St Joshua My Patron Saint

Today St Joshua, after whom I'm named, is commemorated in the Martyrology (see Fr Z's posting about this); and he is also hymned in the Byzantine Rite on this day.  (See the archive at O Great Mystery.)

Years back I composed a whole Proper Office in his honour, which I here append:

VOTIVE OFFICE

OF

ST JOSHUA THE PATRIARCH 

EVENING PRAYER I

HYMN

O Joshua, both to rule and bless ordain’d;

When Moses the eternal mansions gain’d,

What boundless gratitude to heav’n we owe,

Who did in thee a chief so wise bestow!

Courage and conduct shine in thee complete,

Justice and mercy fill thy judgement seat.

Wherefore, mighty Joshua, hail! thy name

Indeed shall rise into immortal fame.

Now unto God who sits upon the throne,

Whom Joshua ador’d, and serv’d alone,

The Father great, with Son and Paraclete,

Be endless glory, as is ever meet. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. 1: Then came Amalek and fought with Israel at Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out, fight with Amalek”. Ex 17:8-9a

Psalm 134(135)

I

Praise the name of the Lord, * 

praise him, servants of the Lord, 

who stand in the house of the Lord * 

in the courts of the house of our God. 

Praise the Lord for the Lord is good. * 

Sing a psalm to his name for he is loving. 

For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself * 

and Israel for his own possession. 

For I know the Lord is great, * 

that our Lord is above all gods. 

The Lord does whatever he wills, * 

in heaven, on earth, in the seas. 

He summons clouds from the ends of the earth; † 

makes lightning produce the rain; * 

from his treasuries he sends forth the wind. 

The first-born of the Egyptians he smote, * 

of man and beast alike. 

Signs and wonders he worked † 

in the midst of your land, O Egypt, * 

against Pharaoh and all his servants. 

Nations in their greatness he struck * 

and kings in their splendour he slew. 

Sihon, king of the Amorites, † 

Og, the king of Bashan, * 

and all the kingdoms of Canaan. 

He let Israel inherit their land; *

On his people their land he bestowed. 

Ant. Then came Amalek and fought with Israel at Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out, fight with Amalek”.

Ant. 2: Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek. Ex 17:10a

II

Lord, your name stands for ever, * 

unforgotten from age to age: 

for the Lord does justice for his people; * 

the Lord takes pity on his servants. 

Pagan idols are silver and gold, * 

the work of human hands. 

They have mouths but they cannot speak; * 

they have eyes but they cannot see. 

They have ears but they cannot hear; * 

there is never a breath on their lips. 

Their makers will come to be like them * 

and so will all who trust in them! 

Sons of Israel, bless the Lord! * 

Sons of Aaron, bless the Lord! 

Sons of Levi, bless the Lord! * 

You who fear him, bless the Lord! 

From Sion may the Lord be blessed, * 

he who dwells in Jerusalem!

Ant. Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek.

Ant. 3: Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.  Ex 17:13

Canticle: Rev 11:17-18;12:10b-12a

We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, *

who are and who were,

that you have taken your great power *

and begun to reign.

The nations raged, *

but your wrath came,

and the time for the dead to be judged, *

for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,

and those who fear your name, *

both small and great.

Now the salvation and the power †

and the kingdom of our God *

and the authority of his Christ have come,

for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, *

who accuses them day and night before our God.

And they have conquered him *

by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony, *

for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Rejoice, then, O heaven, *

and you that dwell therein.

Ant. Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

SCRIPTURE READING Josh 5:13-15

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood before him with his drawn sword in his hand; and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshipped, and said to him, “What does my lord bid his servant?” And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Put off your shoes from your feet; for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

SHORT RESPONSORY Num 34:17

R. These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance.

Repeat R.

V. Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun. R. Glory be. R.

Magnificat ant. I commanded Joshua at that time, “Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done; so will the Lord do to all the kingdoms into which you are going over. You shall not fear them; for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.”  Deut 3:21a,21c-22

INTERCESSIONS

The Lord God fights for us: therefore we confidently turn our eyes to him, trusting that he will hear our plea and come to our help: R. Help with your right arm and reply.

