"Discovering Mary: Answers to Questions about the Mother of God" by David Mills. Servant Books/St. Anthony Messenger Press (Cincinnati, 2010) 150 pp., $12.99.
 
"The Secrets of Mary: Gifts from the Blessed Mother" by Janice T. Connell. St. Martin's Press (New York, 2010) 310 pp., $24.99.

By Christopher Fenoglio
Catholic News Service
 
How much do you really know about Mary, the mother of God?

Most Catholics are very familiar with Mary. Every time we recite the Hail Mary or sing the song "Ave Maria," we recall the story of the visitation of Mary by the angel Gabriel and her faithful acceptance of God's call to bear his Son.

But familiarity is not the same as factual knowledge, so many Catholics search for more about Mary. Unfortunately, this search is made difficult because of the sparse information about Mary in the Bible.

Two new books add clarity and inspiration by helping Catholics look clearly at the existing information and realize deeper levels of understanding about the life of Mary. Through these books, we come to a fuller appreciation of how she can be a shining source of inspiration for our lives.

"Discovering Mary" by David Mills is a straightforward, well-organized collection of facts and simple apologetic arguments about the historical Mary and her place in the church.

Originating from a writing assignment for Our Sunday Visitor newspaper, Mills' book strives to eliminate opinion and conjecture, leaving just the facts and quotes from magisterial works. The result is a clear and concise presentation of what is known about Mary and what is surmised in church teachings, without further elaboration. In Mills' words, he presents the "atoms and molecules, but leaves the physics to the experts."

After a personal account of his limited understanding of Mary before and after his conversion to Catholicism, Mills delves into the subject, organizing the information in six chapters: the life of Mary, Mary in the Bible, Mary in Catholic doctrine, the feasts of Mary, Mary's titles, and, lastly, Marian devotions, prayers and apparitions.

This small book will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the Queen of Heaven.

"The Secrets of Mary" by Janice T. Connell presents a collection of stories about Mary in a much more prayerful and inspirational style.

A recognized authority on Marian apparitions, Connell's collection spans the centuries since Mary followed her Son along the road to Calvary. Scripture, photos, prayers and devotions are woven together to create an inspirational resource for daily devotions.

The book includes many stories of saints and their personal commitment and devotion to Mary. For instance, we find an ancient account of St. Augustine's discovery of Mary's saving grace and power. A few pages later, we read a powerful account of how St. Norbert's devotion to Mary helped him shake the entrapments of his youth and guide him to initiate Christian renewal in Europe.

Connell's expertise in Marian apparitions is recognized in her descriptions of the Fatima secrets in Portugal, the church-recognized apparition in Akita, Japan, and the reported visitations in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Throughout the inspirational stories and accounts of Mary's influence throughout history, there is a palatable, real sense of prayer and devotion. This is a rich, prayerful collection of stories in which readers will find daily comfort and guidance in the gifts from the Blessed Mother.
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Fenoglio is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and an award-winning columnist for The Tennessee Register diocesan newspaper in Nashville, Tenn.

05/07/2010
Copyright (c) 2010 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops