The first century Jewish woman, Miriam of Nazareth, mother of Jesus, proclaimed in faith to be Theokotos, the God-bearer, is the most celebrated female religious figure in the Christian tradition. So varied and manifold are the traditions about Mary, both popular and scholarly, that some would speak of "Mary" as a collective noun or refer, in George Tavard's memorable title, to "The Thousand Faces of the Virgin Mary.";In this text, which forms a diptych with "Friends of God" and "Prophets", Elizabeth Johnson offers an interpretation of Mary that aims to be theologically sound, spiritually empowering, ethically challenging, socially liberating, and ecumenically fruitful. In particular, she construes the image of Mary so as to be a source of blessing rather than blight for women's lives in both religious and political terms.
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“Elizabeth Johnson proposes in this new book on Mary a radical return to the historical person of Miriam of Nazareth. …One of the basic aims of the book is to help women all over the world affirm their rightful place in church and society and to propose a refreshing but very scholarly (theological and pastoral) approach to Miriam of Nazareth without developing a marian doctrinal theology in the traditional sense… Her inspiring meditations and analyses help us to better understand that the life of the historical woman Miriam of Nazareth is indeed a powerful journey of faith, with significance for people struggling to negotiate the challenges of faith today.” –Achiel Peelman, O.M.I., Theoforum, Vol. 35, No. 1, 2004
“…comprehensive and provocative new presentation of a feminist Mariology. It deserves serious attention and critical evaluation… She periodically reports what the Catholic Church teaches, but she allows alternative views equal time without rebuttal…Truly Our Sister is a provocative book, and if it invites new attention and devotion to Mary by those who have felt alienated from her, that is all to the good.” –Sr. Sara Butler, M.S.B.T., Dunwoodie Review, 2004
“I know of no book on Mary, past or present, that is superior to Truly Our Sister. It is remarkably creative, challenging, and ground-breaking, and yet deeply rooted in the Catholic tradition. Elizabeth Johnson has already established herself as one of the Catholic Church’s leading theologians. This book solidifies and enhances that well-deserved reputation.” --Richard P. McBrien, Crowley-O’Brien Professor of Theology, Notre Dame University
"Truly Our Sister is an inspiring book: poetically written and enlightening, it calls on all Elizabeth Johnson's learning and insight to present us with a view of Mary that is deeply satisfying not only intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually as well. A sign of hope to the common reader as well as the professional theologian."
--Mary Gordon, best-selling novelist and Millicent McIntosh Professor of English at Barnard College
"With her outstanding command of critical feminist theory and theology, biblical scholarship, history, and even archeology, Elizabeth Johnson has framed a thoughtful proposal for the place of Mary of Nazareth in the communion of saints. A companion to her stunning volume, Friends of God and Prophets, this book exceeds its riches to offer a superb, beautifully written treatise that demonstrates the power and possibilities of post-Vatican II theology for the world today. It is simply breath-taking in its scope and achievement."
--Anne Carr, Professor of Theology, Divinity School, The University of Chicago
"As is her pattern and style, Johnson does a thorough job of mapping out [her] high and ambitious objectives. Her global chorus of women's voices offering a smorgasbord of interpretations of the Marian tradition is awesome....With great confidence, the author offers sophisticated and inspiring interpretations of 13 scriptural readings in which Mary appears....an erudite and radical tribute to Mary."
