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Mary's Life Journey & Her Amazing Yes!
Mary's Life Journey & Her Amazing Yes! - Award winner - 2023 Catholic Media Association Book Awards and 2023 Independent Author Network Award .
What does it mean to be Catholic? Many people who call themselves Catholic have a basic level of understandings of their faith and their traditions. But what do you really know about the meaning behind some of the foundational elements with being Catholic? Author, Denise Mercado, after being raised Catholic, found herself distracted by all life had to offer. When her youngest son was diagnosed with a terrible illness, however, she began to question her beliefs and sets out on a quest to discover the truth. Denise wandered through Protestantism, reading spiritual writings and attending a nondenominational church, but something was missing. Unsatisfied, Denise returned to her roots and set out to understand the history of her Catholic upbringing. Her research took her into a deep research of the Rosary, the life of the Blessed Mother, Mary, in the Bible, the Infancy Gospels, and the apocryphal writings. This brought the inner peace she was looking for. This award winning book is for anyone who wants to know intimately the traditions of their faith. Join Denise as she shares her personal faith journey and you will come away with a greater appreciation for the stamina and endurance of the Mother of Our Lord and learn about the important origins of many Catholic beliefs.
What does it mean to be Catholic? Many people who call themselves Catholic have a basic level of understandings of their faith and their traditions. But what do you really know about the meaning behind some of the foundational elements with being Catholic? Author, Denise Mercado, after being raised Catholic, found herself distracted by all life had to offer. When her youngest son was diagnosed with a terrible illness, however, she began to question her beliefs and sets out on a quest to discover the truth. Denise wandered through Protestantism, reading spiritual writings and attending a nondenominational church, but something was missing. Unsatisfied, Denise returned to her roots and set out to understand the history of her Catholic upbringing. Her research took her into a deep research of the Rosary, the life of the Blessed Mother, Mary, in the Bible, the Infancy Gospels, and the apocryphal writings. This brought the inner peace she was looking for. This award winning book is for anyone who wants to know intimately the traditions of their faith. Join Denise as she shares her personal faith journey and you will come away with a greater appreciation for the stamina and endurance of the Mother of Our Lord and learn about the important origins of many Catholic beliefs.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2022
17 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Denise Mercado
6 books2 followersDenise Mercado is an award-winning author, blogger, and solo traveler. Denise was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. As a military spouse, she lived in many cities throughout the USA and abroad. Her first book – They Created Us – tells the story of her family’s journey through the disability world with her youngest son, Danny. Although she turned from her faith in her teenage years, it was her youngest son’s illness that brought her back to her faith.
Her second book – Mary’s Life Journey & Her Amazing Yes! – was recognized by the 2023 Catholic Media Association Book Awards and focuses on the life of the Blessed Mother and the mysteries of ALL the Rosaries. Her most recent book is titled – The Way of Light: The Story Behind the Stations of the Resurrection – and received the Nihil Obstat in 2023 by the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, Florida.
Denise explores the beauty and history of the Catholic Church by visiting cathedrals, basilicas, monasteries, and shrines and writing about her findings in her Catholic Travel Blog.
For more information about Denise’s books, blogs, and travel plans, visit her website at www.denisemercado.com.
Her second book – Mary’s Life Journey & Her Amazing Yes! – was recognized by the 2023 Catholic Media Association Book Awards and focuses on the life of the Blessed Mother and the mysteries of ALL the Rosaries. Her most recent book is titled – The Way of Light: The Story Behind the Stations of the Resurrection – and received the Nihil Obstat in 2023 by the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, Florida.
Denise explores the beauty and history of the Catholic Church by visiting cathedrals, basilicas, monasteries, and shrines and writing about her findings in her Catholic Travel Blog.
For more information about Denise’s books, blogs, and travel plans, visit her website at www.denisemercado.com.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 24, 2022
If you have an interest in the Rosary, whether you're thinking of incorporating this meaningful spiritual practice into your life or you're already praying it daily, Mary's Life Journey & Her Amazing Yes is the book for you. Author Denise Mercado put an incredible amount of work into researching the institution of the various forms of the Rosary that are in common use today. Like the practice of Lecto Divina where one reads, reflects and responds to scripture passages by immersing themselves in the readings and imagining their reactions to the events unfolding before them, Mercado does a similar thing with each mystery of the Rosary. The Sorrowful Mysteries are somewhat challenging to get through as Mercado provides vivid historical details of Christ's Passion and crucifixion in the Roman times. The book is interspersed with events which transpired in Mercado's life that helped her relate to the mysteries closer and may help readers relate to them more closely themselves. If you're a person like me, who prays the Rosary daily but find your mind wandering rather than focusing on each mystery as you should, this book will inspire you to have a deeper devotion to the Rosary and a more meaningful experience each time you recite it.
January 16, 2026
This is an interesting look into the life of Mary, mother of Jesus, from the perspective of the Rosary. Denise Mercado has done extensive research into the topic; in this, her first book, she reflects what she has learned. For example, Denise shares that there are multiple accounts of the early life of Jesus ("Infancy Narratives"), some of which are not accepted as accurate Christian doctrine. Rather than simply dismiss these writings, Denise shows how these historical accounts often correlate with, or complement the accepted narratives such as the synoptic gospels.
The book is peppered with poignant questions, a valuable literary technique that brings the reader more deeply into the subject matter. “Were Mary and Joseph calm in their pursuit?" (when seeking the lost young Jesus). "Why did Jesus choose those particular ones?" (referring to the water jugs at the wedding feast in Cana).
Although not totally focused on the mysteries of the Rosary, the majority of the book does discuss those. The chapter on the Sorrowful Mysteries, especially the Crucifixion, is an intense, painful, yet necessary read, especially when considering Mary's role in it. Denise discusses Jesus' suffering in detail, and is able to draw valuable life lessons from it. One specific lesson that was very powerful for me was following Jesus' lead in accepting suffering as way to deepen one's trust in the will of God. Denise uses her own experiences of grief and loss to illustrate how she has been able to move from a position of "Why, God?" to "Jesus, I trust in you."
The book is an excellent read for Catholics in particular, but any Christian, in fact anyone interested in the historical life of Jesus, will find it of benefit.
The book is peppered with poignant questions, a valuable literary technique that brings the reader more deeply into the subject matter. “Were Mary and Joseph calm in their pursuit?" (when seeking the lost young Jesus). "Why did Jesus choose those particular ones?" (referring to the water jugs at the wedding feast in Cana).
Although not totally focused on the mysteries of the Rosary, the majority of the book does discuss those. The chapter on the Sorrowful Mysteries, especially the Crucifixion, is an intense, painful, yet necessary read, especially when considering Mary's role in it. Denise discusses Jesus' suffering in detail, and is able to draw valuable life lessons from it. One specific lesson that was very powerful for me was following Jesus' lead in accepting suffering as way to deepen one's trust in the will of God. Denise uses her own experiences of grief and loss to illustrate how she has been able to move from a position of "Why, God?" to "Jesus, I trust in you."
The book is an excellent read for Catholics in particular, but any Christian, in fact anyone interested in the historical life of Jesus, will find it of benefit.
August 17, 2023
Insightful
This work is packed with thoughtful questions as well as resource auto seek answers. While at times repetitive, I learned so much about an area of my relief was ignorant of.
This work is packed with thoughtful questions as well as resource auto seek answers. While at times repetitive, I learned so much about an area of my relief was ignorant of.
August 7, 2023
"Mary's Life Journey & Her Amazing Yes! is a profound read for those who want to understand the Rosary and its mysteries and learn more about the life of the Blessed Virgin." (5 of 5 Stars) - Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews