 285 EMV 286 EMV 290 EMV 293 EMV 294 EMV 302
Phoenicia and Upper Galilee: EMV 334 The Transfiguration and the Bread of Heaven: EMV 360 The penultimate Passover: EMV 366 EMV 367 EMV 370 EMV 371 EMV 375 EMV 378
Gods in Judea: EMV 393 EMV 399 EMV 400 EMV 401 EMV 402 Pentecost, Decapolis and Esdraelon Plain: EMV 427 Summer in Nazareth: EMV 441
In Moab and in Judea: EMV 511 The Feast of the Dedication: EMV 528 EMV 529 EMV 531 EMV 532 EMV 535
The exile in Samaria: EMV 560 EMV 566 EMV 567 EMV 568 EMV 571 EMV 573 EMV 574 EMV 575 The return to Jerusalem: EMV 576 EMV 582 EMV 583
Holy Week: EMV 596
Resurrection Sunday: EMV 626 From Resurrection to Ascension: EMV 632 EMV 638 The apostolic times: EMV 641