Joshua: Name Day and Patron Saint

St Joshua the son of Nun was the leader of the people of Israel after the death of the Prophet Moses. The Church’s books also call him Jesus, the son of Navi. The Church’s life of him says he was born in Egypt, took up the leadership at the age of eighty-five and guided Israel for twenty-five years. It was Joshua who brought the people into the promised land at last. When they came to the Jordan, God held back its waters and Israel crossed over on dry ground. The Archangel Michael, leader of the heavenly hosts, appeared to him, and after the Ark of the Covenant had been carried around the city for seven days, its walls fell. In another battle, at his prayer, the sun stood still until the victory was won. When the war was over Joshua divided the land among the twelve tribes. He died at the age of one hundred and ten, and before his death he charged the whole nation to keep the Law of Moses. His deeds are told in the Book of Joshua, the sixth book of the Old Testament. The Church keeps his memory on 1 September (14 September on the Old Calendar). The faithful remember him as a man of courage and obedience, and they ask his prayers when they face a new beginning or a hard road ahead.

What the faithful pray for

• courage to follow God into what is new
• faithfulness in leading others
• obedience to the commandments of God
• strength in hard struggles
• families who choose to serve the Lord