Meet Mary [Paperback]

Mark Miravalle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2008

Who do you say that she is? She's a simple peasant girl they call Queen of Heaven. She's the Lord's humble servant, yet an icon of womanly strength. She's ever-virgin and mother of all; lowly and exalted; filled with grace and font of grace. Sinners fly to her, but an angel bowed. She's Mary, the mother of Jesus. She's the most recognized woman in history ... and the most misunderstood. Non-Christians paint her as an earth goddess or proto-feminist. Skeptics say she's a fictional projection of male psychological needs. And many protestants grudgingly acknowledge that someone had to bear the Savior, but they otherwise regard Mary as an ordinary, sinful woman. Even if you're a Catholic who grew up with a statue of Mary next to your bed, you probably don't understand her as well as you think -- or should. Do you know the Church's five essential Marian doctrines, and how they're rooted in Scripture and Sacred Tradition? Are you able to explain to others the difference between the Immaculate Conception and the Virgin Birth? Or to share the messages and secrets of Mary's most famous apparitions? Meet Mary, the new book from renowned Marian expert Mark Miravalle, will tell you all that and more. In it you will learn the faithful truth about this woman of contradictions: everything the Bible says about her, what the early Christians believed, and each of the key teachings the Church has proclaimed about her for 2,000 years. Even more important -- for Mary herself desires to be known intimately, not academically -- you'll learn how to enter into a personal relationship with her. You'll come to regard her not as a distant and unapproachable figure in the heavens, but as a real friend and a mother. Most of all, you'll become a better disciple of Jesus. For the Son commands us to imitate Him in all things -- including perfect love of His mother.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Sophia Institute Press (January 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933184329
• ISBN-13: 978-1933184326
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #921,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It will enlighten you and possibly change your heart and mind!!!, January 7, 2010

By 

J. Pastor (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Meet Mary (Paperback)

This book is fabulous. I do not rate things high unless I am nuts about them.

I am a Protestant who married a Catholic. For years I have been reading books, trying to understand Catholic teachings, especially about Mary.

Many books on the market about Catholicism and Catholic doctrines are not very good, not written to be read by Protestants with Protestant objections and sensibilities. Nor do they explain things well, the origins of beliefs, etc.

This author, who is a Marian theologian and an expert, anticipates all possible objections to Marian doctrine and answer them extremely well. It might not convince you, (It did me) but you will come out of it better informed and probably more tolerant. Many people do not understand these teachings. I have known highly educated Protestant ministers teach their parishioners that Catholics worship Mary. I know cradle CAtholics who think the Immaculate Conception refers to the way Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This book will eradicate all misconceptions. It might not make you a devotee of Mary, but it will help get rid of some prejudices and wrong assumptions.

Here is a Catholic quoting SCRIPTURE to support his beliefs! (And well!) Wonder of wonders!

I have read this book many times and now call Mary my mother. Although you wouldn't have to do so yourself to benefit from this book, just to be more educated is a benefit in itself.

Highly recommend for all Christians, Catholic or Protestant, or those curious about the Christian faith!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for everyone to read, July 17, 2010

By 

bassgiraffe (Waterloo, ON) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meet Mary (Paperback)

Although written by a highly-educated college professor, and mariologist, "Meet Mary" will appeal to casual readers, and would be useful for a high school youth group. It's clear and concise - only 87 pages (120 including the introduction, appendix and end-notes).

"Meet Mary" has five chapters focusing on: Mary in scripture and history, the four Marian dogmas, Mary's motherhood, Marian devotion and Marian apparitions. Although packed with facts, the main focus is relational. Since understanding is important to belief, the details don't detract from explaining the heart of Mary - making this book both theological and devotional.

This book should be read by all people; as the author explains in his introduction, Mary is important to all people, not just Christians and certainly not just Catholics. Readers who are not Christian will appreciate his tone - which focuses on explanation rather than conversion. Non-Catholics will find the scriptural, historical and dogmatic details robust enough to answer many questions. Note that books like Dr. Miravalle's "Introduction to Mary" would provide a more thorough apologetic (written at an undergraduate level). Catholic readers will enjoy the sound representation of Catholic belief and devotion, and all Christians will like the Christocentric tone, "Devotion to Mary never ends with Mary. It's proper end is always Christ" (pp. 63, 64).

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Sophia Institute Press sent me a complimentary copy of this book for me to review. This did not affect the opinion of this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get Acquainted with the Blessed Mother., May 8, 2010

By 

Karen in Mommyland (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Meet Mary (Paperback)

I just finished reading Mark Miravalle's Meet Mary. Miravalle is a Catholic deacon who is also a Mariologist. In his book he introduces his readers to the Mother of God, Mary. This book wasn't written just for Catholics. He invites non-Catholics to come along with him and get acquainted with our Blessed Mother and he explains why she's relevant to all of us and not just Catholics.

This is not an apologetics book and is not intended by the author to be such but even still, it could still quietly carry out that function if read by a curious non-Catholic. In the book Miravalle makes it clear that Catholic do not worship Mary and he beautifully explains Marian devotion and how it brings one closer to our Lord.

So who would benefit from reading this book? Anyone with a curiosity about Mary could certainly learn something from this book. If you're a Catholic who doesn't exactly know why we honor the Blessed Mother, you certainly could gain some valuable insight by reading this book. If you're a protestant who thinks Catholics worship Mary or are just flat out crazy for praying to her, you could learn a lot about why she is so important and how she can lead us closer to her son and our Lord, Jesus. If you're in RCIA and the idea of Marian devotion seems strange to you then this book would be a great springboard of catechesis for you on Mary.

At 90 pages, the book is a short read, but it is packed with information. Miravalle's writing style is engaging and to the point. Because this book is an introduction to Mary, it's more or less an overview of Mary and not an in-depth study. If you're looking to get you feet wet and become acquainted with Our Lady, then this book is a great starting point.

The book also sports a nice appendix that covers the Rosary and other Marian prayers. In this section you will find a short how to on praying the Rosary and a brief explanation of all twenty mysteries of the Rosary. Prayers such as the Angelus, Regina Caeli and Memorare are also included in this section along with a few others.

Overall, I think this book is well done and can nicely serve a broad audience.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Sophia Institute Press in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."