Daniel’s legend begins about 600 years before Jesus is born. 

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar, and the Babylonians defeat the Jews in battle, and Daniel, along with Mishel, Hannaniah, and Azariah are among the young Jewish nobility captured and taken to serve in Nebadcudnezzar’s court. 

They are selected because of their intellect and youth and, to provide insight into how to govern the unruly Jews. 

Although living in captivity, Daniel and the others remain true to their faith and The Lord rewards them with great wisdom which surpasses all the King’s other advisors. When Nebakudnezzar has a series of dreams, only Daniel is able to interpret them. 

In one, a giant statue made of four metals with feet composed of iron and clay is smashed by a stone from heaven. David tells the King: The dream signifies four kingdoms, of which Babylon is the first, but that God will destroy them all and replace them with his own Kingdom. 

Later, when Nebakudnzzar’s son, King Belshazzar, uses the vessels from the Jewish Temple for his own drunken feast, a huge hand appears and writes a mysterious message on the wall that only Daniel can read. It tells the King that his kingdom will be given to the Medes and the Persians because Belshazzar, unlike his father, has not acknowledged the one, true God. 

In his final vision, Daniel sees a battle that will defeat, once and for all, the earthly forces that oppose God, after which He will establish His Kingdom on earth. In Daniel 12 we hear: 

“At that time there shall arise, Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people. It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the Book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, others to reproach and everlasting disgrace. But those with insight shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like stars forever.” 

Daniel also predicts the birth of The Messiah, who will be called, The Son of Man. 

St. Daniel, please pray for us.