Essential Mary Handbook: A Summary of Beliefs, Devotions, and Prayers

This handbook tells you just about everything you need to know about Mary from a Catholic Perspective. The major sections are: Mary Today, Mary in the Scriptures and Early Writings of the Church, Mary in the Liturgy of the Church, The Image of Mary Through the Ages, Marian Prayers, Marian Litanies and Aspirations, Marian Novenas, Devotions to Mary, Glossary of Important Terms, Marian Shrines Worldwide, and a liturgical Calendar of Mary. The appendix contains a few texts from the Catechism regarding Mary. I learned a lot about Mary. "Mary Today" covers the official Catholic teaching about her, including excerpts from papal encyclicals from John Paul II. "Mary in the Scriptures and Writings of the Early Church" details where the Church has seen Mary in the Old and New Testaments, as well as a few stories about Mary in the spurious New Testament Apocrypha. "Mary in the Liturgy" explains the major Marian feasts and even optional liturgical celebrations related to Mary. "The Image of Mary Through the Ages" looks at how Mary has been viewed in all eras of Christian history, from the Apostolic days until today. The chapters with prayers, litanies, novenas, and devotions are very thorough, including even the earliest known third century prayer to Mary. Most every popular prayer is included, including many rarer ones. The glossary is useful. The shrine list is helpful, although being worldwide, it is by no means exhaustive. The liturgical calendar covers worldwide Marian feasts, and there is a feast of Mary for almost every day. Overall, this is a very helpful book that explains what the Catholic Church believes about the Mother of the Son of God. It is not meant as an apologetics tool per se. You won't find detailed proofs of the Catholic Church's claims. There are other books for that. As a newly confirmed Catholic, this book deepened my admiration of the Virgin Mary and gave me a greater appreciation of her character and actions in the Divine plan. It also opened my eyes to the importance of Mary in salvation history. For non-Catholics reading this book, the beginning of the book reminds us that any devotion to Mary must lead us closer to Christ. This book will tell you what you need to know about Mary.

All the "Essential Handbooks" are great (I also own the Lenten Handbook and the Catholic Handbook). They are very prettily typeset and all have lovely covers. The prayers include some you are bound to know, plus many, many new ones. I like that there is a good mix of short prayers and longer devotions. Includes such info as what the Miraculous Medal is, what the Militia of the Immaculata is and where Mary's shrines are worldwide.

An excellent, superb introduction for devouts of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady. Very well structured, its doctrine is trully Roman Catholic. I expected a more elaborated text, more theological (Mariology) but the book is, as it states, a "handbook" with essentials. Some graphics and photographs would certainly help piety. Even though, I highly recommend this publication for those who want to ever glorify Our Lord and the Mother of God.

If you are looking for a comprehensive book of Marian prayers and devotions this book is for you. A blend of ancient and modern this book is one I keep at my nightstand. If you take Vatican II seriously when it asked for a true renewal of devotion to Mary you will find this book very useful. It also contains some lesser known prayers and devotions that deserve greater circulation. It is a solid readable work.