As you emboldened Joshua, inflame our hearts by your words, —that we may battle valiantly in the cause of right. R.

Teach us always to keep your law, turning from it neither to right nor to left, but serving you alone; —teach us to keep your Son’s new law of love. R.

Train us to obey our rightful leaders, both spiritual and temporal; —enlighten them to trust you and follow your call, as Joshua did. R.

Show us how to fight against injustice in the world, and against the evil and malice of sin; —send us help from heaven in our struggles. R.

Joshua died, full of years, having given Israel its inheritance; —give eternal rest in the true promised land above to all the new Israel of God. R.

Our Father

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O Lord God of hosts, 

who stilled the sun and moon in their courses 

at the prayer of blessed Joshua, 

the leader of your people Israel; 

mercifully grant that through his merits and intercession 

we may never turn from your law, 

but, overcoming the enemy in battle by your grace, 

come at last into the promised land of heaven.

(We make our prayer) through our Lord.

INVITATORY

Ant. Come, let us adore the Lord, who led Joshua into the promised land.

THE OFFICE OF READINGS

HYMN

Hic nempe Iesus verior,

Qui longa post dispendia

Victor suis tribulibus

Promissa solvit iugera:

Qui ter quaternas denique

Refluentis amnis alveo

Fundavit, et fixit petras,

Apostolorum stemmata.

Iesu, tibi honor, cuius

Figuras fuisti Iosue,

Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,

In sempiterna saecula. Amen.

A truer prototype of Christ

Was Joshua, who led his tribes

With untold cost and sacrifice,

Victorious, to the promised lands.

Also, twelve stones from Jordan’s bed,

Left dry when waters backward flowed,

He raised and firmly set in place,

The type of Christ’s Apostles twelve.

Jesus, unto you be honour,

Whose foreshadow was Joshua,

With the Father and Spirit blest,

Unto the eternal ages. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. 1: This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate upon it day and night. Josh 1:8a

Psalm 1

Happy indeed is the man * 

who follows not the counsel of the wicked; 

nor lingers in the way of sinners *

nor sits in the company of scorners,

but whose delight is the law of the Lord *

and who ponders his law day and night.

He is like a tree that is planted *

beside the flowing waters,

that yields its fruit in due season †

and whose leaves shall never fade; *

and all that he does shall prosper.

Not so are the wicked, not so! †

For they like winnowed chaff *

shall be driven away by the wind.

When the wicked are judged they shall not stand, *

nor find room among those who are just;

for the Lord guards the way of the just *

but the way of the wicked leads to doom.

Ant. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate upon it day and night.

Ant. 2: He became, in accordance with his name, a great saviour of God’s elect, to take vengeance on the enemies that rose against them, so that he might give Israel its inheritance.  Ecclus 46:1b

Psalm 91(92)

It is good to give thanks to the Lord * 

to make music to your name, O Most High,

to proclaim your love in the morning *

and your truth in the watches of the night,

on the ten-stringed lyre and the lute, *

with the murmuring sound of the harp.

Your deeds, O Lord, have made me glad; *

for the work of your hands I shout with joy.

O Lord, how great are your works! *

How deep are your designs!

The foolish man cannot know this *

and the fool cannot understand.

Though the wicked spring up like grass *

and all who do evil thrive:

they are doomed to be eternally destroyed. *

But you, Lord, are eternally on high.

See how your enemies perish; *

all doers of evil are scattered.

To me you give the wild ox’s strength; *

you anoint me with the purest oil.

My eyes looked in triumph on my foes; *

my ears heard gladly of their fall.

The just will flourish like the palm-tree *

and grow like a Lebanon cedar.

Planted in the house of the Lord *

they will flourish in the courts of our God,

still bearing fruit when they are old, *

still full of sap, still green,

to proclaim that the Lord is just. *

In him, my rock, there is no wrong.

Ant. He became, in accordance with his name, a great saviour of God’s elect, to take vengeance on the enemies that rose against them, so that he might give Israel its inheritance.