--Frederic Brussat on www.spiritualityhealth.com
"Lucidly written, logically structured, and enriched by her vast reading and 20 years of teaching and writing about Mary, the book develops a solid post-Vatican II theology that is both critical and deeply steeped in the tradition it opens up so creatively. It should be read not only by theologians but by all Christians who have often inherited a distorted view of Mary's place with us and in the church." --National Catholic Reporter
"Elizabeth A. Johnson, C.S.J....has now published a major theological study on Mary, and it is a very impressive work- comprehensive, erudite, critical, and passionate....What she has achieved is deeply admirable....This is a remarkable piece of work, an extensive tour of recent New Testament scholarship and its use of different methods and theoretical frameworks, leaving none of these familiar passages unaffected by critical questioning and fresh readings." --Commonweal
"...it was well worth the wait....The author's impressive comprehension of the method of feminist theology shines throughout....It is difficult to find flaws in this work....[a] scholarly, well researched, beautifuly written and theologically profound book." --America
“Truly Our Sister is an inspiring book: poetically written and enlightening, it calls on all Elizabeth Johnson’s learning and insight to present us with a view of Mary that is deeply satisfying not only intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually as well. A sign of hope to the common reader as well as the professional theologian.” --Mary Gordon, best-selling novelist and Millicent McIntosh Professor of English at Barnard College
“The chapters on Luke’s story of Mary’s visitation of Elizabeth and on the Magnificat, all of it interpreted, ‘through women’s eyes,’ are my favourites in this last section of the book…Johnson’s reading of Jesus’ birth, of the parents anxiously seeking the 12-year old and of the story of the Cana wedding equally offer striking insights…I recommend this book especially to those of us who have found it difficult to erase from our minds the Church’s ‘Virgin-Mother of God’ image of Mary. This book can be the incentive for a new relationship with Mary.” –Catholic Network for Women’s Equality (Canada), 6/30/04 (Gertrud Jaron Lewis )
“This is a theologically sound, spiritually empowering ethically challenging book on Mary. Our Blessed Mother’s image is a source of blessing for women’s lives both religiously and politically in this superbly written treatise.” –Mississippi Catholic, 03/26/04
“This is an outstanding book which will stand as a benchmark in theological reflection on Mary for the future…The book is very concrete in its highlighting of the social, political and economic contexts of the world today. The extensive endnotes to each chapter reflect Johnson’s scholarship and depth of her knowledge of past and contemporary theologies of Mary. Gracefully written, deeply theological and filled with a sense of the Spirit leading the reader to prayer, Johnson’s study of Mary is a gift to read and ponder.” –Grace & Truth, 2004
“The current reigning heavyweight in the Mary book category” –Heather Grennan Gary, Religion Bookline from Publishers Weekly 7/27/04 (Heather Grennan Gary Publishers Weekly )
“The author is at her best when she puts aside dense theology arguments and uses historical and archaeological evidence to paint a picture of how the real Mary – or Miriam of Nazareth – might have lived.” –Kelly Heyboer, Star Ledger, 7/18/04 (Kelly Heyboer Star Ledger Magazine )
“Truly Our Sister is deeply grounded in the diverse feminist hermeneutics emerging in striking different settings around the globe. It culminates in a section entitled ‘The Dangerous Memory of Mary,’ feminist reading of 13 key scripture passages. This book is required reading, especially for feminist who have all but given up on Mary. Highly recommended.” –D. Campbell, Colby College, Choice, October 2004 (D. Campbell Choice )
“The Chapters on Luke’s Story of Mary’s visitation of Elizabeth and on the Magnificat, all of it interpreted ‘through women’s eyes,’ are my favorites in [the] last section of the book. Johnson’s reading of Jesus’ birth, of the parents anxiously seeking the 12-year old, and of the story of the Cana wedding equally offer striking insights. I recommend this book especially those off us who have found it difficult to erase from our minds the Church’s ‘Virgin-Mother of God’ image of Mary This book can be the new incentive for a new relationship with Mary.” –Catholic Network for Women’s Equality Newsletter, Winter 2004
“Johnson turns to the figure of Mary and examines her in the context of the feminist reading of the communion of saints presented in her groundbreaking study Friends of God and Prophets. Johnson does not set out to provide yet another comprehensive treatment of the church’s doctrine on Mary, but instead, something much more ambitious and necessary in the church and world of the 21st century… Truly Our Sister is deeply grounded in the diverse feminist hermeneutics emerging in strikingly different settings around the globe…. This book is required reading, especially for feminists who have all but given up on Mary…. Highly recommended.” –Choice, October 2004 (Choice )
“Throughout, Johnson displays all the skills that have made her theological work such a decisive part of contemporary Catholic theology. She commands an impressive breadth of scholarly tools, being at home, for example, both in biblical scholarship and feminist theology. She is nothing if not sure-footed in the choices she makes of what to highlight and what to leave aside (a particularly important skill when writing about Mariology). The clarity of Johnson’s theological proposal as well as her scholarly honesty and openness are refreshing. There is depth of insight in Truly Our Sister, even where the author disagrees with another theological position, and a delightful, witty generosity toward the positions she argues against. Lastly, Johnson’s writing simply is beautifully evocative and rich in spiritual wisdom and insight. In the introduction, she speaks of her desire to ‘make sense of Mary so as to sound the challenge of discipleship…drawing people into deeper friendship with the heart of divine mystery and turning them toward the praxis of justice and compassion.’ Truly Our Sister does accomplish this.” –Pro Ecclesia, Winter 2005
“Truly Our Sister is obviously not just another volume restating the doctrine of Mary. Rather, Johnson’s vision of Mary within the great company of friends of God and prophets opens up a wealth of extraordinary and intriguing lines of inquiry. With that, the book also displays constructive feminist theology at its most compelling.… Throughout, Johnson displays all the skills that have made her theological work such a decisive part of contemporary Catholic theology. She commands an impressive breadth of scholarly tools…Johnson’s writing simply is beautifully evocative and rich in spiritual wisdom and insight.” Pro Ecclesia, Winter 2005
[The June 2005 issue of Sewanee Theological Review will publish Elizabeth A. Johnson’s lectures in The School of Theology’s longstanding DuBose Lectures. The overall title for the lectures and for the issue if STR is The Quest for the Living God.]
