Rating: 
Summary: A serious, thoroughly accessible study of the Marian mystery
Review: Scott Hahn is a Catholic scholar and apologist in the best sense of both terms. His mild, yet radical book, "The Lamb's Supper," re-explained the Mass in ways that I found both surprising and convincing. In "Hail, Holy Queen," Hahn asks us to view Mary in a new light, presenting what he believes to be her essential role in Christianity's redemptive message. By turns subtle and poetic, he writes about the Marian mystery at the heart of Revelation. Taking the reader through the Bible, Hahn sheds light on Mary's integral role in God's plan. He also examines the reasons why "Marian devotion" has waned among Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians. A serious, thoroughly accessible study.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but I wish it were longer.
Review: Scott Hahn is back again with another book that while new, has a certain air of familiarity to it. This could justifiably be called a compendium of several of his other works, revised with an injection of the friendly writing style Dr. Hahn adopts in book form. Much of the material can be found in EWTN's library, as transcripts from a series of videos he did several years back.In any case, the book offers and explanation and apologia for all of the Catholic Marian dogmas. A large part of the book's focus is on typology, a very effective angle to use when dealing with this issue, and for me, the most convincing. Added to this are the standard Catholic apologetic arguments. Surely, like any work of apologetics written by any religious body, the arguments will convince some, and others will be unmoved. However, nobody can doubt that this is a book that Dr. Hahn wrote out of love for our mother, and our Divine Father and Brother. I do wish that he had addressed some doctrines in more depth, such as the assumption. At the end of the book he mentions an out of print work which I've been so far unsuccessful in finding. The main arguments in favor of the assumption are given in his account of a conversation he had, but it leaves the reader wanting. Also, hearing his take on the current issues (co-redemptrix, for instance) would have been interesting. The book is however worth reading, but as the jacket suggests, this is more effective when paired with a sort of Bible study. Its not effective as bed-side reading, and though easy to read quickly, a lot would be lost if a reader does not study the verses brought up in the book. While this is a good book, I enjoyed A Father Who Keeps His Promises and The Lamb's Supper much more.
Rating:
Summary: MIGHT I SUGGEST??????????????????????
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. For those of you with negative opinions, consider listening to these enjoyable lectures on Marian dogma by the author, Scott Hahn. They go hand in hand with this book and might shed some light on the questions of negative reviewers. Real Audio Files http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?rafile=iq_1070.ra http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?rafile=iq_1071.ra http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?rafile=iq_1072.ra
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Summary: Where Was This Book 10 Years Ago?
Review: "Where was this book 10 years ago?" That was my question as I read Hail Holy Queen, a delightful, insightful new book by Dr. Scott Hahn. Though I had been raised Catholic, I had always felt closer to Jesus than to his Mother. In fact, I feared that paying attention to Mary would detract from my relationship with the Lord. I was especially turned off by what I considered excessively pietistic expressions of devotion to Mary. Bottom line? I was a capable adult who thought I didn't need a mother. Over time, I realized my error and have since come to a much deeper understanding and love for the Blessed Mother. But I really could have used Hail, Holy Queen back then. Hail, Holy Queen clearly and simply answers my former objections to Mary and many others. And Hahn's scriptural exegesis has also provided me with new, rich food for thought. I especially appreciated his explanations of Mary as the New Eve and as the Queen Mother, and of her God-given role in salvation history. Though another reviewer chides Hahn for a supposed "lack of reverence" in his pun-filled subheads, I saw them as a humorous yet respectful way of helping his readers remember the important lessons in the book. (I also have it on the best authority that "Mary Had a Little Man" was a publisher error that will be corrected to "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in the next printing.) His puns, along with his highly readable style, make this THE book for anyone with questions about Mary or a desire to learn more about Our Lady. Thank you, Dr. Hahn, for making such essential theological and scriptural truths accessible to the masses!
Rating:
Summary: Great introduction to Marian theology
Review: Scot Hahn describes "Hail Holy Queen" as an attempt to explain the position that Mary the mother of Jesus holds in Catholic dogma. In doing so, he draws his denfense from Biblical sources and the early fathers, breifly explainging the justifiation for the doctrine of the communion of saints and illustrating the differences between veneration and using righteous people as role models for life, and bewteen worshipping idols.
