Liturgical Colour : White

Lectio libri Judith – Lesson from the Book of Judith

Judith 13 : 22-25 and Judith 15 : 10

Benedixit te Dominus in virtute Sua, quia per te ad nihilum redegit inimicos nostros. Benedicta es tu, filia, a Domino Deo excelso, prae omnibus mulieribus super terram. Benedictus Dominus, qui creavit caelum et terram, qui te direxit in vulnera capitis principis inimicorum nostrorum; quia hodie nomen tuum ita magnificavit, ut non recedat laus tua de ore hominum, qui memores fuerint virtutis Domini in aeternum, pro quibus non pepercisti animae tuae propter angustias et tribulationem generis tui, sed subvenisti ruinae ante conspectum Dei nostri.

Tu gloria Jerusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri.

English translation

The Lord had blessed you with His power, because by you He had brought our enemies to nought. Blessed are you, o daughter, by the Lord the Most High God, above all women upon the earth. Blessed be the Lord, who made heaven and earth, who had directed you to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies, because He had so magnified your name this day, that your praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord, forever. For that you have not spared your life, by reason of the distress and tribulation of your people, but have prevented our ruin in the presence of our God.

You are the glory of Jerusalem, you are the joy of Israel, you are the honour of our people.