A Protestant Discovers Mary

For your lenten reading list.

Thanks for posting this. As a new Catholic/recovering Protestant I know I need to learn more about Marian devotion—I just wasn’t raised to understand this. When I get a job I’ll be sure to buy this book.

Don't know what I'd do without Mary ... Protestants can say the rosary too, if they like ... she's everyone's mother ...

Rosary for Peace

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.

It's this way for a lot of us. A little something that was not taught well at all.

As a new Catholic/recovering Protestant I know I need to learn more about Marian devotion

It can be a challenge even for some of us cradle Catholics. I am reading a 'hot' book right now.

From Amazon.com

Editorial Reviews

Review

A Book That You Will Read More Than Once - You have my word! I COULD NOT put it down. It kept my interest from beginning to end... Do yourself a favor and get this book. I promise you will not be disappointed. --Fr. Neil Buchlein, Pastor of Ascension Catholic Church in Hurricane, West Virginia, and host of an Internet blog at blessedmotherschildren.com

A Real Page-Turner! This book needs to be read by every Catholic. It will inspire you! I cannot praise it enough. --David T. Little, President, World St. Thomas More Society

His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu, Philippines, has granted the Church's Imprimatur, rarely given to books on prophecy, to this book. As an expert on Marian teaching and prophecy in the Catholic Church, Cardinal Vidal was uniquely qualified to have reviewed and approved this book as being without error in faith and morals. --Special Church Recognition

Product Description

Why is the world in so much turmoil today? What is going to happen in the near future? Are we living in the time of the Apocalypse? What is Heaven saying to us about our times? This book explains the big picture of the prophetic times in which we live and the apocalyptic times to come in the near future. An easily readable, well-researched, and inspiring book about the heavenly plan to bring peace to the world, this book uses solid sources like the Bible, the church s teachings, and heavenly prophecies to detail the coming times of the Apocalypse. As you turn each page with increasing hope, you will experience greater insight into God's urgent plan to bring his message to humanity while there is still time. You will find yourself referring to this book time and time again.

The author lists several of the many marian apparitions. Not sure why he left out the one at Zeitoun Egypt.

The book is quite interesting however. You may want to add it to your reading list.

Thank you for the post. Instead of giving up something for lent my journey is to find who Mary Magdelen was...So if you have anything on her I would greatly appreciate it.

In the fifth century St. Ambrose put it nicely: ‘Mary was the temple of God, not the god of the temple.’”

Bookmarked for future reference.

Thank you so very much for posting this article, NYer!

Welcome with great joy to the faith.

I understand the difficulty with Marian devotion that most protestants have with the Catholic church...I have discovered that is is terminology and of tunnel vision.

A little meditation will take you a long distance to understanding why we hold Mary in such a position of reverence.

” The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”.

Jesus, the word , took up earthly residence in the body of Mary to be en-fleshed. He was blood of her blood and flesh of her flesh.

Think of Mary being suffused with the Word of God every moment, every breath and every heart beat for 9 months.

This is why Mary is the role model for Catholic’s... we wish to be suffused with “The word of God” every moment of our lives and Mary is the example that it can be done.

It takes great humility, great submission, great openness.

We diminish as He increases.

**It seems he learned on his own by reading magisterial documents and going back to Scriptures in light of those documents.**

I think this is why many well-read celebrities become Catholics — they do the footwork — the reading!

Episcopal = sort of a protestant, separated by a body of water from Rome.

Title sort of misleading.

Thank you for the post. Instead of giving up something for lent my journey is to find who Mary Magdelen was...So if you have anything on her I would greatly appreciate it.

I will keep you in mind. However, in the mean time, a word of caution. The bulk of material out there on this wonderful saint, has been compiled by left wing feminists and secularists. It is easy to get caught up in the bunk they are selling. Keep your eyes wide open and question any and all material you come across. She is quite popular with radical groups who use her to undermine the Truth. P.S. - Mary Magdalene is one of my patron saints and holds a special place in my heart.

