Mary: Barrier or Bridge? By Father John Randall, S.T.D. is Mary a barrier to union with non-Catholics? Or ought we see her as a bridge between the Catholic faith and others? With many convincing arguments and personal insights, Father Randall shows how Mary can and should bring the followers of her Son into union with one another.

Father Randall begins by exploring whether or not devotion to Mary is Biblical. Beginning with the Old Testament, Father Randall explores the Jewish concept of Israel as the Bride of Christ. He shows how this prepared Christians for the notion of Christ as marrying His bride, the Church. The Church is to be one with Jesus. It must die to self and live for Him. Where do we see the best model of this attitude? In the Blessed Mother.

Father Randall believes that many of the problems that have surfaced in the Church are related to a decrease in devotion to the Blessed Mother. The Church has placed Mary at its heart, and devotion to her means devotion to Jesus. The converse is also true. Lack of devotion to the Mother means a lack luster devotion to the Son.

"Rather than see Mary as an exalted and privileged person from afar, we realize that the Spirit wants to form those same favors in us. He wants the whole Church to enjoy all her privileges, because they are not just Mary's. They are privileges of the whole Church, ones which Mary simply enjoys as its first member. God wants to bring them to us all!"

Father Randall goes on to show that God wishes to espouse all of us as He espoused Mary, and that He wants to bring forth from us "sons and daughters of God" in a spiritual sense. Saint Francis and Saint Clare had this sense of spiritual marriage and spiritual motherhood, and both were devoted to the Blessed Mother.

Those who already have a devotion to the Blessed Mother will appreciate this book. Those who wish their devotion were deeper will receive a pleasant answer to their wishes upon reading this little book.

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To learn about a disciplined, Catholic, joyful Rule of Life that can help you draw closer to God while living in your own home, consult the Home Page of the Confraternity of Penitents, linked to in the top link box.

Thank you and God bless!