Walking with Mary: A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross

by Edward Sri

Mary appears only a few times in the Bible, but those few passages come at crucial moments. Catholics believe that Mary is the ever-virgin Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven and Earth. But she also was a human being--a woman who made a journey of faith through various trials and uncertainties and endured her share of suffering. Even with her unique graces and vocation, Mary remains a woman we can relate to and from whom we have much to learn.
 
In Walking with Mary , Edward Sri looks at the crucial passages in the Bible concerning Mary and offers insight about the Blessed Mother's faith and devotion that we can apply in our daily lives. We follow her step-by-step through the New Testament account of her life, reflecting on what the Scriptures tell us about how she responded to the dramatic events unfolding around her.
 
“This book is the fruit of my personal journey of studying Mary through the Scriptures, from her initial calling in Nazareth to her painful experience at the cross,” writes Edward Sri “It is intended to be a highly readable, accessible work that draws on wisdom from the Catholic tradition, recent popes, and biblical scholars of a variety of perspectives and traditions. With the riches of these insights, we will ponder what her journey of faith may have been like in order to draw out spiritual lessons for our own walk with God.” He add, “It is my hope, therefore, that whether you are of a Catholic, Protestant, or other faith background, this book may help you to know, understand, and love Mary more, and that it may inspire you to walk in her footsteps as a faithful disciple of the Lord in your own pilgrimage of faith.”

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Faith, Christianity, Christian, Theology, Nonfiction

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Dr. Edward Sri is a nationally-known speaker on Scripture and Catholicism and the author of several best-selling books. Besides teaching at the Augustine Institute, Sri is a visiting professor at Benedictine College and a contributor to the popular apologetics series, Catholic for a Reason. Sri is also a founding leader with Curtis Martin of FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students).

He also is the creator and host of a new 18-part video series on the Catholic faith for parish adult faith formation called Symbolon (Augustine Institute), and he serves the general editor of a Opening the Word: Journey through the Sunday Readings (Augustine Institute).

Dr. Sri leads pilgrimages to Rome and the Holy Land for lay people each year.

He resides with his wife Elizabeth and their six children in Littleton, Colorado.

Education
STD, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Rome)
STL, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Rome)
MA, Franciscan University of Steubenville

Reviews

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting walk with Mary! ☺️

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does Walking with Mary mean? Answer: Following the nine steps of her life and be challenged to use her as an example for your own life.

Edward Sri does an excellent job of describing Mary's nine steps and implying challenges for the reader.

I have made a few of Kindle highlights available for view. These are the ones that impressed me the most.

Mother Theresa also presents a challenge, which I found inspirational.

An excellent book to further your own spiritual journey.

5 stars

[Thadeus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has done a great job of making an approachable book for all Christians helping bring us to a closer and better understanding of Mary, the mother of Jesus. There were a tremendous amount of references to the context of the time and place in which she lived, and in the religous practice that she grew up with. I feel closer to Mary and Jesus after reading this book.

Recommended for great examples of discipleship!

[Sarah Winslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It deepened my (above average) understanding of Mary through scriptural and historical context, but was written at a level easy enough to comprehend.

[Nick Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“From a merely human perspective, Jesus's plan does not make any sense. Yet, first and foremost, Jesus is asking the servants not to understand his plan but to trust him.”

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book on Mary's Journey I never thought about. The only downfall of listening to it was all the referencing which I know would have drove me just as crazy if I read it.

[Kirstie Elfreich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and learned so much I never knew about Mary from Scripture!

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book to be a soothing and peaceful journey. I will definitely return to it.

[Marian Bart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad at all - just not in any way unique to me. A good, solid primer for those who need one.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is packed full of Biblical support for the prominent role the Church gives to Mary in a clear and concise manner. I learned so much and I've been Catholic 13 years, I thought I fully understood her role in the Gospels already, but what I knew only skimmed the surface. I can't believe how deep this book went in less than 200 pages. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to understand Mary's role in Church history better, who wants to learn more biblical support for her veneration, how she points us to Christ, and ultimately wants to grow in their faith and relationship "to Jesus through Mary."