Ant. 3: How glorious he was when he lifted his hands and stretched out his sword against the cities! Who before him ever stood so firm? For he waged the wars of the Lord. Ecclus 46:2-3

Psalm 100(101)

My song is of mercy and justice; * 

I sing to you, O Lord.

I will walk in the way of perfection. *

O when, Lord, will you come?

I will walk with blameless heart *

within my house;

I will not set before my eyes *

whatever is base.

I will hate the ways of the crooked; *

they shall not be my friends.

The false-hearted must keep far away; *

the wicked I disown.

The man who slanders his neighbour in secret *

I will bring to silence.

The man of proud looks and haughty heart *

I will never endure.

I look to the faithful in the land *

that they may dwell with me.

He who walks in the way of perfection *

shall be my friend.

No man who practises deceit *

shall live within my house.

No man who utters lies *

shall stand before my eyes.

Morning by morning I will silence *

all the wicked in the land,

uprooting from the city of the Lord * 

all who do evil.

Ant. How glorious he was when he lifted his hands and stretched out his sword against the cities! Who before him ever stood so firm? For he waged the wars of the Lord.

V. The Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel.

R. “That they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” Josh 3:7

THE FIRST READING Josh 1:1-9

A reading from the book of Joshua

In those days: After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites down to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail or forsake you. Be strong and of good courage; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate upon it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

RESPONSORY Josh 1:5,6,7,9;Deut 31:20

R. Thus says the Lord: As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. * Be strong and of good courage. You shall lead my people into a land flowing with milk and honey.

V. Be not dismayed, for I am with you. I will not fail you or forsake you wherever you go. * Be strong…

THE SECOND READING The Mission of the Prophets, 32-35.

A reading from the works of Adrienne von Speyr

Joshua’s mission consists first of all in an attitude of openness toward God so that, through a process of interplay between nature and the supernatural, the moderately talented man can appear as zealous and constantly reinspired by faith. He finds his master in Moses. Through the medium of Moses, his bond with God is constantly strengthened; by striving, in a wholly personal way, to emulate Moses, he gradually acquires the manner of thinking, and indeed the characteristic nature, of a son. And Moses, in turn, sees him as his pupil and successor. Moses delegates certain tasks to Joshua, in accordance with his abilities, that he has to accomplish in place of, or together with, his master. Up to a certain point, he is permitted to accompany Moses in his encounters with God.

Joshua is allowed to go along, too, so that he might become, as such, a mission-bearer before God; might accompany the prophet with his prayers while Moses is speaking with God and being instructed by him; and might regard his nonparticipation as the accompanying role that is suited to him and has been so arranged by God and Moses. Thus the prayer of Moses encompasses an apparently necessary element of contemplation, by Joshua, of his contemplation – something smaller, farther removed, that is nevertheless suited to broadening Joshua’s spirit, to giving him the capacity for later tasks, to extending his limits so that Moses can implant still more.

This is well suited to exposing what is limited, what is merely imitative, in Joshua and, hence, to illumining the sacramental, the conferment of the office, the grace of the laying on of hands – which turns a man of limited capabilities into a truly capable one, a chosen individual whose talent seems inadequate into one wholly possessed by grace. The relationship between the stages of precommission and postcommission is clearly illustrated by the case of Joshua: in his precommission phase, he may be regarded as the bondsman of the prophet, up to the moment when the “sacrament” unlocks him, transforms his obedience into a new one, and sets him beyond the limitedness of his aptitude. The change is due entirely to the office, that office which expands the mission toward the illimitable, toward whatever is willed by God. And when, from that point on, Joshua, in the office that he has taken over from Moses, leads the people, he no longer falls short of the master; he accepts the task from Moses’ hands in order to see that it is carried out as would have been proper in complete obedience to the mission of Moses. The successor proves worthy of his master. This force was imparted to the office by God.

RESPONSORY Josh 11:15

R. As the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, * so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did.

