Fr. von Balthasar provides a profound and concise spiritual guide for all who desire to know and love the Mother of the Lord. The acclaimed theologian gathers from the Sacred Scriptures and the rich tradition of the Church to present a portrait of Mary that shows her importance and relevance for Christians today. In this inspiring work, von Balthasar exhibits the quintessential elements of a great theologian: depth of traditional devotion combined with intellectual brilliance and seasoned with common sense. He reveals to us the crucial spiritual role of Mary for all Christians: she shows us what the Church is and guides us close to Jesus. For Christians to understand their vocations as individuals and as the Church, Mary is essential as the model of the first disciple. Von Balthasar captures her singular role when he quotes her words in the Gospel at Cana: "Do whatever he tells you." Perhaps nowhere is Mary's role and significance more clearly present than in this Gospel scene. This work is beautifully illustrated with lovely silhouette drawings by artist Virginia Broderick.

"Has pain prevented you from living joyfully today? Do you struggle with overcoming what happened in the past? Are you tired of constantly repeating the mistakes you swore you'd never make? It is possible to live an uncaged, freedom-infused life. Author and speaker Mary DeMuth has been in the cage, wallowed there. But God had other plans. He chose to set her free, and He longs to unlock your cage too. Based on a quote from Oswald Chambers, this book follows three stages of finding and creating an uncaged life. To let go. To give it to Jesus. To anticipate a new future. Through Biblical teaching, real life-in-the-trenches examples and an eye toward spiritual growth, Mary DeMuth helps you find the uncaged life you've always longed for." P.[4] of cover.

Mary has often accompanied the life and spirituality of Christian saints in both the Western and Eastern churches. In this compilation you'll discover a rich spirituality of the Mother of God which will challenge, inform, and strengthen the reader. Mary has always inspired individuals, families, and nations. Even in a secular era like ours, she is a reference point for many. Indeed, in recent times the understanding of Mary has been “updated” to emphasize not only her extraordinary sanctity, but her as a member with us in the People of God and as a model of the Church. Mary: Her Identity, Our Identity contains a collection of texts on Mary as contemplated by Chiara Lubich. What Chiara told a group of young people sums up who Mary was for her, and who she can be for us: “My vocation, which is also yours, more than speaking with Mary… is to live Mary, to be her, to do as she did, and, above all, that she should re-live in us.”

Throughout the history of Christianity, Mary has been a beacon of hope to many who look to her. While Christians have always prayed to Mary, they have also sung to her in times of joy and sorrow. Sing of Mary analyzes Marian hymnody throughout Christianity—and particularly in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States from 1854 to today—focusing not only on the texts and music but also on the contexts out of which these hymns came. By using a holistic methodology—drawing from anthropology, history, liturgy, musicology, psychology, sociology, and theology—this study takes an interdisciplinary approach toward studying Marian theology and devotion through the lens of hymnody. This volume, accessible to both laypeople and academics, provides readers with a clear and full understanding of Marian hymnody by looking at many examples throughout the history of Christianity up through the present, thus shedding light on the history of Marian devotion and theology. The work concludes by providing hope for the future of Marian congregational song, particularly by exploring how the Magnificat can help Marian congregational song be meaningful to a wide range of Christians.

Uncover the truth behind this historical figure with this no-nonsense book. Are you tired of vague explanations and misleading information? Do you want to understand the Virgin Mary's significance without the bias of cultural Marxism? In this hands-on guide, you'll learn: - The real story of the Virgin Mary that the mainstream media doesn't want you to know - How to debunk the myths and misconceptions surrounding her life and legacy - The significance of the Virgin Mary in the context of history, religion, and culture - How to address the Virgin Mary in a balanced and unapologetic manner, without the influence of mainstream dogma Don't let misinformation cloud your understanding any longer. If you want to master your knowledge of the Virgin Mary and gain a fresh perspective, buy this book today.

With his feet planted firmly in the evangelical tradition, Tim Perry began to think that there must be more to Mary than generally meets the evangelical eye. Should we maintain that two thousand years of Christian thought on Mary is almost wholly wrong? How could the mother of our Lord, simply by virtue of the fact that she was God's chosen means of the incarnation, not deserve more serious theological reflection? And where might this lead? Beginning with Scripture, Perry probes the texts and traces the lengthy development of Christian thinking and practice related to Mary. Finally he concludes with a constructive and even surprising theological proposal for an evangelical Mariology that is rooted in, and demanded by, a high Christology. This book addresses the increasing evangelical interest in Mary and contributes to the current discussion of Mariology in evangelical-Roman Catholic dialogue. Sure to be discussed and debated, this is a book that will leave readers in a different place from where they began. Market/Audience Students and professors of theology Pastors Catholic readers Endorsements "From the fathers to the feminists, Tim Perry surveys the history of Marian traditions and comes to some conclusions that are bound to prod and provoke. . . .This is an important study that deserves serious consideration." Timothy George, dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, and executive editor, Christianity Today Features and Benefits Examines what we know of Mary from the New Testament. Explores the development of Mariology in the patristic period. Surveys Mariology in medieval and Reformation periods and on into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Offers a constructive theological proposal for an evangelical understanding of Mary, rooted in Christology.

When her mother dies, Mary Lenora must grow up quickly to take care of her brothers and sisters. Can love help her to shoulder the burden? Mary Lenora Caine knows she is adopted. As she was growing up, her mother called her "God's blessing." But now that she's gone, Mary no longer feels like any kind of blessing. Her father, in his grief, has cut himself off from the family, leaving the running of the home entirely in Mary's hands. As she nears her eighteenth birthday, Mary can't see anything in her future but drudgery. Then her childhood friend Daniel begins to court her, promising her a life of riches and ease. But her fairy-tale dreams turn to dust when her family becomes too much for Daniel, and he abandons her in her time of deepest need. Will Daniel come to grips with God's plan for him? And if he does return, can Mary trust that this time he will really follow through?