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Mary Magdalen: Truth and Myth
by Susan HaskinsA dramatic, thought-provoking portrait of one of the most compelling figures in early Christianity which explores two thousand years of history, art, and literature to provide a close-up look at Mary Magdalen and her significance in religious and cultural thought.
Mary Magdalene
by Bruce ChiltonAfter 2,000 years of flawed history, here at last is a magnificent new biography of Mary Magdalene that draws her out of the shadows of history and restores her to her rightful place of importance in Christianity. Throughout history, Mary Magdalene has been both revered and reviled, a woman who has taken on many forms—witch, whore, the incarnation of the eternal feminine, the devoted companion (and perhaps even the wife) of Jesus. In this brilliant new biography, Bruce Chilton, a renowned biblical scholar, offers the first complete and authoritative portrait of this fascinating woman. Through groundbreaking interpretations of ancient texts, Chilton shows that Mary played a central role in Jesus’ ministry and was a seminal figure in the creation of Christianity. Chilton traces the evolving images of Mary Magdalene and the legends surrounding her. He explains why, despite her prominence, the Gospels actually say so little about her and why the Catholic Church for thousands of years has sought to marginalize her importance. In a probing look at the Church’s attitudes toward women, he investigates Christian misogyny in the ancient world, including the suppression of women priests who patterned their activities on Mary’s; explores the impact of Gnostic ambivalence toward women on its depictions of Mary; and shows that these traditions still influence modern portrayals of her. Chilton’s descriptions of who Mary Magdalene was and what she did challenge the male-dominated history of Christianity familiar to most readers. Placing Mary within the traditions of Jewish female savants, Chilton presents a visionary figure who was fully immersed in the mystical teachings that shaped Jesus’ own teachings and a woman who was a religious master in her own right. From the Hardcover edition.
Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel & the Christianity We Haven't Tried Yet
by Meggan Watterson--WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER-- The Gospel of Mary Magdalene reveals a very different love story from the one we've come to refer to as Christianity. Harvard-trained theologian Meggan Watterson leads us verse by verse through Mary's gospel to illuminate the powerful teachings it contains.A gospel, as ancient and authentic as any of the gospels that the Christian bible contains, was buried deep in the Egyptian desert after an edict was sent out in the 4th century to have all copies of it destroyed. Fortunately, some rebel monks were wise enough to refuse-and thanks to their disobedience and spiritual bravery, we have several manuscripts of the only gospel that was written in the name of a woman: The Gospel of Mary Magdalene.Mary's gospel reveals a radical love that sits at the heart of the Christian story. Her gospel says that we are not sinful; we are not to feel ashamed or unworthy for being human. In fact, our purpose is to be fully human, to be a "true human being"- that is, a person who has remembered that, yes, we are a messy, limited ego, and we are also a limitless soul. And all we need to do is to turn inward (again and again); to meditate, like Mary Magdalene, in the way her gospel directs us, so that we can see past the ego of our own little lives to what's more real, and lasting, and infinite, and already here, within. With searing clarity, Watterson explains how and why Mary Magdalene came to be portrayed as the penitent prostitute and relates a more historically and theologically accurate depiction of who Mary was within the early Christ movement. And she shares how this discovery of Mary's gospel has allowed her to practice, and to experience, a love that never ends, a love that transforms everything.
Mary Magdalene in Medieval Culture: Conflicted Roles
by Robin Waugh Peter V. LoewenThis innovative and multidisciplinary collection visits representations and interpretations of Mary Magdalene in the medieval and early modern periods, questioning major scholarly assumptions behind the examination of female saints and their depictions in medieval artworks, literature, and music. Mary Magdalene’s many and various characterizations from reformed prostitute to conversion-figure to devotee of Christ to "apostle to the apostles" to spiritual advisor to the Prince of Marseilles to hermit in the desert, to list just a few examples, mean that the many conflicted representations of Mary Magdalene apply to a staggering variety of cultural material, including art, liturgy, music, literature, theology, hagiography, and the historical record. Furthermore, Mary Magdalene has grown into an extremely popular and controversial figure due to recent books and movies concerning her, and due to a groundswell of general speculation concerning her relationship to Jesus: was she his acquaintance, follower, companion, wife, family-member, or lover? This volume employs a broad spectrum of theoretical methodologies in order to present poststructuralist, postcolonial, postmodernist, hagiographic, and feminist readings of the figure of Mary Magdalene, addressing and interrogating her conflicting roles and the precise relationship between her sacred and secular representations.