“Johnson unearth Miriam of Nazareth by applying a critical feminist lens that strips away barnacles of patriarchy, essentialism and complementarity.… Johnson brings a prophetic theological breadth and a mystical poetic depth to this compelling theology of Mary. It should be required reading, for both disaffected Catholic women who finds traditional doctrines of Mary implausible at best, and for those who think that they have understood, yet are called to look again at the ways the symbol of Mary functions to harm and oppress women.… Elizabeth Johnson gifts us with a feast for further reflection and thought.” –Reviews in Religion and Theology, 12.2, 4/05 (Reviews In Religion and Theology )
“This is an outstanding book which will stand as a benchmark in theological reflection on Mary for the future…The book is very concrete in its highlighting of the social, political and economic contexts of the world today. The extensive endnotes to each chapter reflect Johnson’s scholarship and depth of her knowledge of past and contemporary theologies of Mary. Gracefully written, deeply theological and filled with a sense of the Spirit leading the reader to prayer, Johnson’s study of Mary is a gift to read and ponder.” –Grace & Truth, 2004
“…comprehensive and provocative new presentation of a feminist Mariology. It deserves serious attention and critical evaluation… She periodically reports what the Catholic Church teaches, but she allows alternative views equal time without rebuttal…Truly Our Sister is a provocative book, and if it invites new attention and devotion to Mary by those who have felt alienated from her, that is all to the good.” –Sr. Sara Butler, M.S.B.T., Dunwoodie Review, 2004
“I know of no book on Mary, past or present, that is superior to Truly Our Sister. It is remarkably creative, challenging, and ground-breaking, and yet deeply rooted in the Catholic tradition. Elizabeth Johnson has already established herself as one of the Catholic Church’s leading theologians. This book solidifies and enhances that well-deserved reputation.” --Richard P. McBrien, Crowley-O’Brien Professor of Theology, Notre Dame University
"Truly Our Sister is an inspiring book: poetically written and enlightening, it calls on all Elizabeth Johnson's learning and insight to present us with a view of Mary that is deeply satisfying not only intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually as well. A sign of hope to the common reader as well as the professional theologian."
--Mary Gordon, best-selling novelist and Millicent McIntosh Professor of English at Barnard College
"With her outstanding command of critical feminist theory and theology, biblical scholarship, history, and even archeology, Elizabeth Johnson has framed a thoughtful proposal for the place of Mary of Nazareth in the communion of saints. A companion to her stunning volume, Friends of God and Prophets, this book exceeds its riches to offer a superb, beautifully written treatise that demonstrates the power and possibilities of post-Vatican II theology for the world today. It is simply breath-taking in its scope and achievement."
--Anne Carr, Professor of Theology, Divinity School, The University of Chicago
"As is her pattern and style, Johnson does a thorough job of mapping out [her] high and ambitious objectives. Her global chorus of women's voices offering a smorgasbord of interpretations of the Marian tradition is awesome....With great confidence, the author offers sophisticated and inspiring interpretations of 13 scriptural readings in which Mary appears....an erudite and radical tribute to Mary."
