Book Reviews and More: Visions of Mary Mother of God - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua

Visions of Mary: Mother of God

Barbara Calamari

Sandra DiPasqua

ABRAMS

ISBN 9780810955813

ASIN B079NQ9752

Visions of Mary - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua

I stumbled upon another volume by this writing team and have since reading this first one tracked down all but 1 in digital format. I believe this volume would be even more wonderful as a physical book, but because of a dual form of dyslexia I greatly prefer eBooks. The first volume I read was all about Holy Cards, and it was a fascinating read. Again with this volume the cover immediately attracted my attention. Based on the cover of the edition I read I expected again a greater focus on prayer cards, that was not the case. This one has a much broader approach to the history of Mary, Marian Apparitions, and Mary in art and culture. I absolutely loved this volume and my 16 year old son asked to read it as soon as I finished.

The description of this volume states:

“The Virgin Mary inspires intense religious devotion throughout the Catholic world. In her 350 official incarnations-among them Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, and The Mother of Sorrows-Mary brings a feminine face to worship, and serves as a conduit for the redemption of humanity. This beautiful and timeless book by the authors of the Abrams title Holy Cards explores Mary's many visionary appearances throughout history and their significance, and examines the iconography surrounding the most famous of these visions.

Catholics honor the woman they venerate as the Mother of God through special novena prayers. The Marian prayer cards displayed here, along with other examples of vernacular art illustrating Mary's various appearances, form an exquisite but accessible treasury of the many facets of the Holy Mother. With its radiantly illustrated iconography; its eternal theme; and its rare collection of holy cards, Visions of Mary should inspire believers and all those interested in art and religious iconography..”

The chapters and sections in it are:

Introduction Do Whatever He Tells You

Titles of Mary

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Cobre

Our Lady of Prompt Succor

The Miraculous Medal

Our Lady of La Salette

Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Our Lady of Pompeii

Portfolio

Our Lady of Knock

Our Lady of Fatima

Our Lady of Light

Our Lady of Akita

The Black Madonnas

Our Lady of Czestochowa

The Virgen del Pilar

The Madonna del Tindari

Our Lady of Montserrat

Our Lady of Einsiedeln

Our Lady of Sorrows

The Rosary

Feast Days of Mary

Bibliography

Picture Credits

I only highlighted a few passages while working through this volume the first time they are:

“The Roman Catholic love and respect for the Virgin Mary divides it from other sects of Christianity. Mary is not only revered as the Mother of God but also as the Mother of all Humanity, and her image continually watches over every aspect in the daily life of Catholic countries. She is credited with working miracles through pictures, statues, and sacred earthly places.”

“As a human being Mary is able to relate directly to the major and minor sufferings of mankind. For this reason she is not prayed to as a goddess, but rather, called on by Catholics to aid them in their prayers. It is thought that she shares her constant flow of grace with those who ask, bringing them closer to God. Thomas Merton wrote, “Mary does not rule us from without, but from within. She does not change us by changing the world around us, but she changes the world around us by first changing our own inner lives.””

“The first sighting of Mary after her Assumption occurred in Puy, France in a.d. 47. She has been appearing to humanity ever since, offering unconditional love, healing, moral support, and in the last two centuries, warnings over the fate of mankind.”

Next to The World of Marian Apparitions: Mary's Appearances and Messages from Fatima to Today by Wincenty Laszewski and Apparitions of Mary Their Meaning in History by Donal Anthony Foley this is one of the best books I have read on the subject. This is an excellent volume. It presents many of the Marian apparitions, and traditions from around the world. It does so in a clear, and engaging manner. It is an easy volume to read and would be great for teens, young adults and adults.

I look forward to reading other volumes from the authors, and can easily recommend this book.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!