On Wednesday morning prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours, one prays the Canticle of Judith (16:1-2a.13-15), focusing on God’s protection of His people through unexpected means. It is Judith’s hymn of deliverance after she single-handedly defeats the feared Assyrian general, Holofernes.
Commenting on the canticle, Pope St. John Paul II emphasizes that God is defined as one “who crushes wars,” showing His true nature as a lover of peace and protector who intervenes to rescue His people from seemingly impossible situations.
A central principle emerges: the true enemy Israel must fear is not the powerful of the earth, but infidelity to the Lord, which deprives them of God’s protection. When faithful, the people can count on God who is “wonderful in his power and unsurpassable.” Trust in God is more important than any forces of military might.
God chose to deliver Israel not through warriors but through Judith, an unarmed woman. The text emphasizes: “The Lord Almighty has foiled them by the hand of a woman” – highlighting God’s preference for what is fragile and weak to manifest divine power. Much as we read in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
The Pope draws a parallel of Judith as prefiguring the Virgin Mary, noting how Mary’s Magnificat echoes Judith’s song: “He has put down the mighty from their thrones and has raised up the humble.” The liturgical tradition applies to Mary the praise given to Judith (15:9): “you are the exaltation of Jerusalem, you are the great glory of Israel, you are the great pride of our nation.” Both figures show the vocation and mission of the woman, as cooperating in God’s plan of salvation.
You are invited to meditate on Judith 16: Judith’s Hymn of Deliverance
Read the Catechesis of St. John Paul II on the Canticle of Judith
Who can resist the voice of God? Judith recalls it very forcefully: before the Creator and Lord of history, the mountains shall be shaken to their foundations and the rocks melt like wax (cf. Jdt 16,15). They are effective metaphors to recall that everything is “nothing” before the power of God. However the canticle of victory does not want to terrify, but to comfort. In fact, God puts his invincible power at the support of those who are faithful to him: “to those who fear you, you will continue to show mercy” (Jdt 16,15).