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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pondering Mary in a New Light, May 6, 2008
This review is from: Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God (Paperback)
Moyer, a freelance writer, shares stories of the "grassroots Mary" drawn from a diverse group of women. Bits and pieces of her own experiences of Mary are interwoven throughout. In the introduction we learn that Moyer suffered an ectopic pregnancy early in her marriage. In the chapter on Our Lady of Sorrows she writes of her later miscarriage and the effect it had on her relationship with Mary. Finally, in the epilogue Moyer reveals that she gave birth to healthy baby as she was completing work on the book. "As I hold my little son and pray for his health and safety and happiness, I sometimes think: This is how Mary held Jesus, how she looked at him, and what she hoped for him."
Though Moyer occasionally uses incidents from her own life, the bulk of the material represents other women's views on such themes as Mary's purity and virginity, the human desire to love and be loved unconditionally, and praying with the Blessed Mother. Childhood memories that emerge range from poignant to surprising. One woman recalls her mother's explanation of Mary as advocate using the image of prayer as a bushel of apples that Mary sweetens and bakes into a pie, which she presents to Jesus. Another interviewee's father disapproved of his family's participation in the parish rosary service. As an adult, she realized that her dad was offended by the "unhealthy perspective for women" surrounding the Blessed Virgin Mary.
One of Moyer's goals in writing Mary and Me was to provide readers with "occasions to ponder Mary in a new light." Her unique approach has done that.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A journey into a deeper relationship with Jesus' mom, August 15, 2008
This review is from: Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God (Paperback)
In honor of the Feast of the Assumption I thought I'd do a review of a Mary book, my new favorite.
In "Mary and Me" Moyer collects the stories of more than forty women and weaves them into a compelling walk into a deeper relationship with Jesus' mom. Sure there are a lot of books about Mary, but Moyer takes a unique and very compelling approach here that really makes this book accessible to a much wider audience. This book is first and foremost a story about women's struggles and triumphs in coming to know the Mother of God. At the same time, these women share with us their journeys into faith, and Moyer invites us to walk with them.
Moyer arranges the stories around different moments of Mary's life (Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, etc.) and themes (intercessor, apparitions, celebrations, etc.). My favorite chapter was on the Visitation because it raised so many insights that I had never really explored. Here's a quick quote to give you a taste: "What a relief each of them [Mary and Elizabeth] must have felt to be with another woman, one who could not only understand the physical experience of pregnancy, but who could marvel in the power that made it all possible. Two women, one too old to conceive, the other still a virgin, both expecting a child--that's the kind of experience that needs to be processed, shared, analyzed, and, most of all, celebrated. But before the celebration comes the journey: Mary's journey into community" (pp 22-23). Moyer goes on to share several stories of journey and community including the one from a Dominican Sister who tells of the community that rallied around them after a fire destroyed their motherhouse. Here Moyer shares her own struggles following a ectopic pregnancy and overcoming her desire to isolate herself from the very community of friends she needed for healing.
It's Moyer's own story, insight, and beautiful writing that holds this book together. I found myself brought to tears several times by how blessed I felt to be "pondering" Mary in these new ways. I have already given this book as a gift to my mother, my sisters, and many of my friends. When I find a book this good, all I want to do is share it with others.
Happy Feast Day!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than just another Mary book, November 15, 2008
This review is from: Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God (Paperback)
Maybe Mary and Me won't be your cup of tea. Maybe you don't even really "get" the whole Mary thing...and you'd be in good company. This book is filled with reflections and insights from Catholic women, some of whom weren't always big fans of Mary. The author herself shares some reflections that had me laughing and grabbing the tissues.
In my world, there's a huge value to things that make me consider life differently. I don't always agree with the things that force my different perspective, but I do value them. It's one of the reasons why I so value my relationships with the friends in my life I can disagree with without the tingling in my scalp that signals anger and frustration.
I found this sort of value in Mary and Me. I also found new insight into the role of the Blessed Mother in my own life.
Consider suffering, for example - I often turn to Mary when I'm in pain, but I have only ever been able to articulate it vaguely. "Well, she was at the foot of the Cross," I'll reason in my head...and though I know that wasn't an easy thing to do, it seems sort of lame.
This book is one I'll lend out, though, be assured I'll be keeping track of who has it, because I know I'll be turning back to it. It's also the sort of book I'll be purchasing for friends...because I can think of quite a few women who need the wisdom, comfort, and insight that's included. You don't have to be Catholic to appreciate that God's mom loves you. You don't have to be a "Mary freak" to smile at the company of another woman's shoulder in times of challenge and pain. You don't have to be a big reader to make it through this relatively short book.
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