--Frederic Brussat on www.spiritualityhealth.com
"Lucidly written, logically structured, and enriched by her vast reading and 20 years of teaching and writing about Mary, the book develops a solid post-Vatican II theology that is both critical and deeply steeped in the tradition it opens up so creatively. It should be read not only by theologians but by all Christians who have often inherited a distorted view of Mary's place with us and in the church." --National Catholic Reporter
"Elizabeth A. Johnson, C.S.J....has now published a major theological study on Mary, and it is a very impressive work- comprehensive, erudite, critical, and passionate....What she has achieved is deeply admirable....This is a remarkable piece of work, an extensive tour of recent New Testament scholarship and its use of different methods and theoretical frameworks, leaving none of these familiar passages unaffected by critical questioning and fresh readings." --Commonweal
"...it was well worth the wait....The author's impressive comprehension of the method of feminist theology shines throughout....It is difficult to find flaws in this work....[a] scholarly, well researched, beautifuly written and theologically profound book." --America
“Truly Our Sister is an inspiring book: poetically written and enlightening, it calls on all Elizabeth Johnson’s learning and insight to present us with a view of Mary that is deeply satisfying not only intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually as well. A sign of hope to the common reader as well as the professional theologian.” --Mary Gordon, best-selling novelist and Millicent McIntosh Professor of English at Barnard College
“The chapters on Luke’s story of Mary’s visitation of Elizabeth and on the Magnificat, all of it interpreted, ‘through women’s eyes,’ are my favourites in this last section of the book…Johnson’s reading of Jesus’ birth, of the parents anxiously seeking the 12-year old and of the story of the Cana wedding equally offer striking insights…I recommend this book especially to those of us who have found it difficult to erase from our minds the Church’s ‘Virgin-Mother of God’ image of Mary. This book can be the incentive for a new relationship with Mary.” –Catholic Network for Women’s Equality (Canada), 6/30/04 (Gertrud Jaron Lewis )
“This is a theologically sound, spiritually empowering ethically challenging book on Mary. Our Blessed Mother’s image is a source of blessing for women’s lives both religiously and politically in this superbly written treatise.” –Mississippi Catholic, 03/26/04
“This is an outstanding book which will stand as a benchmark in theological reflection on Mary for the future…The book is very concrete in its highlighting of the social, political and economic contexts of the world today. The extensive endnotes to each chapter reflect Johnson’s scholarship and depth of her knowledge of past and contemporary theologies of Mary. Gracefully written, deeply theological and filled with a sense of the Spirit leading the reader to prayer, Johnson’s study of Mary is a gift to read and ponder.” –Grace & Truth, 2004
“The current reigning heavyweight in the Mary book category” –Heather Grennan Gary, Religion Bookline from Publishers Weekly 7/27/04 (Heather Grennan Gary Publishers Weekly )
“The author is at her best when she puts aside dense theology arguments and uses historical and archaeological evidence to paint a picture of how the real Mary – or Miriam of Nazareth – might have lived.” –Kelly Heyboer, Star Ledger, 7/18/04 (Kelly Heyboer Star Ledger Magazine )
“Truly Our Sister is deeply grounded in the diverse feminist hermeneutics emerging in striking different settings around the globe. It culminates in a section entitled ‘The Dangerous Memory of Mary,’ feminist reading of 13 key scripture passages. This book is required reading, especially for feminist who have all but given up on Mary. Highly recommended.” –D. Campbell, Colby College, Choice, October 2004 (D. Campbell Choice )
“The Chapters on Luke’s Story of Mary’s visitation of Elizabeth and on the Magnificat, all of it interpreted ‘through women’s eyes,’ are my favorites in [the] last section of the book. Johnson’s reading of Jesus’ birth, of the parents anxiously seeking the 12-year old, and of the story of the Cana wedding equally offer striking insights. I recommend this book especially those off us who have found it difficult to erase from our minds the Church’s ‘Virgin-Mother of God’ image of Mary This book can be the new incentive for a new relationship with Mary.” –Catholic Network for Women’s Equality Newsletter, Winter 2004
“Johnson turns to the figure of Mary and examines her in the context of the feminist reading of the communion of saints presented in her groundbreaking study Friends of God and Prophets. Johnson does not set out to provide yet another comprehensive treatment of the church’s doctrine on Mary, but instead, something much more ambitious and necessary in the church and world of the 21st century… Truly Our Sister is deeply grounded in the diverse feminist hermeneutics emerging in strikingly different settings around the globe…. This book is required reading, especially for feminists who have all but given up on Mary…. Highly recommended.” –Choice, October 2004 (Choice )