V. He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses. * So Moses…

Alternative 

Sermons Bearing on Subjects of the Day, XII

A reading from the sermon Joshua a Type of Christ and His Followers by the Venerable John Henry Newman

It will be appropriate to this day, when the history of Joshua is brought before us in our Services, to consider it in its relation to the life and office of our Lord Jesus Christ; nay, I will add, to that of His servants and followers also; for in them in their degree, as well as in Him in its fulness, is accomplished the type which is contained in Joshua the successor of Moses.

Let it be observed, that whereas Joshua was chosen not by man, but at God’s will; so, too, in a special way did God’s choice end in him. He did not receive it by inheritance, nor are heirs mentioned to whom he left it. He who divided the land by lot, who gave to each his portion to enjoy, is allotted in the sacred history neither wife, nor children, nor choice portion.

Do you not see what this means? Who was it who had not a place to lay His head? Who was He who had no near relative but His Mother? Who is Joshua, but Christ in figure, the Priest of the New Covenant? Joshua gave away; “he dispersed abroad;” he made men wealthy; he blessed them; he provided for their family needs,—not for his own.

We are told that Joshua did not accomplish all the work that was to be done; but left a remnant of it to those who came after him. And yet in one sense he did it all, for “all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time.” And, accordingly, he divided out even the country which he had not conquered; for what he had done involved and secured, as far as God’s aid was necessary, the doing of the rest. And so in like manner Christ has done the whole work of redemption for us; and yet it is no contradiction to say, that something remains for us to do: we have to take the redemption offered us, and that taking involves a work. We have to apply His grace to our own souls, and that application implies pain, trial, and toil, in the midst of its blessedness. He has suffered and conquered, and those who become partakers in Him, undergo in their own persons the shadow and likeness of that passion and victory. In them, one by one, is acted over again and again the history of the Son of God, so that as He died they die to sin,—as He rose again, so they rise again to righteousness; and in this imitation of His history consists their participation of His glory.

Let us pray that we may all of us be kept pure from sin; let us pray that at last, when we are well stricken with years, we may be as Joshua, not gifted with riches of this world, or with the blessings of life, or with “the precious things brought forth by the sun,” or “the precious things put forth by the moon;” but with “a name better than of sons and of daughters,” “the Eternal God for our refuge, and underneath the everlasting arms.”

RESPONSORY Cf. 2 Cor 6:10; Jn 1:17; 2 Cor 8:9

R. Is he not the type of all acceptable servants, “who are poor, yet making many rich; who have nothing, yet possess all things”? * Joshua led them into the rich and happy land, and prefigured the future Saviour, who was to be gracious and true.

V. Is he not the type of their Lord Himself, “who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich”? * Joshua led them…

TE DEUM, p [6].

The concluding prayer as at Morning Prayer.

For the lengthened Vigil the canticles are here added, and the Gospel appointed is then read. A homily may follow the Gospel. The Te Deum is then said, followed by the concluding prayer as at Morning Prayer.

CANTICLES

Ant. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; there shall not a man of them stand before you.” Josh 10:8

The sins of the Canaanites, Canticle

God’s righteous judgement, Wis 12:3-22

and his lessons for Israel

We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls (Heb 10:39)

I

Those who dwelt of old in your holy land †

you hated for their detestable practices, *

their works of sorcery and unholy rites,

their merciless slaughter of children, *

and their sacrificial feasting on human flesh and blood.

These initiates from the midst of a heathen cult, †

these parents who murder helpless lives, *

you willed to destroy by the hands of our fathers,

that the land most precious of all to you *

might receive a worthy colony of the servants of God.

But even these you spared, since they were but men, †

and sent wasps as forerunners of your army, *

to destroy them little by little,

though you were not unable to give the ungodly *

into the hands of the righteous in battle,

or to destroy them at one blow *

by dread wild beasts or your stern word.

But judging them little by little †

you gave them a chance to repent, *

though you were not unaware that their origin was evil

and their wickedness inborn, *

and that their way of thinking would never change.

For they were an accursed race from the beginning, †

and it was not through fear of any one *

that you left them unpunished for their sins.

II

For who will say, “What have you done?” *

Or who will resist your judgement?

Who will accuse you for the destruction *

of nations which you made?

Or who will come before you*

to plead as an advocate for unrighteous men?

