Font Size
Judith 15:8-10
New Catholic Bible
Judith 15:8-10
New Catholic Bible
Ceremonies of Thanksgiving
The Honor of Our People![a] 8 Joakim the high priest and the elders of the Israelites who dwelt in Jerusalem came to witness for themselves the wonderful things that the Lord had done for Israel, and to meet Judith and offer her their congratulations. 9 [b]When they came into her presence, they all blessed her with one accord and said to her:
“You are the glory of Jerusalem,
the surpassing pride of Israel,
the great honor of our people.
10 You have done all this with your own hand;
you have been the source of much good to Israel,
and God has approved what you have wrought.
May you be blessed by the Lord Almighty
forever and ever.”
And all the people responded, “Amen!”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Judith 15:8 The leaders come from Jerusalem to celebrate the victory whose architect was Judith. The feast is organized according to Greek custom. In the acclamation to Judith, the Church sees the announcement of salvation with which another woman is associated, and she applies its words to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Judith 15:9 These verses are regularly applied to Mary, the Mother of God, by the Church, especially in her Liturgy. For example, they are found in Mass no. 43 of the new Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Mass commemorates Mary as the “handmaid of our redemption” because she is the handmaid of the Lord (see Lk 1:38).
This can be done because Judith was a type of Mary. Just as Judith courageously freed her people from the siege by Holofernes, so Mary in her warfare against the serpent, the ancient enemy (see Gen 3:15), brought blessings upon the people of Israel and upon the whole Church.
In the same way, Mary is also the prophetess of the redemption of Israel. Becoming the voice of her people, she magnified the Lord, because, mindful of his mercy, he had come to the rescue of his people by redeeming them from slavery to sin (Lk 1:46, 54-55).
Thus, the Church shows that Mary is a loving Mother, given to us by God in his mercy, one who cares unceasingly with a mother’s love for all God’s children in their need, breaking the chains of every form of captivity, so that we might enjoy full liberty of body and spirit.