[Christine in BoMass, USA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly Awesome

More depth to Mary than I imagined. The
demonstrated connections between Mary and the Old Testament were eye opening. Very well written.

[Deneen Ropp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved how Edward Sri used typology. A lot of new information and challenged myself how to look at our Holy Mother if God!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Walking with Mary, Edward Sri examines the key Scripture passages in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, taking us on a step-by-step Scripture study of her life. In a very readable format, he illuminates our understanding of the mysteries of her life, providing profound insights.

Walking with Mary is a captivating book that nourishes both the mind and the soul. In 172 pages, Sri gives us a comprehensive analysis of the events in Mary’s life, beginning with her fiat at the annunciation and ending with her coronation as the Queen of heaven and earth. Sri takes us through Mary’s joys and sufferings via his synthesis of the original Greek texts and related Scripture passages, revealing Mary’s virtues and God’s promises to her.

As a result of reading this book, I have gained a deeper, clearer, and more comprehensive understanding of the events that took place in Mary’s life, her responses to God’s will in her life, and how to emulate her virtues in my own life. This is an excellent read for anyone who seeks to know who the Blessed Virgin Mary really is and to anyone who desires to follow her, as the first disciple of Jesus Christ. I highly recommend Walking with Mary.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly a bit simplistic in places, but it's a great, easy read that makes Mary's journey seem more real, and Mary more human. There are a lot of great explanations and he does a good job if explaining ancient Jewish context to facilitate a better understanding of the places in scripture in which Mary is mentioned. This book is excellent precisely because it is accessible to anyone - no theology background necessary.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Sri does it again. Clear, thoughtful, deeply rooted in Scripture and deeply transformative.

Summary
In Walking with Mary, Edward Sri takes readers step by step through the key moments of Mary’s life in the New Testament. Beginning with the Annunciation and moving through the major events of Christ’s life all the way to the Cross, Sri explores the few but incredibly important passages where Mary appears in Scripture. Rather than presenting abstract Marian theology, he focuses on Mary’s journey of faith - her trust, her uncertainty, her suffering, and her steadfast “fiat” to God. The result is both a biblical study and a spiritual reflection on what it means to follow Christ.

What worked for me
I’m slowly making my way through Edward Sri’s back catalogue and he continues to confirm why he is one of my favourite Catholic theology writers - right alongside Scott Hahn. What Sri does exceptionally well is lay out the argument clearly and patiently. He doesn’t simply present Marian devotion as something Catholics believe. Instead, he shows you the scriptural threads, the historical context, the Old Testament connections, and how everything fits together.

That ability to connect the dots is what makes his books so powerful. You start with a familiar passage - something you’ve heard dozens of times - and suddenly you see layers you hadn’t noticed before. Typology, Jewish context, subtle textual details. It’s like watching a tapestry slowly come into focus.

But what I appreciate most is that the book never feels academic or distant. Sri writes with warmth and clarity. You don’t need a theology degree to follow his argument. He explains complex ideas without watering them down, which is a rare gift.

Reading him always deepens my faith. And that’s really the mark of good Catholic theology - it doesn’t just inform the mind, it strengthens devotion. By the end of the book, Mary feels less like a distant figure in sacred art and more like what the Church has always called her: the first disciple, walking faithfully with Christ even when she could not fully understand what was unfolding.

What didn’t quite land
Honestly, very little. Sri’s style is intentionally accessible, which means readers looking for dense academic theology might find it too straightforward. For me, that clarity is exactly the point.

Final verdict
If you want to understand Mary through Scripture - not sentiment, not clichés, but the deep biblical foundations of her role in salvation history - this is an excellent place to start. Thoughtful, readable, and deeply enriching.

