The World's First Love: Mary, Mother of God

I must say after reading this book that no one does it better than Venerable Fulton Sheen. His insight and knowledge of Mary from the Gospels and Church teachings is truly marvelous and through. This book is recommended to both Catholics and non-catholics, all who would like to know about the life of Mary, Mother of Jesus will find within its pages a wealth of information.

I was surprised that I enjoyed this book to the extremes that I did. I was equally surprised by the elegance of the writing. I know that many women will read this book and cringe at statements such as "Here is the essence of womanhood--acceptance, resignation, submission"(83). Reading this line did scare me, but if read within the context of the entire book and keeping in mind Sheen's undeniable love and respect for women throughout his discussion, it can be thought of in a completely different way. Basically, I view much of the writing in the book as ideals, such as ideals of love or ideals of men/women. Unfortunately, the world is often so corrupt that it is difficult to live or even think in ideals. This book is full of such beauty that it will make many women consider what it means to be a feminist or complete woman. I don't think women have to become men to be successful. Besides all of this, it is a wonderful introduction to Mary and the rosary within a broad discussion of love. The book does have some outdated sections, due to its publication in 1952, but much of it remains timeless. Even if you end up hating what the book says, you will not be able to deny the beauty of some lines such as "All human love is an initiation into the Eternal" (12).

A beautiful book on Our Blessed Mother -- remarkably thoughtful and incisive, and very well written. Moreover, for a book first published 50 years ago, "The World's First Love" remains fresh and relevant. To be sure, some aspects are a bit dated: Communism is not the threat it was in 1952, and the same is true of atomic war. Also, Archbishop Sheen has proven to be more optimistic than history has warranted. He more or less predicts, for example, that within 30 years (that is, by the 1980s) the world would have pretty much seen the Light that is Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Tragically, that wasn't true 20 years ago, and it's certainly not true today (if the sewage was up to our waist in 1982, it's up to armpits in 2002).No matter. This is a beautiful book on Mary, and I heartily recommend it (along with "A Woman Clothed with the Sun" as a delightful companion piece).

The late Archbishop Fulton Sheen pulls together common misconceptions various religions have about the Catholic Church's beliefs about Mary, and gives insights and Biblical reasons why Catholics honor her so greatly. There is also a chapter I found really informative on "Mary and the Moslems" which tells about the Islamic beliefs of Mary, i.e. that she is to be the most honored of women and that the Koran speaks of Mary and the Virgin Birth of Jesus. This book would be wonderful for those wishing for a greater love for Our Blessed Mother, as well as those Protestants who mistakingly think Mary should be less revered and those beginning their conversion to Catholicism.

This book tells the story of Mary. It is not a biography, but a theological and devotional treatise on the Mother of God. Bishop Sheen adeptly considers the different phases of Mary's life from her Immaculate Conception to her Assumption. He examines Marian beliefs ranging from her position as Mother of God to her Apparitions at Fatima in 1917, and the importance of the Rosary. Sheen sets out to prove that devotion to Mary cannot be seperated from devotion to her Son, Jesus. Likewise, true love for Jesus should lead the disciple to a devotion to Mary. Sheen points out that without Mary, we could not have Jesus and we should love Mary simply because Jesus did! One cannot help but be moved by the authors portrayal of this Woman of Faith. It was Sheen's hope that his book would draw the reader to Mary as he was, "like a piece of iron to a magnet but never without her Son." It is this readers view that Sheen succeeded admirably.