“Throughout, Johnson displays all the skills that have made her theological work such a decisive part of contemporary Catholic theology. She commands an impressive breadth of scholarly tools, being at home, for example, both in biblical scholarship and feminist theology. She is nothing if not sure-footed in the choices she makes of what to highlight and what to leave aside (a particularly important skill when writing about Mariology). The clarity of Johnson’s theological proposal as well as her scholarly honesty and openness are refreshing. There is depth of insight in Truly Our Sister, even where the author disagrees with another theological position, and a delightful, witty generosity toward the positions she argues against. Lastly, Johnson’s writing simply is beautifully evocative and rich in spiritual wisdom and insight. In the introduction, she speaks of her desire to ‘make sense of Mary so as to sound the challenge of discipleship…drawing people into deeper friendship with the heart of divine mystery and turning them toward the praxis of justice and compassion.’ Truly Our Sister does accomplish this.” –Pro Ecclesia, Winter 2005
“Truly Our Sister is obviously not just another volume restating the doctrine of Mary. Rather, Johnson’s vision of Mary within the great company of friends of God and prophets opens up a wealth of extraordinary and intriguing lines of inquiry. With that, the book also displays constructive feminist theology at its most compelling.… Throughout, Johnson displays all the skills that have made her theological work such a decisive part of contemporary Catholic theology. She commands an impressive breadth of scholarly tools…Johnson’s writing simply is beautifully evocative and rich in spiritual wisdom and insight.” Pro Ecclesia, Winter 2005
[The June 2005 issue of Sewanee Theological Review will publish Elizabeth A. Johnson’s lectures in The School of Theology’s longstanding DuBose Lectures. The overall title for the lectures and for the issue if STR is The Quest for the Living God.]
“Johnson unearth Miriam of Nazareth by applying a critical feminist lens that strips away barnacles of patriarchy, essentialism and complementarity.… Johnson brings a prophetic theological breadth and a mystical poetic depth to this compelling theology of Mary. It should be required reading, for both disaffected Catholic women who finds traditional doctrines of Mary implausible at best, and for those who think that they have understood, yet are called to look again at the ways the symbol of Mary functions to harm and oppress women.… Elizabeth Johnson gifts us with a feast for further reflection and thought.” –Reviews in Religion and Theology, 12.2, 4/05 (Reviews In Religion and Theology )
"Truly our Sister is an award-winning publication that provides fresh thinking about Mary while being faithfully grounded in scripture. Like contemporary movements that attempt to understand the historical Jesus, this Roman Catholic feminist author seeks to understand Mary's role and meaning in history...the book can be equally informative and thought-provoking for Protestant as well as Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians...Truly Our Sister is a book well worthy of recommendation to scholars, pastors, and lay theologians interested in thinking more about Mary, the mother of Jesus."- Dr. Cynthia H. Chertos, Congregation, Winter 2006
"Professor Johnson introduces her study as just one fruitful approach to the theology of Mary, seeking 'to understand her meaning as a particular person with her own life to compose.' There is, nonetheless, much that is of refreshing and stimulating interest here..."- Ann Loades, Modern Theology, 21:3, July 2005
(Modern Theology )"A book
"A book by professor Johnson is bound to be of interest, given her previous ventures in systematic theology, her participation in ecumenical dialogue, and her willingness to draw on a variety of insight from non-Roman Catholic traditions. A splendidly provocative book."- July 2006
(Modern Theology )“This is an outstanding book which will stand as a benchmark in theological reflection on Mary for the future…The book is very concrete in its highlighting of the social, political and economic contexts of the world today. The extensive endnotes to each chapter reflect Johnson’s scholarship and depth of her knowledge of past and contemporary theologies of Mary. Gracefully written, deeply theological and filled with a sense of the Spirit leading the reader to prayer, Johnson’s study of Mary is a gift to read and ponder.” –Grace & Truth, 2004
