The Knowledge of Mary

By Rev J De Concilio, Januarius Vincent De Concilio, Januarius de Concilio

Book Overview

But is it true that a new book on the Blessed Virgin is not wanted? There are many books ill English about the Blessed Virgin, but some are too superficial to satisfy all minds; some are deeper, but are limited to some particular point, such as the great work of Father Faber, The Foot of the Cross. We know of no book in English which treats of Mary scientifically, and at the same time in a manner clear enough to be understood by such as have had some education and some reading. We call that book superficial, no matter what its bulk may be, which, after being read through, and after eliminating from it all the unnecessary verbiage and all pious sentiments, does not add a new idea of thc subject it treats of than that which any one may acquire by reading his catechism; and oftentimes it happens that such a book does not give that idea as clearly as may be had by the catechism. Of books such as we describe now there are many in English treating of the messed Virgin. Now, we insist that such books are not sufficient to our Catholic people; that a great many of them want more than that. They want some book which may treat of Mary in manner the least unworthy of her; they want a book which may put before them, as clearly as the subject may admit, the magnificent destiny to which God destined her, and which is, as it were, the foundation on which rests all her grandeur, and serves as a scientific principle from which to deduce all her sublime gifts and privileges; a book which may point out her place in the whole system of God's wonderful works, and how she filled that place, and of what grandeur it was productive to her, and what benefits accrued to mankind therefrom. In a book like this Mary would be seen to the best advantage; for she would be seen not only in herself and, as it were, isolated, but in all her grand relations, as one placed next to the centre of all God's works, and occupying the most important part assigned to the creature, and extending her agency and influence all over the universe; and all this, not by assertions, but in a scientific manner, every quality and prerogative and relation being deduced from one grand principle. Such a book as this, in minds that can at all study and reflect, is calculated to build their devotions toward Mary upon a strong and solid foundation. For how enlightened and deeply rooted and solid must devotion to Mary become in one who has been able to investigate the reason and principle of Mary's, grandeur, who has analyzed this greatness in itself, and 'who has calculated the perfections needed for supporting and adorning this dignity, and who has compared it with all other dignities, and studied it in all its consequences and relations? The mind becomes satisfied with such knowledge; it expands under it, it clings to it with a tenacity that nothing can shake; and the consequence will be a high esteem and deep-rooted veneration for such a subject and an intense devotion to it. Catholics in other countries have a number of books like the one described.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1490974342
• ISBN13: 9781490974347
• Release Date: July 2013
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.7" x 6.0"