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Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur reviews Denise Mercado's new book about the Blessed Mother: Mary's Life Journey and Her Amazing Yes.


In Mary’s Life Journey and Her Amazing Yes, Denise Mercado examines what Scripture, the Church, and non-canonical tradition tell us about Mary’s life. She also examines the mysteries included in various versions of the Rosary (not only the Dominican version, which is the one most of us are familiar with).

 

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Because relatively little is told about Mary in Scripture, Mercado seeks information in some non-canonical sources such as the Gospel of James (also known as the Protoevangelium of James and the Infancy Gospel of James), the Arabic Infancy Gospel, the Coptic Gospel of Thomas, and the History of Joseph the Carpenter. While none of these documents are officially accepted by the Church, some of their contents has become part of unofficial Catholic tradition, such as the belief that Mary’s parents were Joachim and Anna and that she was presented at the Temple as a young girl. Mercado does an admirable job of viewing these sources with a healthy suspicion while presenting the information they contain. It is interesting to see what has been written about Mary’s life, while keeping in mind that these are not authoritative sources.

Mercado then focuses on the mysteries included in several different version of the Rosary. These include the Dominican, the Seven Sorrows, the Brigittine, the Carthusian, and the Franciscan. There is some overlap in the mysteries that many of these contain, but there are some mysteries that are unique to a particular version. For example, the Brigittine Rosary is the only one that contains the Immaculate Conception as a mystery.

In exploring these mysteries, Mercado explains about what happened in Mary’s life in that incident. She also uses the Ignatian practice of putting oneself into the mystery to more fully experience it. Her reflections on the mysteries associated with the Passion of Jesus are particularly poignant and well-worth reflecting on during Lent or on any Friday throughout the year.

This work offers an exploration of aspects of Marian tradition that readers might not be familiar with. It is interesting to learn about the different versions of the Rosary. Mary’s “amazing yes” took place at the Annunication (March 25) but was also a hallmark of her whole life. Mary’s Life Journey and Her Amazing Yes can help us reflect on Mary’s wholehearted commitment to doing the will of God.

 

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Copyright 2023 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
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