Mary Moments: the Book Edition

Welcome to this month's Mary Moments. As we celebrate the Assumption, we also gather to discuss books about Mary. I've always been a bookworm, and books about the Blessed Mother are no different. I haven't read St. Louis de Montfort's classic, True Devotion to Mary, but it's on my to-read list. The first book I read about Mary, as a freshly minted Catholic, was on my priest's recommendation: Hail, Holy Queen, by Scott Hahn. I read it and, a year or so later, reread it (I'll admit I didn't "get" it all the first time through).

The Blessed Mother has quite a fan club, as she should. She's been the topic of many books and papal encyclicals (try Redemptoris Mater if you've a mind - you won't be disappointed!). This Mary Moments highlights some moments with Mary in books...and I found myself adding to my to-read list. There are excerpts here from books that are coming out and from books that have been out for some time. There are reviews and personal stories.

Take a moment and join us for our Mary Moments collection of posts.

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Let's start out with a look at The Beauty of Mary, by Rosemary Vaccari Mysel and friends, and a history of the feast we're celebrating today: "According to theologian Danilo Sartor, OSM, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was first celebrated in sixth-century Jerusalem. The Emperor Maurice (d.602) ordered the celebration of the Assumption for the entire empire. In the Byzantine Empire, it was called the 'Dormition.' ... By the late 7th century ... four Marian feasts were celebrated in Rome: the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the Annunciation, the Purification, and the Assumption."

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In Mary and Me, by Ginny Kubitz Moyer, we have "the story -- many stories, actually -- of individuals who felt the gentle tug of that particular apronstring, and let themselves be drawn in to her loving embrace." It's a new Mary favorite, says Heidi, and as an added bonus, Ginny graciously shares an excerpt from Mary and Me on her brand-new blog.

Mark Shea has a book about Mary, Behold Your Mother, coming out in a few months, and you can read a lovely snippet over at Streams of Mercy.

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In a special guest post that, while not relating back to a book, could turn into one, Allie shares about a statue her kids found...that seemed sent right from the Blessed Mother herself.

Esther shares A Woman Wrapped in Silence, by John W. Lynch, a 1941 classic narrative poem that, she says, "is a book you will read and read over again. Its words and imagery will stay with you a long time. It will be invaluable aid when meditating on the Holy Rosary of our Lady." She must be right, because her post is of the print-and-frame variety.

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For a look at Mary's motherhood in one of my favorite books about Mary, try Behold Your Mother, by Heidi Hess Saxton. "I challenge you, for a second, to let go of your preconceptions about Mary, Mother of God. Even if you have a devotion to her. Start out with a blank slate, and pick up this book. You may find that you come away changed. You may find that you come away smiling, with tears in your eyes. You may find yourself looking around you with new eyes." (Note from Heidi: the book will shortly be available in Spanish -- see left!)

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Though it's a little controversial (or it was when I heard what the ladies in my parish thought of it after they read it on my recommendation), I recommend Looking for Mary, Or, the Blessed Mother and Me, by Beverly Donofrio, just as heartily now as I did then. It is "far from a sterile story of devotion, but is instead the rambling, real-life journey of a woman who I couldn’t help but relate with...Her story is inspiring to those of us who have made mistakes in our lives, who have made decisions we regret, and who have been living with consequences that seem too hard."

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Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur shared an excerpt from her novel Letters to Mary from a Young Mother, and maybe it's just where I'm at in my life as a young mother myself, but that book will be on my bedstand before long!

From 101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer, we have a tale of the Blessed Mother stepping in and doing what mothers do best, taking care of their children, no matter their state in life.

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Kate takes a look at the conversion inspired by motherhood as she discusses Broken and Blessed, by Cathy Adamkiewicz. "Just as Mary stood helplessly by and watched her only son endure horrific agonies, Cathy could not do anything to save her baby. She couldn't even hold her baby much. She ached to nurse her baby girl, to dress her in frilly dresses, and to just rock her – all these mommy moments we often take for granted. Yet, although she certainly questioned, "Why?" and uttered many prayers on behalf of her hurting baby, Cathy, like Mary, recognized that God had called Celeste from the moment of conception to do his work."

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Next month...Mary Moments: the Birthday Edition
We'll be focusing on the Blessed Mother's birthday, traditionally celebrated on September 8.

• What are some of your favorite Marian recipes? If Mary was coming to dinner, what would you make?
  
• What do you give a mother who has everything? What will your gift to Mary be this year?
  
• In reflecting on "another year older," how does the Blessed Mother serve as a guide, role model, and mentor to you?
  

Submit by 10 PM EST on September 10, using the online form or by emailing me at peerybingle [at] gmail [dot] com. If you have a story to share but no blog, feel free to email me your story and I'll put you live as a guest post over on my blog.

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