Mary Magdalene, Bride in Exile
by Margaret StarbirdAn in-depth investigation of the facts and mythology surrounding the historical Mary Magdalene • Reveals new details about the life of the beloved of Jesus • Illustrated with rare and unusual imagery depicting Mary’s central role in Christianity • By the author of the bestselling The Woman with the Alabaster Jar The controversy surrounding Mary Magdalene and her relationship to Jesus has gained widespread international interest since the publication of Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code, which specifically cites Margaret Starbird’s earlier works as a significant source. In Mary Magdalene, Bride in Exile Starbird examines the many faces of Mary Magdalene, from the historical woman who walked with Jesus in the villages of Judea to the mythic and symbolic Magdalene who is the archetype of the Sacred Feminine. Starbird reveals exciting new information about the woman who was the most intimate companion of Jesus and offers historical evidence that Mary was Jesus’ forgotten bride. Expanding on the discussion of medieval art and lore introduced in her bestselling book The Woman with the Alabaster Jar, Starbird sifts through the layers of misidentification under which the story of the Lost Bride of Christ has been buried to reveal the slandered woman and the “exiled” feminine principle. She establishes the identity of the historical female disciple who was the favored first witness of the Resurrection and provides an interpretation of Mary’s true role based on prophecy from the Hebrew scriptures and the testimony of the canonical gospels of Christianity. Balancing scholarly research with theological reflection, she takes readers deeper into the story and mythology of how Magdalene as the Bride embodies the soul’s own journey in its eternal quest for reunion with the Divine.
Mary Magdalene: A Cultural History
by Philip C. AlmondMary Magdalene is a key figure in the history of Christianity. After Mary, the mother of Jesus, she remains the most important female saint in her guise both as primary witness to the resurrection and 'apostle of the apostles'. This volume, the first major work on the Magdalene in more than thirty years, focuses on her 'lives' as these have been imagined and reimagined within Christian tradition. Philip Almond expertly disentangles the numerous narratives that have shaped the story of Mary over the past two millennia. Exploring the 'idea' of the Magdalene – her cult, her relics, her legacy – the author deftly peels back complex layers of history and myth to reveal many different Maries, including penitent prostitute; demoniac; miracle worker; wife and lover of Jesus; symbol of the erotic; and New Age goddess. By challenging uniform or homogenised readings of the Magdalene, this absorbing new book brings fascinating insights to its subject.
Mary Magdalene: A Novel
by Diana Wallis TaylorLong maligned as a prostitute or a woman of questionable reputation, Mary Magdalene's murky story seems lost to the sands of time. Now a portrait of this enigmatic woman comes to life in the hands of an imaginative master storyteller. Diana Wallis Taylor's Mary is a woman devastated by circumstances beyond her control and plagued with terrifying dreams--until she has a life-changing confrontation with the Savior. Lovers of historical and biblical fiction will find this creative telling of Mary's story utterly original and respectful as it opens their eyes to the redeeming work of Christ in the lives of those who follow him.
Mary Magdalene: Women, the Church, and the Great Deception
by Adriana Valerio“Brilliant . . . Essential reading for anyone who cares about Church history and gender equality. . . . speaks to our times with impressive relevance.” —Reading in TranslationFrom one of Italy’s most renowned historians of religion, an exciting new portrait of one of Christianity’s most complex—and most misunderstood—figures: Mary MagdaleneJesus’ favorite and most devoted disciple? A prostitute shunned from her community? A symbol of female leadership and independence? Who really was Mary Magdalene, and how does her story fit within the history of Christianity, and that of female emancipation?In this meticulously researched, highly engaging book, Adriana Valerio looks at history, art, and literature to show how centuries of misinterpretation and willful distortion—aimed at establishing and preserving gender hierarchies—have stripped this historical figure of her complexity and relevance.By revealing both the benign and the pernicious misrepresentations of Mary Magdalene, this thought-provoking essay reaffirms the central role played by women in the origins of Christianity and their essential contribution to one of the founding experiences of Western thought and society.“Persuasive. . . . Academics working in Christianity should get much from this well-argued study.” —Publishers Weekly“A masterful work.” —Osservatore Romano“A short and readable yet sweeping and well-researched essay that stands out for its intellectual honesty [ . . . ] We are all Mary Magdalene.” —Cultura al femminile
Mary Marston: A Novel (classic Reprint) (The Cullen Collection #23)
