Whispers of Mary: What 12 Old Testament Women Teach Us About Mary

by Gayle Somers

Discover the echoes of Mary throughout the timeline of ScriptureThroughout the history of the Bible, incredible women have played a part in the story of salvation.Steeped in Scripture, the Blessed Mother would have known and pondered the stories of these women. She might even have recognized pieces of her own story in theirs.Following the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, the same one used in The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)™ podcast, Whispers of What Twelve Old Testament Women Teach Us About Mary invites Catholics to explore Marian typology through the lives of women like Eve, Esther, and Judith.Written by Bible scholar Gayle Somers, Whispers of Mary serves as a resource for Catholics to grow in relationship with the Blessed Mother of biblical women from each Old Testament time period of The Bible TimelineReflection questions that provoke deep thought about how each Bible story applies to our livesSpace for journaling at the end of every chapterAnd more!With thought-provoking commentary and hundreds of Scripture verses, Whispers of Mary deepens readers' appreciation for the story of salvation by revealing how even in the Old Testament, the lives of heroic women pointed toward Mary, and through Mary, to God.

Genres: Catholic, Faith, Christian, Spirituality, Religion

232 pages, Hardcover

Published March 7, 2024

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good look at the precursors to Mary in Scripture. The 12 women highlighted were familiar to me but the author almost always found something new to consider, quite often because of a close reading of text I just hadn't noticed. I especially appreciated the way thar Somers gave context for each woman's place in salvation history. I also really enjoyed the last chapter about Mary which considered how she might have been influenced by her own scripture knowledge showing echoes of their stories in her own life. That hadn't occurred to me before.

I didn't always agree with Somers's points, for example the absolutism of "never tell a lie" brought up when looking at Judith but there weren't a lot of those moments. To be fair, it did spark a household discussion of the topic ranging from St. Augustine to Corrie ten Boom's experiences in The Hiding Place. So, that in itself had value.

I also never use discussion questions but did note that these seemed more salient than most. None of them were interesting to me but I think a lot of women would find them fruitful.

Recommended.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I learned a lot about 12 old testament women, and how aspects of Mary are like them. It’s a powerful book, clearly a result of much prayer/reflection. Worth reading again another time.

The book has some questions to think about, to apply the lessons from the stories of these women to our own lives, and space to write down our own thoughts. (I wrote on a separate page because I don’t own the book but found it in the Adoration chapel.)

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this book Somers introduces the scriptures from the Hebrew Bible which prefigure Mary, the mother of Jesus. (The title is a bit of a misnomer -- there are only 11 women presented. The 12th chapter is a summary and if it presents another woman at all, that would have to be the woman in Revelations which is the concluding book of the Christian Bible.) While there are few verses in the New Testament about Mary and in which she speaks, what happens and what she says has direct ties to several female figures what Christians call the Old Testament. Somers attempts to develop a deeper sense of these women and thereby, of Mary by speculating on/imagining how these women might have felt or understood their circumstances and God. She relies on standard Church doctrine, some knowledge of culture and historical context, and some references to biblical language.

The book includes a Table of Contents (which does not list the Endnotes), an Introduction, 12 chapters, and Endnotes. Each chapter begins with a quote from pertinent scripture, a note about the historical context, the main presentation divided into several parts by headings in bold, a concluding section called "Pondering [Name of the Woman]" which includes some lines on which one might write comments. In the 12th and final chapter, Somers does a good job re-visiting the women she has presented with respect to Mary. The "Pondering" sections reflect on how this women related to God and the overall salvation story/God's story with people as well as how these stories prefigure Mary and her life.

Overall, the books seeks to contemplate in a deeper sense who Mary is. The book is insightful and while it guides, the reader is also brought into the scenes in an emotive way to deepen understanding and devotion. Somers basically carries this task off as a devotional book or group study guide.

While Somers does a good job, I was frustrated with a lack of more nuanced and deeper understanding of the Hebrew and in a few instances of Hebrew/Jewish custom. For instance, in her presentation of Eve and of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple which was a requirement for all first born sons. Somers struggled with keeping Mary human in the sense that while she might have wondered, she would not have known and surely she was busy raising this child. It is difficult to get a grasp on this -- Somers makes a good attempt and certainly raises important questions which cannot be directly answered. Another problematic approach is her assertion that there is a feminine role defined by God which women must not defy -- apparently Eve defied this by wanting to be wise (Many would interpret this Garden story not as a accusation of Eve, or women, as morally bereft or as temptresses but as a story of how humans come to be morally responsible and yet remaining dependent on God.) Somers underlines this feminine role as being subservient to men, being demure, quiet, etc -- a typical stereotype. This view becomes problematic when she claims the Prophet Deborah was a leader and honored prophet but then not really the leader since Deborah did not fight in the battle. I am not aware that the Prophet role in the scriptures ever involved Prophets being active military leaders. Somers appears to both honor and denigrate Deborah. -- Such a view is inappropriate. Immediately St. Joan of Arc comes to mind...

The book is obviously intended for group study, though one could use it individually, as I did. Recommded, especially for those new to studies of Mary.

[Katherine Kanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Neat little book that helped develop my understanding and awareness of Old Testament women and their prefigurement/connection to Mary. Got my butt into some books of the Bible that I’ve never read before which was cool. Provided lots of rich material for our women’s Bible study to discuss.

