\paperw4260 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \pard\tx150\tx870\tx1590\tx2310\tx3030\tx3750\tx4470\tx5190\tx5910\tx6630\ATXts240\qc\ri15\ATXbrdr0 \f1 \fs24 \b \i Judith and H
olofernes\par
\qj \i0 \cf4 \ATXht70801 Holofernes\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 , head Assyrian general, had orders to march against countries which had not obeyed the order of king \b \cf4 \ATXht71401 Nebuchadnezzar \b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 and would have destroyed Israel h
ad he not met Judith along his way. \par
She was a young Jewish widow who betrayed the enemy general by her beauty and remissiveness to save her people from the violence of their enemies. \par
She killed him by cutting off his head after getting him dr
unk. It is easy to read in this biblical episode a prefiguration of the Messiah: Jesus, like Judith, will come to the earth to save his people from the destruction of sin.\par
