Rachel of Cana
A young orphan who supports her grandmother Joanna and her little brothers by doing hard labor, despite her young age. She falls ill.
Jesus tells her that God will reward her. He has already done so by relieving her grandmother’s suffering. Nothing more? No. And her healing?
"As God helps me in life, He will help me in death and I will go to my mother…"[1]
Marjiam, the young prodigy disciple, offers a sacrifice in exchange for her healing. Jesus accepts. She will be healed.[2]
The heroism of Marjiam, who abstained from honey for a whole month, makes his adoptive father Peter proud.[3]
Character and appearance
A frail and pale young girl of barely ten years old.
"Oh! Rachel is good! She stays up until late to spin the little wool we have and she became feverish working in the field to prepare it to be sown when our father was dying."[4]
Her name
Her name means "ewe" - Historical reference: the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.