by George MacDonaldA novel of one woman who transcends society&’s concerns to stay true to her convictions—from the Victorian-era author of Malcolm. One of MacDonald&’s lengthy and powerful, but not widely studied, novels, Mary Marston is the only book in the MacDonald corpus with a woman featured in the title role. As one of MacDonald&’s many strong and memorable leading ladies, Mary exemplifies a life of dedication to Christ, self-sacrifice, and obedience to parents. We encounter here a touching portrayal of that earthly relationship so dear to MacDonald&’s heart, because it so embodied man&’s relationship with God—the relationship between fathers and their sons and daughters. Of the diverse range of characters found within the pages of this novel, Michael Phillips writes, &“Taken together, their individual lives make fascinating reading. They are so diverse, sometimes so petty and foolish, their intertwining relationships so humorous at times . . . we observe human growth at work . . . always progressing in one direction or the other—sometimes straight, sometimes crooked. It is a complex character mix in many shades of gray . . . containing complicated character flaws without easy resolutions. I find it one of the most real array of characters in the MacDonald corpus.&”
Mary Slessor: Servant To The Slave (Trail Blazers)
by Catherine MacKenzie Andrew Lloyd JonesWell known manual of doctrine for all those requiring an introduction to the Christian faith.This edition contains the addition of scripture proofs in full notes by Roderick Lawson. The Westminster Shorter Catechism has been an effective tool for teaching the Christian faith to young and old for over 300 years and is still used in Presbyterian and other reformed churches to this day.This is one of the most popular editions as it contains proof texts to aid a parent or teacher in their instruction.
Mary Sumner: Mission, Education and Motherhood: Thinking a Life with Bourdieu
by Sue Anderson-FaithfulThe founder and president of the Mothers' Union, one of the first and largest women's organisations, Mary Sumner (1828-1921) was an influential educator and a force to be reckoned with in the Church of England of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Using the analytical tools of the sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, Sue Anderson-Faithful locates Mary Sumner's life and thought against social and religious networks in which she was restricted by gender yet privileged by class and proximity to distinguished individuals. This dichotomy is key to understanding the achievements of a woman who both replicated and shaped Victorian attitudes to women's roles in society. To Mary Sumner mission and education meant the propagation of religious knowledge through progressive pedagogy. Her activism was intended to promote social reform at home and nurture the growth of the British Empire with mothers wielding their political power as educators of future citizens. The symbiotic relationship between Church and State concentrated power in the hands of a ruling class with which Mary Sumner identified and which she supported. In her view the legitimacy of national and imperial rule was intertwined with the moral force of Anglicanism. SueAnderson-Faithful interprets Mary Sumner's lifelong work in the light of these relationships, contrasting her assertion of personal agency and an empowering discourse of motherhood with her simultaneous reinforcement of patriarchy and class privilege.
Mary Through the Centuries: Her Place in the History of Culture
by Jaroslav PelikanExamines all of Christian history & culture to create the most complete portrait of the Virgin Mary every written. Pelikan assesses the ways people throughout time & place have depicted, venerated, & been inspired by Mary.
Mary Ward: First Sister of Feminism
by Sydney ThorneAlmost exactly 400 years ago, an English woman completed an astonishing walk to Rome. An English Catholic, Mary Ward had already defied the authorities in England. In 1621 she walked across Europe to ask the Pope to allow her to set up schools for girls. 'There is no such difference between men and women that women may not do great things,' she said. But Mary’s vision of equality between men and women angered the Catholic Church and the Pope threw her into prison. This is a story just waiting to be told! The story shines a refreshingly new light on the popular Tudor/Stuart era. Mary’s uncles are the Gunpowder Plotters. Her sponsors are Archdukes, Prince-Archbishops and the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. In Rome she spars with Pope Urban VIII and the Roman Inquisition, just as they are also dealing with Galileo. As the story sweeps from Yorkshire to Rome, from Vienna and Munich to Prague and back to England, we see Mary dodging pirates in the Channel, witch hunts in Germany and the plague in Italy. We see travellers crossing the Alps, and prisoners writing letters in invisible lemon juice to smuggle them past their gaolers. The settings range from the resplendent courts in Brussels and Munich to the siege of York in the English Civil War. The reader is immersed in seventeenth-century life.
