What was the relationship between Deborah and Mary?
The Catechism says that some holy women prepared for Mary’s mission. It names Deborah. Judges 4:4; Luke 1:38
What the Bible says
Judges 4:4
And there was at that time Debbora a prophetess the wife of Lapidoth, who judged the people,
Luke 1:38
And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
What the Church teaches
The Catechism names Deborah among the women who kept alive the hope of Israel. The purest figure among them is Mary.
Catechism 64 · Catechism of the Catholic Church
Did you know?
In the song of Deborah, Jael is called “blessed among women.” Elizabeth says the same to Mary. Judges 5:24; Luke 1:42