In the fifth century St. Ambrose put it nicely: ‘Mary was the temple of God, not the god of the temple.’”

Not surprising coming from a man who went from being a pagan to a Bishop in your church in about 2 weeks time. Why not look how Mary's title has evolved over time.

Mary was called woman by Jesus

Mary was called woman by Paul

Mary was called suitable vessel by Ignatius

Mary was called new Eve by Justin Martyr

Mary was called advocate (intercessor, comforter) by Irenaeus

Mary was called ever virgin Mother of God by Origen.

All this evolution of her title in just 200 yrs, so "Temple of God" after another hundred years isn't surprising. It doesn't make it right, though.

Thanks for the word of caution. I am looking at older writings like early 20th century to avoid the BS so that's why it's hard to find stuff. I don't want any feminist BS spin.

Depends on where he was in the Episcopalian Continuum.

He could have been a "low church" Piskie, which is indistinguishable from your average mainline protestant denomination.

He wasn't a "high church" Piskie, because in that case he wouldn't have had a problem with Mary to begin with. They've got Lady Chapels and Rosary Sodalities and devotions to the Immaculate Heart. My daughter was 14 when we converted, and she said she didn't notice much change . . . except that confirmation class was much better and the sermons were shorter.

Saint Anselem wrote this wonderful prayer to Saint Mary Magdalene ....

St Mary Magdalene, you came with springing tears to the spring of mercy, Christ; from him your burning thirst was abundantly refreshed through him your sins were forgiven; by him your bitter sorrow was consoled.

My dearest lady, well you know by your own life how a sinful soul can be reconciled with its creator, what counsel a soul in misery needs, what medicine will restore the sick to health.

It is enough for us to understand, dear friend of God, to whom were many sins forgiven, because she loved much.

Most blessed lady, I who am the most evil and sinful of men do not recall your sins as a reproach, but call upon the boundless mercy by which they were blotted out.

This is my reassurance, so that I do not despair; this is my longing, so that I shall not perish.

I say this of myself, miserably cast down into the depths of vice, bowed down with the weight of crimes, thrust down by my own hand into a dark prison of sins, wrapped round with the shadows of darkness.

Therefore, since you are now with the chosen because you are beloved and are beloved because you are chosen of God, 1, in my misery, pray to you, in bliss; in my darkness, I ask for light; in my sins, redemption; impure, I ask for purity.

Recall in loving kindness what you used to be, how much you needed mercy, and seek for me that same forgiving love that you received when you were wanting it. Ask urgently that I may have the love that pierces the heart; tears that are humble; desire for the homeland of heaven; impatience with this earthly exile; searing repentance; and a dread of torments in eternity.

Turn to my good that ready access that you once had and still have to the spring of mercy.

Draw me to him where I may wash away my sins; bring me to him who can slake my thirst; pour over me those waters that will make my dry places fresh. You will not find it hard to gain all you desire from so loving and so kind a Lord, who is alive and reigns and is your friend.

For who can tell, beloved and blest of God, with what kind familiarity and familiar kindness he himself replied on your behalf to the calumnies of those who were against you? How he defended you, when the proud Pharisee was indignant, how he excused you, when your sister complained, how highly he praised your deed, when Judas begrudged it.

And, more than all this, what can I say, how can I find words to tell, about the burning love with which you sought him, weeping at the sepulchre, and wept for him in your seeking?

How he came, who can say how or with what kindness, to comfort you, and made you burn with love still more; how he hid from you when you wanted to see him, and showed himself when you did not think to see him; how he was there all the time you sought him, and how he sought you when, seeking him, you wept.

But you, most holy Lord, why do you ask her why she weeps?

Surely you can see; her heart, the dear life of her soul, is cruelly slain.

O love to be wondered at;

O evil to be shuddered at;

you hung on the wood, pierced by iron nails, stretched out like a thief for the mockery of wicked men; and yet, ‘Woman,’ you say, ‘why are you weeping?’ She had not been able to prevent them from killing you, but at least she longed to keep your body for a while with ointments lest it decay.