Mary Was Her Life The Story of a Nun: Sister Maria Teresa Quevedo 1930-1950
by R.S.M. Sister Mary PierreThis book is the first full-length biography of Maria Teresa Quevedo that has been written in English. Teresita, as she was called by her friends and family, was a Spanish girl who was born just thirty years ago and who died in 1950 at the age of twenty.Throughout her short life, Teresita was an inspiration and a delight to everyone around her as she calmly strove to exemplify Christian virtue in her everyday life.Teresita tried to do everything perfectly. As a girl living with her parents, she was an obedient child. With her friends, she was not only respected but popular. As a sodalist, she gave evidence of being a born leader for Mary. As a tennis player, she was an expert. As captain of her basketball team, she consistently led the group to victory. At any young people’s gathering which she attended, she was the life of the party.When Teresita entered the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity, she did so because she desired to become a saint and to devote all her life to Jesus and Mary. But, in her own words, she wished only to become “a little saint for I cannot do big things.”María Teresa Quevedo was a lively modern girl—a talented dancer, an expert swimmer, an outstanding tennis player, who devoted herself to generous works of sacrifice.Her life can be summed up in her own motto, “May all who look at me see you, O Mary.”Teresita, as her family and friends called her, died in 1950 when she was twenty years old. Her cause for beatification is now being examined by the Sacred Congregation of Rites.“You will find the story of this popular beautiful girl an inspiration. It is a happy biography....Don’t miss it.” Herbert O H. Walker, S. J. in the Queen’s Work.
Mary and the Art of Prayer: The Hours of the Virgin in Medieval Christian Life and Thought
by Rachel Fulton BrownWould you like to learn to pray like a medieval Christian? In Mary and the Art of Prayer, Rachel Fulton Brown traces the history of the medieval practice of praising Mary through the complex of prayers known as the Hours of the Virgin. More than just a work of comprehensive historical scholarship, the book asks readers to immerse themselves in the experience of believing in and praying to Mary. Mary and the Art of Prayer crosses the boundaries that modern scholars typically place between observation and experience, between the world of provable facts and the world of imagination, suggesting what it would have been like for medieval Christians to encounter Mary in prayer.Mary and the Art of Prayer opens with a history of the devotion of the Hours or “Little Office” of the Virgin. It then guides readers in the practice of saying this Office, including its invitatory (Ave Maria), antiphons, psalms, lessons, and prayers. The book works on several levels at once. It provides a new methodology for thinking about devotion and prayer; a new appreciation of the scope of and audience for the Hours of the Virgin; a new understanding of how Mary functions theologically and devotionally; and a new reading of sources not previously taken into account. A courageous and moving work, it will transform our ideas of what scholarship is and what it can accomplish.
Mary and the Little Shepherds of Fatima
by Jaymie Stuart Wolfe Marlyn Monge Sr. Maria João LopesCelebrate the 100th anniversary of the apparitions at Fátima, Portugal with this charmingly illustrated true story designed to delight and educate children ages 5 to 8. Answering the Blessed Mother’s call to pray the Rosary and make small sacrifices to help bring an end to WWI, Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia faced persecution and doubt with unwavering faith and confidence. Read how their courage and desire to spread the Rosary helped thousands witness Our Lady’s Miracle of the Sun!
Mary in Early Christian Faith and Devotion
by Stephen J. ShoemakerFor the first time a noted historian of Christianity explores the full story of the emergence and development of the Marian cult in the early Christian centuries. The means by which Mary, mother of Jesus, came to prominence have long remained strangely overlooked despite, or perhaps because of, her centrality in Christian devotion. Gathering together fresh information from often neglected sources, including early liturgical texts and Dormition and Assumption apocrypha, Stephen Shoemaker reveals that Marian devotion played a far more vital role in the development of early Christian belief and practice than has been previously recognized, finding evidence that dates back to the latter half of the second century. Through extensive research, the author is able to provide a fascinating background to the hitherto inexplicable "explosion" of Marian devotion that historians and theologians have pondered for decades, offering a wide-ranging study that challenges many conventional beliefs surrounding the subject of Mary, Mother of God.
Mary in the Qur'an: A Literary Reading (Routledge Studies in the Qur'an)
by Hosn AbboudProviding an analysis of the complete story of Mary in its liturgical, narrative and rhetorical contexts, this literary reading is a prerequisite to any textual reading of the Qur’an whether juristic, theological, or otherwise. intertextuality between the Old Testament, New Testament and the Qur’an. The Qur’an is an oral event, linguistic phenomenon and great literature. So the application of modern literary theories is essential to have full comprehension of the history of the development of literary forms from pre-Islamic period such as poetry, story telling, speech-giving to the present. In addition, there is a need, from a feminist perspective, to understand in depth why a Christian mother figure such as Mary was important in early Islam and in the different stages of the development of the Qur’an as a communication process between Muhammad and the early Muslim community. Introducing modern literary theories, gender perspective and feminist criticism into Qur’anic scholarship for the first time, this book will be an invaluable resource for scholars and researchers of Islamic Studies, Qur’anic and New Testament Studies, Comparative Literature and Feminist Theology.
