Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/361

 b) Mortification  and  self-denial.  Her  husband  left  her  great  riches, many  servants,  and  flocks  and  herds.  But  although  she  had  such  great possessions,  and  might  have  led  a luxurious  and  brilliant  life,  she  lived quite  retired  from  the  world,  in  a state  of  voluntary  poverty  and chastity,  and  practised  severe  penances,  wearing  hair-cloth,  and  fasting every  day.  “Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit!”  It  was  this  life  of  mortification that  made  Judith  a heroine.

c) Heroism, which  enabled  her  to  save  her  people.  The  more  we deny  ourselves  and  resist  our  natural  desires,  the  more  holy  and  strong will  be  our  wills,  and  the  less  shall  we  shrink  from  any  burden  or danger  which  could  advance  God’s  glory  and  the  good  of  our  neighbour. The  High  Priest  was  right  when  he  said  to  Judith:  “Thou  hast  done manfully,  because  thou  hast  loved  chastity”  (Judith  15, 11).

d) Love  of  her  country.  Judith  knew  that  the  Temple  and  her country  were  in  extreme  danger,  and  it  was  to  save  them  that  she  went unprotected  into  the  enemy’s  camp,  and  placed  herself  in  what  was, apparently,  imminent  danger  of  death.  She  was  willing  to  sacrifice herself  for  them,  out  of  love  for  God  and  His  holy  Law.

e) Her  humility  is  especially  worthy  of  admiration.  She  was  proud neither  of  beauty  nor  riches,  and  was  truly  humble  of  heart.  “Let  us be  penitent,  and  humble  our  souls  before  God”,  said  she  to  the  elders. After  her  heroic  action  she  gave  all  the  glory  to  God.  “Praise  ye  the Lord  our  God”,  said  she,  “who  hath  killed  the  enemies  of  His  people by  my  hand.”

Type of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary. Even  as  the  chaste  Judith  cut off the  head  of  Holofernes,  thereby  saving  her  people  from  captivity and slavery,  so  did  Mary,  the  Immaculate  Mother,  through  her  Divine Son, trample  on  the  head  of  the  infernal  Holofernes,  and  free  all mankind from  his  power. Even as  Judith  was  lauded  as  “blessed above all  women  on  earth”,  so  did  St.  Elizabeth  and  the  angel  Gabriel both say  to  our  Lady:  “Blessed  art  thou  among  women.”  Judith  gave all the  glory  to  God,  as  did  Mary  in  the  Magnificat  (New  Test.  IV). Judith was  devout:  Mary  is  the  vessel  of  singular  devotion. Judith was a holy  woman:  Mary  is  the  Virgin  Most  Holy,  and  the  Mirror  of justice  in  which  all  virtues  are  reflected. Judith was  heroic:  Mary  was the most  heroic  of  women,  and  the  Queen  of  martyrs. Judith was  the glory of  Jerusalem:  Mary  is  the  Queen  of  all  Saints,  the  glory  of  the heavenly Jerusalem,  the  joy  of  the  elect,  and  the  honour  of  the  whole Church.

The invocation  of  the  Saints.  The  people  of  Bethulia  recommended themselves to  the  intercession  of  Judith,  because  she  was  a holy  woman, and because  on  that  account  her  prayers  would  have  great  power  with God. It is  for  the  same  reason  that  we  recommend  ourselves  to  the intercession of  the  Saints.