“Truly our Sister is an award-winning publication that provides fresh thinking about Mary while being faithfully grounded in scripture. Like contemporary movements that attempt to understand the historical Jesus, this Roman Catholic feminist author seeks to understand Mary’s role and meaning in history…the book can be equally informative and thought-provoking for Protestant as well as Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians…Truly Our Sister is a book well worthy of recommendation to scholars, pastors, and lay theologians interested in thinking more about Mary, the mother of Jesus.”- Dr. Cynthia H. Chertos, Congregation, Winter 2006
“Professor Johnson introduces her study as just one fruitful approach to the theology of Mary, seeking 'to understand her meaning as a particular person with her own life to compose.’ There is, nonetheless, much that is of refreshing and stimulating interest here…”- Ann Loades, Modern Theology, 21:3, July 2005
(Modern Theology )“A book
About the Author
Elizabeth A. Johnson, C.S.J., is distinguished Professor of Theology at Fordham University. She has received numerous awards, including the Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion for She Who Is (1993), the American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion for Friends of God and Prophets (1999), and the Book Award of the College Theology Society for Truly Our Sister (2004). She was also the recipient of the John Courtney Murray Award of the Catholic Theological Society of America, the Jerome Award of the Catholic Library Association, and the Monika K. Hellwig Award of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.
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92 of 103 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A stimulating revival of Marys image,
By
This review is from: Truly Our Sister: A Theology of Mary in the Communion of Saints (Hardcover)
In a previous book, ("She who is"), Elizabeth Johnson helped us gain some insight into the mystery of God seen from a feminist standpoint. She tried to emphasize the feminine in God. She focused on God as "Wisdom Spirit" which is perhaps the most abstract of our concepts of the Divine. In the present book, so to speak, she comes back down to earth by focusing on Mary, who was intimately linked to the Spirit and yet remains far more accessible to us humans. Mary can be named, and quite naturally be represented as a woman. She is a definitely more attractive, familiar and reassuring image than that of a spirit. The author goes, maybe with too much detail, into the historical and cultural contexts in which Mary spent her time on earth. She does that in order to show that Mary was a real woman, a real sister to the other women of this world. She rejects the usual image of Mary as the perfect icon because she finds it counterproductive. All the out-of-this-world privileges which are bestowed on her in the classical view, actually put her out of reach from other women. In the end, she has nothing left in common with the real women of this world. Elizabeth Johnson wants to convince that despite all that has been said, Mary remains within reach of her twenty first century sisters. That Mary was a very active, autonomous and responsible woman who can be and should be a real model for all the women of this world, because she actually was one of them. She lived and strived in a difficult male-oriented patriarchal society. She lived and acted in her own right, and not as someone who received her identity through a man from whom she should necessarily depend. This also holds true regarding the unique relationship that Mary enjoyed with the Divine. Elizabeth Johnson wants to demonstrate that Mary was not just a passive obedient tool in the hands of God, but an active, willing and determined participant in the history of God's self communication to humanity. When she was visited by the angel, she decided on her own to agree and to go along with God's project. And then, during all her life she remained consistent with this positive and responsible attitude. A lot of other interesting considerations are to be found all along this stimulating book, if the reader takes his or her time on the way.
67 of 78 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Empowerment through all of Mary's virtues,
By Glutton for books (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Truly Our Sister: A Theology of Mary in the Communion of Saints (Hardcover)
"Truly Our Sister," by Dr. Elizabeth Johnson received the Jerome Award form the Catholic Library association, the John Courtney Murray Award from the Catholic Theological Association, and the 2004 Book Award from the College Theology Society in 2004. Dr. Johnson was the first woman to receive tenure form Catholic University of America, and is currently Distinguished Professor of theology at Fordham University, and a sister of Saint Joseph. With such commendations, it appears that the consensus is the book is theologically sound, though it may challenge some preconceived notions.
