The Eighth Gift: A Prodigal Son Meets Mary

by Tracy Wright

The Eighth A Prodigal Son Meets Mary testifies to the compelling, divinely directed events that brought me, the son of an Ohio Presbyterian minister, from virtual ignorance of Mary to loving devotion to her. The events related in this book were small in the eyes of the world. There were no visions or private revelations. Simply, but marvelously, I was guided, despite many bouts with chronic skepticism, from the desert of lost faith in religion to the salvation offered through the Catholic Church. Along the way, in most surprising and profound ways, I began to know that not only Mary, but also St. Juan Diego and St. Faustina were walking with me. Coming from a Presbyterian beginning, I knew nothing of Mary’s role in God’s plan of salvation. In fact, I shared the Protestant suspicion of Catholic saints in general. I had never heard of St. Faustina, Our Lady of Guadalupe or St. Juan Diego, who was presented to me as the perfect model just when I needed new direction in my life. But I did have a keen interest in the Aztecs of old Mexico. The Holy Spirit took advantage of that little opening, and through Mary’s love, pried open the rusted door of my heart. Through her, my intellectual faith became animated with love for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as well as for Mary. I came to regard Mary as, for many, the eighth gift of the Holy Spirit, who enters our lives, teaches us to love and leads us home to the Church. That was what she did for me, a prodigal son she never abandoned. She may do the same for you—if you let her. Non-Catholics will find much to ponder in these Mary’s role in God’s plans for our salvation, the wondrous workings of the Holy Spirit in our workaday modern lives and the love of saints who help lead us safely home to the Church. Catholics may find spiritual nourishment from this testimony and be inspired to look again for the gifts they receive through the grace of God and the hands of Mary.

171 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2021