Inspired by Scholastica

  Judith, the Warrior When all had departed, and no one, small or great, was left in the bedroom, Judith stood by Holofernes’ bed and said within herself: “O Lord, God of all might, in this hour look graciously on my undertaking for the exaltation of Jerusalem…” (Jud.13: 4)   When I was a young woman, I obeyed the law, kept silent. As a widow, I prayed and wore my black mourning attire.   When the Assyrians threatened to attack the Israelites, I knew I had to do something to save My people from their violence.   No one would believe that I could carry out such a bold deed, but I was determined to stop the enemy from their evil.   They would either die of thirst or be slain. So I devised a scheme, pretended to betray my clan and then, arrayed in silk finery, boldly went to seduce Holofernes, the formidable Assyrian leader.   But would he see through my trickery, My plot to besot him with wine?. Would I ha...

  Holocaust Remembered   It took me a long time to begin to comprehend the horrors of the Holocaust. Six million Jews were killed in incinerators by a maniacal Nazi leader with the whole world seemingly unaware of what was going on in Germany or unable to stop it. After reading some books and viewing some movies about this horrible period, I was ashamed of my heritage and tried to better understand how this could happen in our supposedly civilized , educated world.   The United States played a large role in ending this terrible extermination of innocent people. But it took six years and the aid of Great Britain, France, Spain, and much of Europe to end it. Then there was still the division of East a nd West Germ any and the rebuilding of the country.    It seems odd to remember the Holocaust during the Easter season when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and his appearances to the apostles and others. But it is a good reminder that such atrocities still hap...