Given by: narrated of Judith the widow of Bethulia, who withdrew to her place of prayer as the town faced destruction. Given to: the reader, as an example of how the faithful seek God in extremity.

Haircloth (sackcloth) and ashes were the recognised signs of mourning and penitence in Israel; to pray so was to strip away all pretence of self-sufficiency and stand before God as a needy suppliant.

And when they were gone, Judith went into her oratory: and putting on haircloth, laid ashes on her head: and falling down prostrate before the Lord, she cried to the Lord, saying:

Go apart to seek God with fervent, lowly prayer, humbling yourself body and soul before Him.

Judith 9:1

Your Spirit

Loves God

Loves Neighbor

Your Body

Moral Behaviour