Mary of Nazareth: Prophet of Peace
by John Dear"Two thousand years after Mary's prophetic nonviolence, we have toned down her message and transformed her into someone more manageable, more tolerable, more passive. The CULTURE's false image of Mary does not threaten the status quo. She no longer is portrayed as the model of active and prophetic nonviolence. She is no longer upheld as the spokeswoman of the God of justice, the God of the poor, the God of revolutionary nonviolence. Instead we have set her up on a pedestal where she is safe, far above us, and removed from our troubles. She is stereotyped as a quiet, law-abiding, church-going, obedient, subservient woman who does what war-making authorities want. She would hardly recognize herself. But Luke's portrait remains. Mary's journey sets the whole gospel story of nonviolence in motion. She was filled with joy at God's dramatic entrance into the world, and God's revolutionary action against the rich and powerful and on behalf of the poor and oppressed. Mary understands the plight of all those who suffer from the world's unjust economic order and its wars. She is a woman of justice, a woman of disarmament, a woman of peace, a woman of revolution, a woman of action, a woman of nonviolence. The nonviolent Jesus and his mother still SUMMON us to the journey of contemplative, active and prophetic nonviolence. In the past, we might have looked to noble heroes like Dorothy Day, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. for leadership and action. Today, we ourselves have to become heroes, leaders, and saints of active, prophetic nonviolence. We can no longer wait for someone else to make the journey for us. The poor of the earth are dying from our wars and consumerism. The God of peace, the risen Jesus, and his prophetic mother await patiently our response to their invitation, their word, their example."
Mary's Blessing (McKenna's Daughters #2)
by Lena Nelson DooleyWhen her mother dies, Mary Lenora must grow up quickly to take care of her brothers and sisters. Can love help her to shoulder the burden? Mary Lenora Caine knows she is adopted. As she was growing up, her mother called her &“God&’s blessing.&” But now that she&’s gone, Mary no longer feels like any kind of blessing. Her father, in his grief, has cut himself off from the family, leaving the running of the home entirely in Mary&’s hands. As she nears her eighteenth birthday, Mary can&’t see anything in her future but drudgery. Then her childhood friend Daniel begins to court her, promising her a life of riches and ease. But her fairy-tale dreams turn to dust when her family becomes too much for Daniel, and he abandons her in her time of deepest need.Will Daniel come to grips with God&’s plan for him? And if he does return, can Mary trust that this time he will really follow through?
Mary's Christmas Goodbye: An Amish Romance
by Linda BylerMary Stoltzfus is thirty years old, splashed with freckles, and unmarried. In her Amish world, that qualifies her to be called an old maid. She is living her quiet schoolteacher life in the Lancaster County Amish community when she gets a surprising invitation in the mail one day. Would she come to Montana to teach? Of course not, she decides, fully at home in eastern Pennsylvania, where she can go out to eat in dozens of restaurants, do her laundry in a newfangled washer that’s powered by compressed air, and hire a driver if she wants to go farther than her horse and buggy can comfortably take her. What is there to do in Montana, she sniffs. But soon she becomes annoyed by the cracks in the floor of her one-room schoolhouse, the noise of the nearby road, and the two eighth-grade boys who try to make toilet paper cigarettes and nearly burn down the privy. Before long, Mary is on Amtrak, “just to take care of her curiosity,” she explains to her mother. She arrives at a desolate station and meets Arthur Bontrager, who had signed the invitation and has come to introduce her to Beaver Creek School, dirt roads, and the fancy shed where she would live. When she settles into this world of mountain ranges and pine-tree majesty, her old buried questions—about why no man had ever been her match—have come along to live with her. After she’s injured by wild dogs on her walk home from school, Mary faces new questions. Is she weak if she accepts a Bouvier des Flandres dog from Arthur’s friend? Who is the young woman in the photo at Arthur’s house? And why does she suddenly care? Does she really belong back in Lancaster?
Mary's Little Instruction Book
by Eileen Elias FreemanThroughout the centuries, Mary has come to embody all that is good in human nature. Now the author offers a selection of the words and deeds of the Blessed Mother, through scripture, holy apparitions like the visions of Fatima and Medjugorje, and the testaments of saints. Paired with a simple modern interpretation for each passage, the instructions in this little book will guide you, give you strength in troubled times, and remind you that Mary is, in a very real way, mother to us all.