For neither is there any god besides you, *

whose care is for all men,

to whom you should prove *

that you have not judged unjustly;

nor can any king or monarch confront you *

about those whom you have punished.

You are righteous and rule all things righteously, †

deeming it alien to your power *

to condemn him who does not deserve to be punished.

For your strength is the source of righteousness, *

and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all.

For you show your strength †

when men doubt the completeness of your power, *

and rebuke any insolence among those who know it.

You who are sovereign in strength judge with mildness, †

and with great forbearance you govern us; *

for you have power to act whenever you choose.

III

Through such works you have taught your people *

that the righteous man must be kind,

and you have filled your sons with good hope, *

because you give repentance for sins.

For if you punished with such great care and indulgence *

the enemies of your servants and those deserving of death,

granting them time and opportunity *

to give up their wickedness,

with what strictness you have judged your sons, †

to whose fathers you gave oaths *

and covenants full of good promises!

So while chastening us you scourge our enemies *

ten thousand times more,

so that we may meditate upon your goodness when we judge, *

and when we are judged we may expect mercy.

Ant. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; there shall not a man of them stand before you.”

GOSPEL Jn 3:16-21,36

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests on him.

TE DEUM, p [6].

The concluding prayer as at Morning Prayer.

MORNING PRAYER

HYMN

O Joshua, both to rule and bless ordain’d;

When Moses the eternal mansions gain’d,

What boundless gratitude to heav’n we owe,

Who did in thee a chief so wise bestow!

Courage and conduct shine in thee complete,

Justice and mercy fill thy judgement seat.

Wherefore, mighty Joshua, hail! thy name

Indeed shall rise into immortal fame.

Now unto God who sits upon the throne,

Whom Joshua ador’d, and serv’d alone,

The Father great, with Son and Paraclete,

Be endless glory, as is ever meet. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. 1: When Moses turned again into the camp, his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tent. Ex 33:11b

Psalms and canticles of Sunday, Week 1, pp [26] ff.

Ant. 2: Joshua the son of Nun was the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men. Num 11:28a

Ant.3: These two alone, Joshua and Caleb, were preserved out of six hundred thousand people on foot, to bring them into their inheritance, into a land flowing with milk and honey. Ecclus 46:8

SCRIPTURE READING Num 14:6-9,36-38

Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, rent their clothes, and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only, do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us; their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, and made all the congregation to murmur against him by bringing up an evil report of the land, the men who brought up an evil report of the land, died by plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of those men who went to spy out the land.

SHORT RESPONSORY Num 14:30

R. Not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell.

Repeat R.

V. Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. R. Glory be. R.

Benedictus ant. In the days of Moses he did a loyal deed, he and Caleb the son of Jephunneh: they withstood the congregation, restrained the people from sin, and stilled their wicked murmuring. Ecclus 46:7

INTERCESSIONS

In Christ we see fulfilled what was foreshadowed by Joshua: through him, let us lift hearts and hands to God the Father of heaven: R. Bless us, God of salvation.

Fill us with the same spirit of wisdom that you gave to Joshua; —keep us intent upon your holy Word, meditating upon it night and day. R.

The Gibeonites deceived Joshua, for he failed to consult you; —remind us to seek your guidance, lest we be led astray. R.

Through Joshua you led Israel across the Jordan, and granted them to eat the Passover in the plains of Jericho; —you have brought us through Baptism to yourself, feed us now with Christ our true Passover. R.

As Moses commanded, Joshua offered you a sacrifice in righteousness; —teach us to offer you the Sacrifice of the new law with wonder and holy awe. R.

Our Father

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O Lord God of hosts, 

who stilled the sun and moon in their courses 

at the prayer of blessed Joshua, 

the leader of your people Israel; 

mercifully grant that through his merits and intercession 

we may never turn from your law, 

but, overcoming the enemy in battle by your grace, 

come at last into the promised land of heaven.

(We make our prayer) through our Lord.

(Through Christ our Lord.)

PRAYER DURING THE DAY

The complementary psalms.