[Sonia Bachamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the connection between women of the Old Testament and Mary.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time with this book. I did not want to rush through but to think about and make those connections in my mind and heart. It brought a different perspective on how Mary was within other women of the Bible and their journey. Each one different, yet pointing toward Mary and her journey in Jesus’ life through his birth, death, and resurrection. An awesome book filled with hope, lessons, and peace.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really more like 3.5 stars, close to 4. I appreciated how thoroughly referenced this book was and thought it was well written. There were some fascinating explanations and links throughout between Old and New Testaments. But as is often the case with books by women about Mary, I felt too often that it was truly written not only specifically for women but for mothers. Mary is supposed to be OUR mother and not only relate to us on that ground. Still, it was a worthwhile read.

[Tracy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout reading this book for my Parish Woman's group, I have felt the pull to either about all the women of the bible. I am so glad this book was recommended by someone from our group to share and study, it is truly a treasure.

[Bernadette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read "Whispers of Mary" as part of my parish’s Women’s Fellowship Book Club, where we worked through one chapter each week and came together for discussion. The book highlights different women in the Bible - beginning with Eve in Genesis and moving through the Bible. Each chapter paired biblical narrative with historical context and closing with reflection questions.

I appreciated that the book gave space to women who are often overlooked, such as Anna in the temple. It also offered fresh perspectives on figures I thought I knew well. For example, Eve is often remembered only for the Fall, but here her story is traced beyond that moment - through her trust in God as she gives birth to Cain and Abel, and even after tragedy, her continued openness to life. These portrayals felt more human and relatable, reminding me that striving toward God often happens in imperfection.

That said, the book didn’t always connect its reflections in a satisfying way. At times, I found myself wondering why a particular prompt was the “takeaway” from a woman’s story, or how exactly her actions tied into the conclusion being suggested. The reflections were helpful for sparking discussion, but occasionally felt like a missed opportunity to go deeper.

Overall, I’d call this a middle-of-the-road read. It gave me a greater appreciation for biblical figures who are sometimes passed over and, surprisingly, even deepened my appreciation for Saint Joseph, whose quiet fidelity speaks volumes. I’d recommend this book to those who want to reflect slowly (one chapter at a time) especially women looking to explore the overlooked voices of Scripture.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. Whispers of Mary takes a simple but powerful approach, walking through the lives of Old Testament women and showing how each one, in her own way, foreshadows Mary. It is thoughtful, well-structured, and beautifully written without getting lost in overly academic or heavy-handed theology.

What I appreciated most was how readable it is. The analysis is rich but never overwhelming, and Somers does a great job drawing connections that feel both meaningful and accessible. It gave me a fresh perspective on stories I’ve heard before, and I found myself reflecting quite a bit along the way. A great resource for personal reflection or small group study.

Solid 4 out of 5 for me. Thoughtful, well done, and something I can easily see myself revisiting.

[Silvana Gomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, beautiful and God trusting real stories!!

The book is amazing. I loved that at the begging of each chapter, the author presents us with the time it tales place.
It's a beautiful book with real stories about women that trusted in God and did marvelous things. It's an example to all women. Every teenager girl should read this book and see how a woman can be courageous, fearless, powerful, and make a difference while trusting in God and leaving a descent life.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes us through the stories 12 Old Testament women, extolling their virtues and showing how each was a type of Mary, in whom those virtues were perfected. It’s truly a book to pray with and I hope to reread it every year. There are 12 chapters, so reading one chapter a month would work well.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was wavering between 3 or 4 stars but ultimately this book helped me see some Old Testament stories in a new way. There are parts that are redundant and some of the discussion/reflection questions seemed off the mark but overall I would still recommend this to anyone wanting to dive deeper into the women of the Old Testament. It definitely helps you see them in the eyes of our Blessed Mother.

[Mary Diebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my faith sharing group. We discussed it as we went along which made it more interesting. There were things I didn't know. There were things I didn't make the connection with between the other women and Mary. Sometimes what the author said seemed to be a stretch. But it always made me think. That's good.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I read this book. I gained a whole new insight into Mary and what made her the grace-filled, holy woman chosen by God. By studying the inspirational women of the Old Testament, which Mary would have known by heart, I learned the models she followed to become such an incredible woman.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t begin to describe how much I loved reading this book. It gave me a whole new perspective on a few key women of the Old Testament and how they can relate to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. I highly recommend this book.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting comparisons to the Blessed Mother, some of which I find disturbing. I’d love to discuss this.

[Laura Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to learn what our Mother Mary was truly like and why? Come to know her as you never have before. We used this as a Bible study and no one left the sessions without awe and amazement.

[Crystal Boudreaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading nonfiction always takes me so much longer, but this book was great! I reread many parts, learned things I didn’t know, and grew my relationship with God.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great dive into women of the Old Testament that I didn’t know much about and how they relate to Our Blessed Mother. Easy to digest.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book filled with inspiring women who even in their smallness and/or brokenness did big things for the Lord.

[Robin Tobin (On the back porch reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting dive into some of the women in the Old Testament…

[Cricket · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bible study

School moms ready this together. The stories were inspiring. Some we knew, many we didn’t realize the details. Thoughtful discussion questions.