Dr. Johnson's book in no way denigrates the character of Mary the mother of Jesus, but instead seeks to articulate all of the virtues of Mary that we (and women in particular) can find in Mary as a role model. The "Our Sister" in the title is not intended as some claim to deny the fact that Mary was the mother of God and a role model for maternity, but refers to the fact that as Mary is also God's daughter, and through that aspect she is also our sister through religion. The title's use originates from quote by Pope Paul VI, and as such should not be considered "unorthodox." The book analyses the virtues that Mary demonstrated in her life, which offer hope and reassurance to particularly women (thought they should not be precluded from men) during daily struggles. Dr. Johnson pays special attention to the plight of oppressed women. In scripture, when the angel appeared to Mary, and asked her to do God's will, Mary said yes. When doing so, she did so without hesitation, and did not first seek the opinion of her male guardian, who during the time period would have had the ultimate legal custody of Mary's future, nor did she consult a rabbi. The implications of accepting God's will were that she may possible be bearing a child out of wedlock, which would have socially stigmatize her, and made her an outcast of society, but she had faith that God would provide. Mary's obedience to the will of God as a priority over concerns about the law of men was courageous and loyal. Her trust in God to protect her during her potential time of difficulty demonstrated exemplary faith, trust, and hope. This is the image of Mary that provides the most help and reassurance to the women interviewed by Dr. Johnson, during their times of ordeal, and hope during times that no physical assistance seems in sight for them. However, the image of Mary presented by Christianity focused on her obedience, meekness, and virginity. It did not stress that Mary's obedience was to God rather than to patriarchal institutions, and that her humility to God's will. Although it was a miracle for a virgin to give birth and that aspect of the story helps to demonstrate that Jesus was the Christ promised, virginity was not an uncommon characteristic of a young unmarried woman in Jesus' society. The image that a church dominated by men constructed of Mary as a role model, extols values that make it easy to subjugate women and render their voices invisible. It is an image, ironically, that received no input from women, but to which all women were commanded to use as a role model; basically saying theses are the virtues that you should find inspirational. It is also an incomplete image and does not convey the fullness of virtues demonstrated by Mary, which can help women today: Mary's courage to say yes to God's will, and to follow Jesus to the foot of the cross; Mary's priority of obedience to what is truly good as opposed to what society tells her is the norm; her humility towards God, but her leadership in the realm of men that was demonstrated by her catapulting Jesus' public ministry by asking him to change the water into wine at the marriage of Cana; and an acknowledgement that Mary did suffer when God's will was being fulfilled through the crucifixion. An image of Mary that neglects these components of her life is not only terrible because it is incomplete and does injustice to the role that Mary played in religious history, but it dangerous to women. Dr. Johnson notes a study by psychologists among women of Hispanic culture, in which women who remain in abusive situations do so because they believe it is their role in life to suffer with humility any injustice that life gives them, as if it is God's will, similar to the interpretation that Mary was always obedient and meek and inactive, as mariansmo, a set of behavioral patterns that women tend to display when living in cultures dominated machismo. People need to be reminded that Mary is not a women who accpeted suffering for the sole sake of suffeirng as a virtue, nor did she accept suffering so that the false laws of men that perputuate injustice would be promoted in society. Mary accepted suffering when it was necessary to do so in order to fulfill God's plan and to contribute to creating his kingdom on earth. Dr. Johnson's book explores all of Mary's virtues. The end result is an image that pays full honor to the entire scope of Mary's life, rather than propagating an incomplete image of Mary resulting from piecing together only certain aspects of Mary's virtues, which cause predominantly women to recourse to a model that tells them to always suffer injustice quietly as a virtue - the consequence of Christianity's portrayal of Mary for the majority of its existence. Dr. Johnson's image of Mary honors her in all her glory, rather than only highlighting the aspects which can be used against women by cultural and religious institutions. The end result is a role model in which all people (not only women) can find inspiration and better guidance for discerning God's plan for their lives, and a deeper respect for the role that Mary played in her time, which increases the reasons and motivation to honor her.
46 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
We meet Miriam of Nazareth,
By
This review is from: Truly Our Sister: A Theology of Mary in the Communion of Saints (Hardcover)
As an RICA teacher I had been searching for the historical and cultural Miriam of Nazareth, Mary the mother of Jesus. In TRULY OUR SISTER, we learn about Miriam's probable village life in historical context. This book also describes how Miriam was mythologized over the centuries and was taken away from women as an unobtainable ideal. Solid Marian theology.
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