Before Noon

Ant. Moses called Hoshea son of Nun Joshua. Num 13:16b

SCRIPTURE READING Num 27:15-20,22-23

Moses said to the Lord, “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand upon him; cause him to stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight.” And Moses did as the Lord commanded him; he took Joshua and caused him to stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and he laid his hand upon him, and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses.

V. Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him.

R. So the people of Israel obeyed him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.  Deut 34:9

Midday

Ant. The Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land. Josh 6:27

SCRIPTURE READING Deut 31:1,3,7-8

Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. “The Lord your God himself will go over before you; he will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them; and Joshua shall go over at your head, as the Lord has spoken.” Then Moses summoned Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage; for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them; and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not fail or forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed.”

V. Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter.

R. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. Deut 1:38

Afternoon

Ant. Joshua, because he fulfilled the command, became a judge in Israel. 1 Macc 2:55

SCRIPTURE READING Deut 31:14-15,23

The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. And the Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud; and the pillar of cloud stood by the door of the tent. And the Lord commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, “Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore to give them: I will be with you.”

V. Charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him; for he shall go over at the head of this people.

R. And he shall put them in possession of the land which you shall see. Deut 3:28

The concluding prayer as at Morning Prayer.

EVENING PRAYER II

HYMN

O Joshua, both to rule and bless ordain’d;

When Moses the eternal mansions gain’d,

What boundless gratitude to heav’n we owe,

Who did in thee a chief so wise bestow!

Courage and conduct shine in thee complete,

Justice and mercy fill thy judgement seat.

Wherefore, mighty Joshua, hail! thy name

Indeed shall rise into immortal fame.

Now unto God who sits upon the throne,

Whom Joshua ador’d, and serv’d alone,

The Father great, with Son and Paraclete,

Be endless glory, as is ever meet. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. 1: He called upon the Most High, the Mighty One, when enemies pressed him on every side, and the great Lord answered him with hailstones of mighty power.  Ecclus 46:5-6a

Psalm 143(144)

I

Blessed be the Lord, my rock † 

who trains my arms for battle, * 

who prepares my hands for war. 

He is my love, my fortress; * 

he is my stronghold, my saviour, 

my shield, my place of refuge. * 

He brings peoples under my rule. 

Lord, what is man that you care for him, * 

mortal man, that you keep him in mind; 

man, who is merely a breath * 

whose life fades like a shadow? 

Lower your heavens and come down; * 

touch the mountains; wreathe them in smoke. 

Flash your lightnings; rout the foe, * 

shoot your arrows and put them to flight. 

Reach down from heaven and save me; † 

draw me out from the mighty waters, * 

from the hands of alien foes 

whose mouths are filled with lies, * 

whose hands are raised in perjury.

Ant. He called upon the Most High, the Mighty One, when enemies pressed him on every side, and the great Lord answered him with hailstones of mighty power.

Ant. 2: Was not the sun held back by his hand? And did not one day become as long as two? Ecclus 46:4

II

To you, O God, will I sing a new song; * 

I will play on the ten-stringed harp 

to you who give kings their victory, * 

who set David your servant free. 

You set him free from the evil sword; * 

you rescued him from alien foes 

whose mouths were filled with lies, * 

whose hands were raised in perjury. 

Let our sons then flourish like saplings * 

grown tall and strong from their youth: 

our daughters graceful as columns, * 

adorned as though for a palace. 

Let our barns be filled to overflowing * 

with crops of every kind; 

our sheep increasing by thousands, † 

myriads of sheep in our fields, * 

our cattle heavy with young, 

no ruined wall, no exile, * 

no sound of weeping in our streets. 

Happy the people with such blessings; * 

happy the people whose God is the Lord.

Ant. Was not the sun held back by his hand? And did not one day become as long as two?

Ant. 3: Joshua the son of Nun was mighty in war, and was the successor of Moses in prophesying. Ecclus 46:1a

Canticle: Rev 11:17-18;12:10b-12a

We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, *

who are and who were,

that you have taken your great power *

and begun to reign.

The nations raged, *

but your wrath came,

and the time for the dead to be judged, *

for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,

and those who fear your name, *

both small and great.

