Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
ltgallant's review
1.0
I was interested in this book because as a Protestant I wanted to understand why the Catholic Church venerates Mary so much when she is hardly in the Bible. This book was not only recommended to me but gifted to me by a dear catholic friend. I have tried faithfully to read it for about 1.5 years, but I have found it so poorly done that I’ve given myself permission to give up. First you have to get past the truly appalling puns used as section titles (“fetal attraction” really?!?). But the real stickler for me was the recursive reasoning. Mary is special because she was special and because she was special she could bear Christ and because she bore Christ she is special. I’ve never understood the reasoning that Mary must have been without sin to birth Christ but her mother didn’t need to be without sin to carry a sinless child? Especially frustrating was the use of typology and implicit reference to make assumptions about Mary’s assumption and her presence in Revelation as the woman in labor pains (which she shouldn’t have if she is free of the sins of Eve right?). But then a refutation of explicit reference when it comes to the perpetual virginity of Mary and Jesus’ siblings.
monamiestephie's review
4.0
Some of his logic is implied rather than spelled out, but as an introduction to Marian apologetics, this was outstanding.
micky14568's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
edequeant's review
3.0
Surprisingly, I was actually a little let down by this book. It wasn't as compelling as some of the other books by Hahn that I have read.
For some of the other topics Hahn has written about, I have been less familiar with the Scriptural and Traditional back ground. I think I am just more familiar with this topic.
For some of the other topics Hahn has written about, I have been less familiar with the Scriptural and Traditional back ground. I think I am just more familiar with this topic.
jarrettvandiver's review
4.0
4.5/5 stars
Through his Old Testament study, Hahn’s book insightfully shows how God’s covenants are better understood as families than as legal arrangements. When someone becomes a Christian, he or she is adopted into a deep familial relationship in which we are called sons and daughters of the Father. With this premise in mind, Hahn shows how God in his providence intended to give Christians in his family his mother, Mary. This book is a brief yet profound treatment of how Mary acts as God’s coworker (1 Cor 3:9) in the story of the Father’s family, the Church.
Through his Old Testament study, Hahn’s book insightfully shows how God’s covenants are better understood as families than as legal arrangements. When someone becomes a Christian, he or she is adopted into a deep familial relationship in which we are called sons and daughters of the Father. With this premise in mind, Hahn shows how God in his providence intended to give Christians in his family his mother, Mary. This book is a brief yet profound treatment of how Mary acts as God’s coworker (1 Cor 3:9) in the story of the Father’s family, the Church.
bythelionsmane's review against another edition
3.0
I have more questions than answers after reading this book. I wasn't fully convinced of a lot of things he said, but I was convinced of how important it is for Protestants to reclaim a proper understanding of Mary. How it is important for Protestants to affirm that she is truly blessed above many others. How important it is for Christians together to affirm the place Mary has in our lives, and how she is also an important "guide" in our faith, in the sense that our answer should be as hers, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." (Lk 1:38).
As a Christian not from the Catholic tribe of our faith, I wasn't fully convinced of the arguments, though they were interesting. And I did find that though I may not agree with Marian devotion (the word devotion to be understood from a Catholic perspective) it doesn't mean that Marian devotion has not led others to a deeper relationship with Christ. For that I rejoice. But I agree that ALL Christians, need to understand how to properly revere Mary within our Scripture reading.
I also did find that the book was more Christ-centered than Marian centered at times, which made me agree with certain parts of the book.
As a Christian not from the Catholic tribe of our faith, I wasn't fully convinced of the arguments, though they were interesting. And I did find that though I may not agree with Marian devotion (the word devotion to be understood from a Catholic perspective) it doesn't mean that Marian devotion has not led others to a deeper relationship with Christ. For that I rejoice. But I agree that ALL Christians, need to understand how to properly revere Mary within our Scripture reading.
I also did find that the book was more Christ-centered than Marian centered at times, which made me agree with certain parts of the book.
queen_ursula's review
4.0
This was a good read and deeper dive into the person of Mary and what she means to Catholics, myself included. I really enjoyed it!
tadbitunhinged's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0