Mary the "Royal Way"

Today, during my time of revising in the library, i discovered more about Merton.  A convert to Catholicism from the Church of England he was interested in other faiths and life paths, particularly Hinduism and Zen Buddhism.  He had a love of jazz music and of writing.  Having become a Cistercian monk he continued writing whenever the opportunity arose.  He was ordained as a priest.  Following problems with his back he underwent surgery and, during convalescence in hospital became friendly with a student nurse assigned to his care.  Although technically remaining celibate they had a close relationship and his romantic correspondence with her was published. 
Merton died in his 50s after being electrocuted by a faultily-wired electric fan in Bangkok.  He was stepping out of a bath and accidentally touched the fan.
I found myself chuckling inwardly when i read this.  It was a tragic event but somehow there was a comic element to it.

In today's reading Merton uses a passage from the Apocryphal Book of Judith.  It refers to Judith anointing "her face with perfume" and putting on a tiara and linen gown to "beguile" the Assyrian.  The passage ends with this man having a sword thrust through his neck.

Merton relates this to Mary, the Royal Daughter of David and prays that we might be beguiled with her beauty and trust God's will.  Dare i say only a straight man would have written this?!

Do i need to be beguiled, seduced in order to embrace and trust God?  The seductive charm of a dawn or dusk might lead me to turn my heart and soul to the Divine but these are two brief episodes in a day.  That which is divine is revealed not just in the obvious, the adorned, the seductive but in the starkness of bare tree branches, the smile of a stranger, a lone swan on the canal, the workings of the human body, the creative nature of the mind, the capacity of the universe to tolerate our constant abuses of her.

I want to find ways to let go of bitterness and transform that energy into working for justice and i desire to be valued as a human being rather than only noticed if i dress to kill (Judith did this literally, and Mary - in what way is she being compared to Judith?  Help me understand dear reader!)