Now the salvation and the power †

and the kingdom of our God *

and the authority of his Christ have come,

for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, *

who accuses them day and night before our God.

And they have conquered him *

by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony, *

for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Rejoice, then, O heaven, *

and you that dwell therein.

Ant. Joshua the son of Nun was mighty in war, and was the successor of Moses in prophesying.

SCRIPTURE READING Josh 10:12-14

Then spoke Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the men of Israel,

“Sun, stand you still at Gibeon, 

and you Moon in the valley of Aijalon.” 

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, 

until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

Is this not written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord hearkened to the voice of one man; for the Lord fought for Israel.

SHORT RESPONSORY Josh 4:14

R. On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel.

Repeat R.

V. And they stood in awe of him, as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life. R. Glory be. R.

Magnificat ant. He hurled down war upon that nation, and at the descent of Beth-horon he destroyed those who resisted, so that the nations might know his armament, that he was fighting in the sight of the Lord; for he wholly followed the Mighty One.  Ecclus 46:6b

INTERCESSIONS

The Lord God fights for us: therefore we confidently turn our eyes to him, trusting that he will hear our plea and come to our help: R. Help with your right arm and reply.

As you emboldened Joshua, inflame our hearts by your words, —that we may battle valiantly in the cause of right. R.

Teach us always to keep your law, turning from it neither to right nor to left, but serving you alone; —teach us to keep your Son’s new law of love. R.

Train us to obey our rightful leaders, both spiritual and temporal; —enlighten them to trust you and follow your call, as Joshua did. R.

Show us how to fight against injustice in the world, and against the evil and malice of sin; —send us help from heaven in our struggles. R.

Joshua died, full of years, having given Israel its inheritance; —give eternal rest in the true promised land above to all the new Israel of God. R.

Our Father

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O Lord God of hosts, 

who stilled the sun and moon in their courses 

at the prayer of blessed Joshua, 

the leader of your people Israel; 

mercifully grant that through his merits and intercession 

we may never turn from your law, 

but, overcoming the enemy in battle by your grace, 

come at last into the promised land of heaven.

(We make our prayer) through our Lord.

******

Notes

According to the General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours:

245. …a votive Office may be celebrated either in whole or in part for a public or devotional reason: for example, at the time of a pilgrimage, on a local feast, or during the external solemnity of a saint.

252. …Sometimes circumstances arise in which it is permissible to choose suitable psalms and other parts as for a votive Office.

In accordance with these norms I have drawn up a votive Office for St Joshua, my patron saint. It is set out as if it were to be kept with the rank of a solemnity.

All scriptural texts are taken from the Revised Standard Version, except for the psalms, which are from the Grail Version. I have provided citations for the antiphons, short responsories, and versicles, as well as for the readings from Scripture.

The first Responsory at the Office of Readings is taken from The Divine Office, III, 163.

The second reading is abridged from Adrienne von Speyr, The Mission of the Prophets, David Kipp, trans. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1996) 32-35. 

The alternative second reading is abridged from the Venerable John Henry Newman, “Joshua a Type of Christ and His Followers,” Sermons Bearing on Subjects of the Day, 150-163. The Responsory for this reading is taken from the same sermon.

(I had intended to use an appropriate passage from Origen’s Homilies on Joshua, but, having located a copy of this work, was unable to find one.)

The hymn “Hic nempe Iesus verior” is taken from Prudentius, Cathemerinon, 12, ll.173-180, to which I have added a proper doxology. “O Joshua, both to rule and bless ordain’d” is taken from the libretto of Handel’s oratorio Joshua, with the addition of “Wherefore” and “Indeed” and a proper doxology.

The invitatory antiphon, intercessions, and concluding prayer are my own compositions.

St Joshua is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology (and in the Byzantine Menaion) on September 1. 

Hence, even apart from celebrating a votive Office, it would be licit to celebrate an Office in his honour, with the rank of an Optional Memorial, by taking everything necessary from the ferial day and the Common of Men Saints (cf. General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours, nn. 244,234-239), so long as no higher-ranking day supervened.

© Joshua, 2001,2002,2003.