Another reminder that the more carefully you read Scripture, the more beautifully everything connects.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross - What a journey this was! I loved how this book can help explain Mary to others that are not Catholic through scripture verses.

What a journey, from the Annunciation and her “Yes” to continuing to walk that yes through her life and ponder things in her heart to being at the foot of the cross having that sword pierce her heart. She had many opportunities to say yes throughout her life and Jesus’ life - it was a daily commitment that she chose to say Yes everyday. Just like we have a new opportunity everyday to also say yes to following Jesus and to “do whatever he tells you”.

The last paragraph in the book summarizes her call and points us toward Jesus: “Mary exhorts us to live out what has served as the foundational principle for her own existence - “Do whatever he tells you.” For it is only when we walk in Mary’s footsteps as faithful disciples, doing the Lord’s bidding, that we find, as Mary did, the happiness and fulfillment Christ has in store for all his followers and the crown of glory awaiting us in heaven.”

“Do Whatever He Tells You.”

[Bernadette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up "Walking with Mary" somewhat unexpectedly. A week before reading it, I had been praying the rosary and found myself wondering what it must have been like for Mary to trustingly endure her Son’s crucifixion - how she bore such sorrow without bitterness. A few days later, at the I AM Congress in Orange County, I came across this book while waiting with a friend to meet Dr. Sri. It felt providential and reading it truly deepened my understanding of Mary’s heart.

Dr. Sri brings Scripture to life, dissecting each moment of Mary’s journey - the Annunciation, Visitation, and beyond - with biblical insight and gentle clarity. What struck me most was how human Mary is. She wasn’t untouched by confusion, worry, or misunderstanding, yet she continually chose to ponder and trust, even when she couldn’t see God’s full plan. Seeing that struggle made her faith more attainable, something I can learn from, not just admire from afar. This book helped me approach my own faith with quieter patience and renewed trust, inspired by Mary’s steady yes.

[Katie Maggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book certainly offers readers accessible insight into Mary, using scripture as the foundation for what we know and believe about Jesus' mother. The content is well organized from beginning to end - the Annunciation through the reference of Mary in the book of Revelation - and is easy to follow.

The writing style is not overdone or flowery. It feels simplified but not to the point of being diluted. The one fault was the repetition of topics previously discussed. While the book should not be considered a "dumbing-down" of Biblical content, the reappearance of points previously discussed feels as though the author doesn't trust the reader to have grasped the point earlier. There is also a moment in the last chapter where Jesus is compared to Joseph from the book of Genesis that seems entirely non sequitur.

Overall a very informative and approachable book that both educates and deepens faith.

[Matt Lorenzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful, especially looking at the Jewish applications in Scripture and what the Apostles and Early Church taught about Mary and the Church.

One noteworthy passage that hit me was how John started his Gospel lining up with the Genesis 7-days of Creation account. Hence, the Wedding Feast at Cana was the 7th day, pointing to a "new Creation", when the New Adam begins his public signs, and Mary is referred to as "Woman", the New Eve. The water to wine can also point to the Eucharist of which He will establish, and Mary's and the servants obedience to Jesus ("do whatever He tells you") as the first disciples and what our response should be, rather than the disobedience of our first parents.

We've missed/forgotten/left out so much as Protestants.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my personal goals this year is to develop a stronger devotion to Mary. I have already read some more academic stuff about her, so this book was exactly what I needed to start my year off. It is accessible to anyone and reads very simply and quickly, but that doesn't mean that the insights aren't deep and profound. There was a lot here for me to think about and it left me in awe of Mary's faith and devotion to her son. I am glad I purchased this book because it is one that I would like to reread, and that isn't something that I often do. Fortunately, it will be easy to do so at only 172 pages.

