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Deborah and Mary | Thy Sins are forgiven
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Deborah and Mary

Friends in Christ, this week we have returned to Ordinary Time, and this means that we are often free on Saturdays to speak of Our Lady and offer a votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin.
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If you read chapter 4 from the Book of Judges, you will see that for a time, Israel was led by a woman: Deborah. There she is called the Mother of Israel.
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Now in those days, the people were fearful, with many enemies against them; but Deborah told the general of her army to go out and fight against the Canaanites. To the general, this seemed to be a fearful task. He told Deborah: ‘If you will come with me, I will go; but if you won’t come with me, I will not go.’ ‘I will certainly go with you,’ she replied.
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Holy Mother Church affirms that Deborah is a type, a symbol, anticipating the Blessed Virgin. As Deborah was called the ‘Mother of Israel,’ Mary is called the Mother of the Church, the new Israel.
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‘I will certainly go with you,’ says Mary to us.
Comparing the Blessed Virgin to Deborah, the great Dom Chautard remarks, that Mary has a solicitude about not only the big things going on in our life, but as Our Mother, she is also concerned about every detail. In this life we are not marching against earthly enemies as were the armies of Deborah. Ours are spiritual enemies.  St. Paul says: We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.’ But Mary will help us fight our enemies. She brings to us the power of Christ. ‘I will certainly go with you,’ she says.
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The devil will tempt us by bad thoughts or he tempts us to give in to sadness. But even the name of Mary will put these to flight. St. Peter Damian says that it is by Mary that the violence of the infernal enemies is conquered. As Deborah sent her army commander, St. Bonaventure says that Mary sends the prince of the heavenly court, St. Michael, with all the angels to defend her servants.
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A Father Padial was at the point of death, Mary appeared to him. ‘See, she says, the angels come to congratulate you.’ At that moment, an army of demons was seen flying away in despair saying: ‘Alas, we can do nothing, for she who is without sin defends him.’
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Friends, we have difficulties, worries, temptations, and challenges every day, and we should ask our Lord to assist us, and our angel too. But let us never fail to call on this Divine Mother.
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‘Mary, this task is too hard for me to go and do, I ask you, please go with me.’
‘I will certainly go with you,’ she says.

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