Posted on 03/14/2010 12:14:46 PM PDT by NYer
Romano Guardini wrote in his book on the Rosary, “To linger in the domain of Mary is a divinely great thing. One does not ask about the utility of truly noble things, because they have their meaning within themselves. So it is of infinite meaning to draw a deep breath of this purity, to be secure in the peace of this union with God.”
Guardini was speaking of spending time with Mary in praying the Rosary, but David Mills, in his latest book, Discovering Mary, helps us linger in the domain of Mary by opening up to us the riches of divine revelation, both from tradition and Scripture. Mills, a convert from the Episcopal Church, former editor of the Christian journal Touchstone and editor of the 1998 book of essays commemorating the centennial of C.S. Lewis’ birth The Pilgrim’s Guide: C. S. Lewis and the Art of Witness, as well as the author of Knowing the Real Jesus (2001), has written a rock-solid introduction to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and done so with intellectual rigor and an affable tone.
His book begins with an introduction in which he describes how he came to discover the riches of the Church’s teachings on Mary: “I began to see how a sacred vessel is made holy by the sacred thing it carries,” he writes. “I began to feel this in a way I had not before. I found myself developing an experiential understanding of Mary and indeed a Marian devotion. Which surprised me. It surprised me a lot.”
Unfortunately, he notes, he did not learn about Mary from contemporary Catholics, nor in homilies, “even on Marian feast days.” It seems he learned on his own by reading magisterial documents and going back to Scriptures in light of those documents.
This book shares the fruit of that study. Mills examines the life of Mary, Mary in the Bible, Mary in Catholic doctrine, Marian feast days and the names of Mary. He includes an appendix full of references to papal documents and books on Mary.
Most of the book is done in a question-and-answer format, which usually works well, although at times it feels awkward. Would someone really ask, for instance, “What is happening in the liturgy on the Marian feast days?”
But most of the questions are natural. “What is the point of Marian devotion?” Mills asks. It is “to live the Catholic life as well as we can,” he answers. “This means going ever more deeply into the mystery of Christ, to become saintlier, more conformed to his image, by following Mary’s example and by turning to her for help and comfort.”
Next question: “Does devotion to Mary detract from our devotion to Christ?”
“Christians since the beginning of serious Marian devotion have been careful to emphasize Mary’s subordination to her son,” Mills replies. “In fact, they have said it so often that the reader begins to expect it. In the fifth century St. Ambrose put it nicely: ‘Mary was the temple of God, not the god of the temple.’”
David Mills, with the same radical clarity he showed in Knowing the Real Jesus, has written what has to be one of the best, if not the very best, short introductions to Catholic teaching on Mary, the Mother of God. Discovering Mary is ideal for those wanting to know more about her, whether they be skeptics, Protestants, or Catholics who don’t know the Mother of the Church well enough.
Franklin Freeman writes from Saco, Maine.
DISCOVERING MARY
Answers to Questions About the Mother of God
By David Mills
Servant Books, 2009
148 pages, $12.99
To order: servantbooks.org
ah, some more intercessions?
ABSOLUTLEY, INDEED.
Thanks for your kind and accurate post.
Nice to see.
Paul Johnson, "A History of Christianity".
Pg. 77 It was common for the State or private interest groups to push their nominees into key Church posts, irrespective of their status. St. Ambrose was baptized, went through the various clerical ranks and was consecrated bishop of Milan all within eight days.
I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. – John 15:5
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. - Matthew 7:17
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. - I John 2:29
[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. - Romans 8:1
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: - John 10:27
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. – Romans 8:9
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. – Colossians 3:3
Your spiritual ears and spiritual eyes are wide open, dearest sister in Christ. If anyone ever seeks to demean your spiritual understanding, just count it all joy.
You obviously have had a Spiritual education. That’s the important part, not a theological education.
############
INDEED.
And, personally, I’d stack Betty’s spiritual education up favorably against a thousand other blokes who have ThD’s any day of the week, week of the year.
Thank you for your encouragements, dear brother in Christ!
You’re welcome.
I just persistently try to tell it like it is . . . at least as I perceive it to be true, or not.
You claimed he was a pagan. You've shown nothing to demonstrate that he was.
Those so eager to take up the man-made tradition of sola scriptura also seem to be the ones so eager to be sucked into making false claims and revising history.
Gonna make me cry again.
It touches me deeply that YOU, Dear Sister, recognize that The Lord has done such a work in me. PRAISE HIS NAME.
BLESSED BE THE WAYS OF THE LORD.
We are in a Marxist takeover.
INDEED.
We have been in a Marxist/globalist takeover for more than 100 years as their quotes document here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81
I don’t recall if you’ve read any %% of them, or not.
BE SAFE, BRO—WALK WITH GOD. THERE IS NO OTHER SAFETY.
CHRIST IS COMING BACK FOR AN OVERCOMING SPOTLESS CHURCH.
That means GOD HAS TO CLEAN US ALL UP INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY.
HE IS ABLE TO THE TASK.
WE SHALL DO GREAT EXPLOITS.
GOD HAS FAR MORE SURPRISES IN STORE FOR THE ENEMY THAN THE ENEMY HAS IN STORE FOR BELIEVERS.
It appears that the alien stuff is going to go tumbling literally out of the skies into more or less everyone’s laps . . . perhaps at the same times—or close to the same time as . . . The average citizen is NOT REMOTELY MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SPIRITUALLY PREPARED FOR SUCH A PARADIGM SHIFTING SET OF HORRORS.
the scheduled economic, infrastructure collapse, WWIII with Israel and Iran, martial law, more overt demonstrations of the global government, kicking off the festivities etc.
imho, The health care bill is about !!!!CONTROL!!!! & The required-to-get care Mark of The Beast. . . . as well as population reduction.
GOD ALONE will be our Provision in such a context.
Like Paul I pray for the saints...
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We sure are!
Do you really believe that the mary seen at Fatima was really from God ?
In Lent, the adversary, being reminded that his time is short, is especially vicious. He clouds the minds of those who do not persistently take refuge in Jesus.
During such an assault appeals to reason will not meet with reasonable response.
Consider this: If someone says, "So and so is dead and in heaven," he is using not the language of the Faith, not the language of Christ and His Church, not even the language of the Bible. Those in heaven live with a life unknown to us on earth "for all live to Him." "Dead and in heaven," strictly speaking, is a meaningless and self-contradictory statement. Those who speak this way indicate that their hearts are still largely informed by the flesh.
In assailing the dogmata concerning our Blessed Mother, they denigrate the promises to the Faithful. Is her heart immaculate? So will be the hearts of the Saints in Heaven? Do they argue that she should be deprived of what is promised to all the faithful?
They complain at the teaching that she is queen. The Bible teaches that all the blessed are a royal (that is, kingly) priesthood. If they were to be taken at their word, on the last day she would be the only saint in heaven who was NOT king or queen.
But this is not the time of year to contend. This is the time to direct our minds and open our hearts to the light of Love which shines even in the darkness of betrayal and death.
I will refrain from replying to your points out of deference to your perspective on Lent, Bro.
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