God-Sent: A History of the Accredited Apparitions of Mary [Hardcover]

Roy Abraham Varghese (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2000

This major study of the recurring phenomenon of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary shows how these appearances have stood up to scientific and theological inquiry. With full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Before we puzzle over the X Files, let's read the M files," writes Varghese, claiming that such phenomena as UFO sightings may actually represent apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Varghese's exposition of 33 appearances of Mary to mystics, seers and saints throughout Church history is unlikely to convince anyone not already predisposed to believe. He asserts, for example, that a rosary prayer circle in post-World War II Austria was responsible for the Soviets pulling out of the country in 1955, an event for which there was no "humanly plausible explanation." (A decade of pressure from the Allies and a pledge of nonalignment from the Austrians suggests otherwise.) Still, anyone interested in contemporary religious experience will benefit from this book, which collects stories of Marian appearances in places such as Lourdes and Fatima along with some of the purported revelations given there. Despite the impact of secularism, reports of appearances by Mary exploded in the 20th century, so much so that many devotees believe we are living in a final "Marian age," standing on the brink of a "great chastisement" to be followed by Armageddon. Though Catholic leaders officially keep such ideas at arm's length, they are passionately held by millions of believers. Anyone who wants to understand popular Catholicism would be well served to study the material Varghese has gathered here. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

With dedication and scholarship, Varghese makes an important contribution to the nearly 700 titles currently in print on Mary, mother of Jesus, with this unique compilation of 34 accredited and, in more recent times, scientifically investigated apparitions. Over 20,000 events have been reported over the centuries, and many more are believed to have occurred to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. In simple terms, and by profound manifestations, Mary's messages consistently call humanity to turn from sin, do penance, and pray, and they predict many cataclysmic events long before their time. Varghese, a leader in a Marian society, has edited volumes on the relationship between religion and the sciences (Cosmos, Bios, Theos; Cosmic Beginnings and Human Ends). In addition to the better-known apparitions of Lourdes and Fatima, he examines more recent stories and excerpted messages from Rwanda, Syria, Ukraine, Japan, Ecuador, Bosnia, and elsewhere while explaining the objective evaluation criteria employed. Recommended for most religious collections.DAnna M. Donnelly, St. John's Univ. Lib., NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: The Crossroad Publishing Company (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824518438
• ISBN-13: 978-0824518431
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,039,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Roy Abraham Varghese, author of The Wonder of the World, is the editor and author of various books on the interface between science and religion. Of these, Cosmos, Bios, Theos, included contributions from 24 Nobel Prize winners and was described as "the year's most intriguing book about God" by Time magazine. This was the best-selling book from the publishing house Open Court. Cosmic Beginnings and Human Ends won a Templeton Book Prize in 1995. Great Thinkers on Great Questions was published by OneWorld of Oxford, England, and distributed worldwide by Penguin. God-Sent and the best selling God-Fleshed were two works of popular theology published by Crossworld Herder, the US division of the German publishing house Herder and Herder. Varghese was a panelist at the science and religion forum in the Parliament of World Religions held in Chicago in 1993. He was also an invited participant in the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders held at the United Nations in August 2000. He has organized several conferences with dialogues between noted atheists and theists including a conference at Yale University on Artificial Intelligence. He has worked on conferences and publications with some of the best-known atheists in the English-speaking world, ranging from Antony Flew and Sir Alfred Ayer of Oxford to Marvin Minsky of MIT as well as with prominent scientists (including a number of Nobel Prize winners).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring and thought-provoking history, April 9, 2000

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David Kopp (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: God-Sent: A History of the Accredited Apparitions of Mary (Hardcover)

Varghese's thesis, laid out in the first section of the book (and the title), is that Mary is God's messenger to the modern world. Both Varghese and the Catholic Church teach that she is more, too. In apparitions through the last 2000 years, she asks and inspires Christians to deeper faith and more spiritual lives. As the "new Eve," she crushes evil; as the "new Ark of the Covenant," she bears (in Jesus) and embodies God's new Covenant of redemption with humankind. This first section, though important to a theological understanding of Marian apparitions, is the least strong section, as Varghese at times tries too hard to justify points (piling on weak arguments) which in my estimation were well justified by his first few arguments.

The remainder (majority) of God Sent, though, chronicles the most significant apparitions of the Blessed Virgin. In descriptions of the apparitions that draw heavily on the words of the visionaries, of Mary herself (as recalled or transcribed by the visionaries), and those that have studied the apparitions, Varghese relays the Blessed Mother's inspiration, promises, warnings and great concern for humanity. This is, by far, the most important and arresting content of the book. One finds oneself alternately comforted by Mary's concern and promises, motivated by a desire to join her in prayer to ease the sufferings of Jesus and frightened by the horrors of Hell and the human-wrought anguish which she repeatedly warns we are brining upon ourself (such as in her appearances in Rwanda and Bosnia).

Definitely read this book and act upon Mary's exhortations.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, Marian Devotions Presented as Universal Phenomena, August 23, 2002

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Juliana LHeureux "Maine Writer" (Topsham, Maine United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: God-Sent: A History of the Accredited Apparitions of Mary (Hardcover)

Growing up Roman Catholic, especially during the 1950s, the church teaching about Marian apparitions were focused on a few well publicized "approved" phenomena. The apparitions themselves are mezmerizing stories and another way of bonding the faithful to their Catholicism. Of course, the apparations receiving the most favorable publicity are Guadalupe, Mexico; Fatima, Portugal; and Lourdes, France. "God Sent" is a book that lives up to its title. It's actually "God Sent" to read about the miraculous Marian apparitions in the context of the history of Christianity (especially in the Roman Catholic tradition, but not exclusively) and to also realize how the Marian phenomena are universal, even more prevelent than reported by the mainstream Roman Catholic media. My faith has been positively affected by reading "God Sent". I sincerely want to thank the author, Roy Abraham Varghese for taking the time to write such an eloquent history about The Blessed Virgin Mary and her frequent calls to humanity for prayer, peace and penance. Varghese writes about the Marian apparitions almost as though he personally witnessed them. Moreover, he explains the messages in ordinary language. My husband and I traveled to Lourdes, France, after reading "God Sent" and the spiritual experience of being in this special shrine located in the French Pyrennes Mountains was more meaningful when understood in the context of nearly all Marian apparitions documented since the first century. Frankly, I wish "God Sent" was more readily available in bookstores. As a thorough history of Marian devotions, "God Sent" deserves to be a best selling book if, for no other reason, than to help ordinary readers appreciate Varghese's extraordinary research into the important history of Marian devotions in Roman Catholic spirituality.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for anyone with a devotion to the Blessed Virgin!, December 15, 2000

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Jeanne Beverly Morton (Cleveland, Ohio) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: God-Sent: A History of the Accredited Apparitions of Mary (Hardcover)

This book is well-researched, with beautiful color pictures of the Blessed Virgin as she appeared throughout the centuries and all over the world. An inspiring, thought-provoking book, with endless information about the Mother of God and her role in humanity and in divinity. Renewed my faith and inspired me to a more prayerful life.