This book offers a clear, beautiful exposition of Catholic beliefs about Mary. Not a history or a compendium, it was written by a Carmelite monk who spent decades praying and pondering the mysteries of the faith concerning the Mother of Jesus.
Catholic Mariology has matured through centuries of meditation upon both the Bible and the Church's faith in the Incarnation. The Marian dogmas of the Church are guarantors of the full meaning of the statement in the Gospel of John that "the word became flesh and dwelt among us" (1:14).
Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen shows that Mariology corrects any attempt to minimize the good news that God became man so that man could become like God. In writing about Mary, he underlines the astonishing truth that God has initiated an intimate communion with mankind. In a world that strives to reduce human dignity, Mary reveals the very high value of man in God's eyes and God's wondrous love and plan for each one of us.
"An acclaimed spiritual writer and holy monk presents the beautiful Catholic beliefs about Mary that he has meditated on throughout his whole priestly life. Fr. Stinissen draws from both Sacred Scripture and the long tradition of the Church's beliefs about Mary and her singular privileges from God as Christ's mother to help us know and love her more."
— Edward Sri, Author, Who Am I to Judge?
"This wonderful book on the Virgin Mary by the esteemed Carmelite spiritual master offers both insightful doctrinal clarity and a stimulus to a renewed love for Our Lady. His chapter on Mary's experience of darkness as part of her maternal role in God's plan is of great value, a unique contribution to spirituality."
— Fr. Donald Haggerty, Author, The Contemplative Hunger
"Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen provides us with the scriptural and theological tools to understand, explain, and truly believe Mary's Yes to God and to emulate it in our own lives."
— Lisa Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com; Author, The Grace of Yes
FR. WILFRID STINISSEN
Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen, O.C.D., was born in Antwerp, Belgium, where he entered the Carmelite Order in 1944. He was sent to Sweden in 1967 to co-found a small contemplative community. His many books on the spiritual life have been translated into multiple languages. Among his works available in English are Into Your Hands, Father; Eternity in the Midst of Time; Bread That Is Broken; Mary in the Bible and in Our Lives; and The Holy Spirit, Fire of Divine Love, all published by Ignatius Press.
Paperback
168 Pages