[Dan Charnas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scholarly, yet very accessible! Sri presents Mary in a manner that lay people will be able to understand. He takes the few specific episodes in the Bible in which Mary appears and expands upon them to bring her and her raison d'etre to life.
Sri often quotes John Paul II to support his assertions about Mary. This suggests to me that he might have been seeking to provide validation from mainstream Catholicism for this portrait - and who'd be better to cite for that purpose than JP II?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; true to the comment by one of the reviewers, I couldn't put it down.

[Kerstin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent primer on Mary.
Edward Sri writes for a general audience in an easy to understand style and goes step by step through the biblical passages where Mary is mentioned. He demonstrates how these verses are connected to other places in the Bible in the Old and New Testaments. He also gives many translations from the original Greek so these verses can be understood by their intended meaning and put in proper context. In essence what he is doing is laying out the basis from which Marian theology has been built and understood from the beginning.

[Heidi Mussoline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read bits and pieces of this for Dr. Sri’s Mariology class at the Augustine Institute, I received the insights the first time as straight forward and interesting in coming to know more about the Blessed Mother in the Bible. Reading through this time, however, I was more interested in coming to know the Blessed Mother AS a Mother and guide. This book is beautifully simple - it is practical and it does a great job of giving overviews of what the Bible can teach us about Mary without being passed over as daunting or intimidating.

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. An interesting and informative book that explores the many aspects of Mary: believer, mother, disciple, and intercessor. Using his own research and that of others, both Catholic and non-Catholic, the author guides the reader through the major Bible passages that refer to Mary, his engaging, conversational tone bringing her story to life. Portraying her as very human, someone who pondered many things in her heart yet always held fast to her faith in God, this book offers the reader a better understanding of Marian Devotion and a challenge to use her faith journey as inspiration for our own. Ave, Maria!
Recommended.

[silent · Rating 5 out of 5]

W tej ksiażce przygladamy się postaci jaka była Maryja, Matka Jezusa. Autor fenomenalnie, krok po kroku analizuje dziewięć kluczowych momentów jej życia opierajac się na Ewangelii. Nie często wystawiam aż tyle gwiazdek w opinii ale ta ksiażka na nie po prostu zasługuje. Przyczyniła się do pogłębienia mojej wiary a także zachęciła do chwili refleksji. Jedna z tych ksiażek, do których wraca się z uśmiechem na twarzy.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good intro to Mary's life and devotion. I wish I had found it at the start of my faith journey, because it's a good read for someone who doesn't understand Catholicism's Mary-focus. It travels from the Annunciation to Revelation, delving into her seemingly simple life. She doesn't appear often throughout Scripture, and says little, but her impact on the faith (and Jesus's life) is profound.

[Diana Agacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Man oh man. This is truly a book that inspires prayer and gives a deeper understanding of Mary's role in the Bible. It is very well written, clear and easy to understand. Edward Sri has the amazing talent of presenting the profound in a very accessible language.
Mary, is the greatest woman of all generations and with hardly uttering more than in a few sentences. Mary is the real woman and all women should inspire to be like her.

[Richard Grebenc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't speak highly enough of this book. Dr. Sri is a fantastic writer. Not very long, easily digestible, thoroughly scriptural, profoundly insightful (chapter 6 on Jesus at twelve years old is worth the price of the book with its insights into the event itself and why it is even in the Bible in the first place).

Wonderful for Catholics and absolutely a go-to book for non-Catholics who want to understand Many better and come to appreciate a Catholic sensibility of Our Lady.

[Sally Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insight into Mary's Place in Salvation History

This is an easily understandable book about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her place in the bible and in our lives. I enjoyed the clarity of Dr. Sri's descriptions and his use of resources to explain his ideas. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in knowing why Catholics honor Mary or in knowing more about her as seen in the bible.

[Ashley Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed seeing the parallels of what Mary experienced early on to the moments at the cross. I think this book was well written with good supporting literature as well. I think I would have liked to have known more about what Mary's life might have been like in addition to what was written and what we do know from the Bible. But I enjoyed the book and it definitely shows that you need to have faith because God has a bigger plan.