Mary's Voice in the Gospel According to John: A New Translation with Commentary
by Michael PakalukA New Light on John&’s Gospel The Gospel according to John has always been recognized as different from the &“synoptic&” accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. But what explains the difference? In this new translation and verse-byverse commentary, Michael Pakaluk suggests an answer and unlocks a twothousand-year-old mystery. Mary&’s Voice in the Gospel according to John reveals the subtle but powerful influence of the Mother of Jesus on the fourth Gospel. In his dying words, Jesus committed his Mother to the care of John, the beloved disciple, who &“from that hour . . . took her into his own home.&” Pakaluk draws out the implications of that detail, which have been overlooked for centuries. In Mary&’s remaining years on earth, what would she and John have talked about? Surely no subject was as close to their hearts as the words and deeds of Jesus. Mary&’s unique perspective and intimate knowledge of her Son must have shaped the account of Jesus&’ life that John would eventually compose. With the same scholarship, imagination, and fidelity that he applied to Mark&’s Gospel in The Memoirs of St. Peter, Pakaluk brings out the voice of Mary in John&’s, from the famous prologue about the Incarnation of the Word to the Evangelist&’s closing avowal of the reliability of his account. This remarkably fresh translation and commentary will deepen your understanding of the most sublime book of the New Testament.
Mary's Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ
by Amy Orr-EwingThe mother of God is often portrayed as a passive figure, yet Mary is described in Luke's gospel as a woman who exercised choice, questioned things, reflected, responded, spoke up, and demonstrated great faith. Mary had a voice. This unique Advent devotional from British theologian Amy Orr-Ewing invites us to hear the familiar Christmas story from an untold perspective: that of an ordinary, young, poor, oppressed woman who was chosen to play a significant and breakthrough role in the redemption of the world. It is no mistake that a woman gets to be a part of all this, and that her voice, her questions, her fears, and her actions matter. Through passages from Luke's gospel - the writer who used Mary as his primary witness for his account of Christ's life - and stunning paintings of the nativity from artists ancient and modern (including The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse illustrator, Charlie Mackesy), Amy Orr-Ewing guides the reader through each day of Advent from Mary's point of view, exploring who she knew Christ to be. "If leadership is about influence, then, after Jesus, Mary was the greatest leader of all time. Uniquely, she was present at the three great moments of our redemption: the incarnation, passion, and pentecost. In this book, Amy Orr-Ewing presents Mary's perspective-her fear, her faith, and her wisdom-to highlight how her life can offer hope to all who journey through tears, disappointment, lament, struggle, and pain." -Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, author, pioneers of Alpha, and Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, London "What better companions could there possibly be for our journey through Advent to Christmas than these two women: Mary, the mother of Jesus, who speaks more powerfully into this season than any other, and Amy Orr-Ewing, a trusted voice and respected friend whose insights never fail to encourage and inspire me." -Pete Greig, founder of 24-7 Prayer International and senior pastor of Emmaus Rd Church "A beautiful and intensely thoughtful set of Christmas reflections, given added depth by a stunning set of illustrations." -Professor Alister McGrath, University of Oxford "In Mary's Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ, Amy helps us to recapture the awe and wonder of the birth of Christ and what this means for us today. By elevating the voice of the young, strong, vulnerable, marginalized, courageous, obedient, faithful, and often overlooked, Mary, the mother of God, Amy unveils profound insights into the meaning of Christmas. This book will be a great companion as you prepare your heart during the Advent season. I have never been more captivated by Advent reflections and know you will see Jesus more clearly and love him more dearly as you journey through these pages." -Christine Caine, founder of A21 and Propel Women
Mary, Called Magdalene: A Novel
by Margaret GeorgeThe New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth I brilliantly reimagines the story of the most mysterious woman in the Bible.Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute, a female divinity figure, a church leader, or all of those? Biblical references to her are tantalizingly brief, but we do know that she was the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared--and the one commissioned to tell others the good news, earning her the ancient honorific, "Apostle to the Apostles." Today, Mary continues to spark controversy, curiosity, and veneration. In a vivid re-creation of Mary Magdalene's life story, Margaret George convincingly captures this renowned woman's voice as she moves from girlhood to womanhood, becomes part of the circle of disciples, and comes to grips with the divine. While grounded in biblical scholarship and secular research, Mary, Called Magdalene ultimately transcends both history and fiction to become a "diary of a soul."From the Trade Paperback edition.