No longer able to speak with you living, at least she could mourn for you dead. So, near to death and hating her own life, she repeats in broken tones the words of life which she had heard from the living.

And now, besides all this, even the body which she was glad, in a way, to have kept, she believes to have gone.

And can you ask her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’

Had she not reason to weep?

For she had seen with her own eyes—if she could bear to look—what cruel men cruelly did to you; and now all that was left of you from their hands she thinks she has lost.

All hope of you has fled, for now she has not even your lifeless body to remind her of you.

And someone asks, ‘Who are you looking for? Why are you weeping?’

You, her sole joy, should be the last thus to increase her sorrow. But you know it all well, and thus you wish it to be, for only in such broken words and sighs can she convey a cause of grief as great as hers. The love you have inspired you do not ignore,

And indeed you know her well, the gardener, who planted her soul in his garden. What you plant, I think you also water.

Do you water, I wonder, or do you test her?

In fact, you are both watering and putting to the test.

But now, good Lord, gentle Master, look upon your faithful servant and disciple, so lately redeemed by your blood, and see how she burns with anxiety, desiring you, searching all round, questioning, and what she longs for is nowhere found.

Nothing she sees can satisfy her, since you whom alone she would behold, she sees not.

What then?

How long will my Lord leave his beloved to suffer thus?

Have you put off compassion now you have put on incorruption? Did you let go of goodness when you laid hold of immortality?

Let it not be so, Lord.

You will not despise us mortals now you have made yourself immortal, for you made yourself a mortal in order to give us immortality.

And so it is; for love’s sake he cannot bear her grief for long or go on hiding himself. For the sweetness of love he shows himself who would not for the bitterness of tears.

The Lord calls his servant by the name she has often heard and the servant knows the voice of her own Lord.

I think, or rather I am sure, that she responded to the gentle tone with which he was accustomed to call, ‘Mary’. What joy filled that voice, so gentle and full of love.

He could not have put it more simply and clearly:

‘I know who you are and what you want; behold me; do not weep, behold me; I am he whom you seek.’

At once the tears are changed; I do not believe that they stopped at once, but where once they were wrung from a heart broken and self-tormenting they flow now from a heart exulting. How different is, ‘Master!’ from ‘If you have taken him away, tell me’; and, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him,’ has a very different sound from,

‘I have seen the Lord, and he has spoken to me.’

But how should I, in misery and without love, dare to describe the love of God and the blessed friend of God? Such a flavour of goodness will make my heart sick if it has in itself nothing of that same virtue.

But in truth, you who are very truth, you know me well and can testify that I write this for the love of your love, my Lord, my most dear Jesus.

I want your love to burn in me as you command so that I may desire to love you alone and sacrifice to you a troubled spirit, ‘a broken and a contrite heart’.

Give me, 0 Lord, in this exile, the bread of tears and sorrow for which I hunger more than for any choice delights.

Hear me, for your love, and for the dear merits of your beloved Mary, and your blessed Mother, the greater Mary.

Redeemer, my good Jesus, do not despise the prayers of one who has sinned against you but strengthen the efforts of a weakling that loves you.

Shake my heart out of its indolence, Lord, and in the ardour of your love bring me to the everlasting sight of your glory where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, God, for ever. Amen.

What a beautiful prayer. It touched my heart...Thanks.

“prayer to Saint Mary Magdalene”

I think you mean “prayer of”. You don’t pray to anyone but God.

It's prayer in the old sense - as in, "I pray thee" or, as often shortened, "prithee".

You'll find it in Shakespeare AND in the King James' Bible.

We 'pray' -- that is, humbly ask -- those who are righteous and stand among the elders and martyrs offering the prayers (in the other sense) of the faithful, to add their prayers to ours and present them before the Throne of Grace.

A lawyer includes a "prayer for relief" on behalf of his client when he files a "pleading" with the court, but his client isn't praying to him in the worshipping sense, nor is he praying to the judge.