Mary in the Bible and in Our Lives

by Wilfrid Stinissen

This book offers a clear, beautiful exposition of Catholic beliefs about Mary. Not a history or a compendium, it was written by a Carmelite monk who spent decades praying and pondering the mysteries of the faith concerning the Mother of Jesus.

Catholic Mariology has matured through centuries of meditation upon both the Bible and the Church's faith in the Incarnation. The Marian dogmas of the Church are guarantors of the full meaning of the statement in the Gospel of John that "the word became flesh and dwelt among us" (1:14).

Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen shows that Mariology corrects any attempt to minimize the good news that God became man so that man could become like God. In writing about Mary, he underlines the astonishing truth that God has initiated an intimate communion with mankind. In a world that strives to reduce human dignity, Mary reveals the very high value of man in God's eyes and God's wondrous love and plan for each one of us.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Theology, Christianity, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Rev. Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen, OCD

Reviews

[Mathias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katolicism är ett snäpp för rationalistisk känner jag fortsatt. Således fortsatt protestant. Men "marianiteten" är det som behövs i den kyliga, gnostiska, effektsökande, maskulina rationalistiska protestantismen

[Andreas Østergaard Jacobsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

En rigtig fin gennemgang af Marias liv, og hvorfor hun er så vigtig for kristne og i særdeleshed katolikker. Man finder ikke de tungtvejende argumenter for en katolsk mariologi her, men hjerteblodet bag Marias vigtige plads i Skriften og Kristi, Kirkens og vores liv er ofte rigtig fint fremlagt.

[Stéphanie Jurzysta · Rating 5 out of 5]

En karmelits redogörelse för vilken betydelse den hela jungfru Maria har i Bibeln och borde ha i våra liv. Det är en väldigt omfattande redogörelse som gav några aha-upplevelser. Broder Wilfred (OCD) skriver på ett lättillgängligt sätt och intresset hålls vid liv genom hela boken.

[Pita Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! I had to re-read it a few times. The research is superb as is the spiritual dimension that the author has weaved into the text. I found myself in rapture as I read it. For those who are seeking to deepen their Marian Devotion, this book cannot be missed.

[Markus Korri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silmiä avaava kirja traditionalistisesta mariologiasta.

[Kaylee Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

MARYYYYY, the mother of God. Read this book as some formation pre-WYD & Fatima.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very rich book. Rarely have I found someone speak about Mary in such a way that I can say, he knows her just as I do. Stinissen does!

[BreAnna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m terrible at wording my thoughts clearly in reviews. So I’ll keep it short. This book was not as deep as I was hoping. It felt very shallow despite often drawing from scripture. There is no doubt the author filled half of the book with references to scripture, but many references made I was not able to see how they were relevant to the point he was making. I also felt many of the references could’ve been expanded on. This book also really enforces the idea that virginity (specifically Mary being a virgin) really is the holiest. It was never said why virginity is holier than “non virginity.” Or how the concept of virginity is purely a social construct. This social construct has caused great harm as it did in the time of Mary. I expected the author to dive more into this because, after all, Mary is known by the title of “the Blessed Virgin Mary.” It is how Christians have viewed her. I have many more thoughts, especially about the blind obedience the book speaks of throughout that goes hand in hand with praising Mary for never expressing her interests, likes, or dislikes, etc. I’ve never viewed Mary as someone who lacks a personality and rejects enjoyment in anything, but that’s how this book portrays her. Thankfully, it’s very short and I read it within a few days.