He opens the book with a flashback of how once he was embarrassed on his mother as she picked him up from school, and draws paralels to how he neglected the role that Mary played in Jesus's life and as setting an example of how to please God, much in the same way that he failed to honor his mother for the role she played in his life. For those who might be annoyed with Hahn's use of scenes from his past to explain the relevance of lessons form relgious doctrine; be assured that this book has far fewer trips down memory lane, which I feel some times annoy and distract the reader.
Finsihing the book, even those who have been regularly exposed (and even rpacticed) Catholic dogma are left with a deper appreciation of and better ability to defend the not only historical but also biblical roots of the communion of saints, and Mary's role in the church - particularly as enshrined in the feasts of the Immacculate Conception and the Assumption. One is also left with a greater desire to honor Mary, which Hahn helps us to being by including an appendix that provides a brief summary of popular Marian prayers and explanation of the rosary (although the Luminous mysteries are not included due to the date at which the book was published).
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Summary: Oh Immaculate Mother!
Review: What a jumpstart back into the faith! I read this book in the months prior to heading to school at Franciscan University of Steubenville where Mr. Hahn teaches theology. Since then I have been passionately pursuing a degree in Catholic theology and really above all else, want to be a mariologist. Having been going through a new springtime in my own faith, this book overwhelmed,impassioned, and inspired me. I must be honest though, that the book did leave me feeling a little guilty for how often I have overlooked the importance of the blessed Mother in Christ's life, and in our own day to day lives. Catholic or Protestant, this book may lead you to tears of joy, overwhelming enthusiasm, and anger that the Blessed Mother is not recognized, respected, and called "Mother" by more Christians. The "queen of heaven", is that immaculate ark of the covenant that can bring us closer to Christ. Don't believe it? Read this book and then try and convince yourself there is not something to it.
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Summary: Hail Mary Full of Grace...
Review: There is no issue that tends to divide Catholics and Protestants more than the veneration of Our Blessed Mother Mary. Protestants just can't understand this devotion to Mary, while Catholics can't understand it's absence. Scott Hahn, one of the leading defenders of the Catholic faith has taken on the subject in this book and has tried to explain in simple terms why Catholics venerate the Virgin Mary.
Hahn comes at this subject in a different way than most Catholic authors because he is a former Presbyterian minister. As such, he is able to grasp Protestant objections to Marian devotions and is able to present his information in a way that counters all possible objections. Furthermore, even though Hahn is a seminary graduate, he presents his information in a manner that will allow anyone to grasp what he is saying.
This book will be especially valuable to new Catholics, those thinking about conversion, or any non-Catholic who wants to know more about the Catholic Church. It will also be valuable however to the so-called cradle Catholics who will find much information about Mary that they may have never been exposed to and any Catholic will be moved toward a greater devotion to Mary after reading this book.
Anyone who is not familiar with the dogma of the Catholic Church will find one problem however. Hahn defends the Assumption of Mary in a very understandable way but it is never explained. Those unfamiliar with the Faith will come away convinced that the Assumption happened but still will not know the story of this event. The author does suggest a book on the subject in sort of an afterthought, but the book he suggests is by his own admission, out of print.
This oversight, while important, still does not detract from the overall effectiveness of this book. The evidence is presented in a clear and well-written manner and will not be over most people's head. It will however, be best understood if the reader keeps a Bible handy to further investigate the author's references. For Catholic readers, this book is imprinted with a Nihil Obstat and an Imprimatur and therefore does not express any opinion contrary to Church doctrine. This book, although short, is bursting at the seams with information and should be on the reading list of all Catholics, possible converts, and any serious student of theology.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: Using types(somewhat of a foreshadow)throughout the Old Testament, Scott Hahn attempts and does well in proving almost all the Catholic teachings on Mary and why she deserves our veneration. This is great for all Catholics and Protestants who wonder what the whole deal with Catholics honoring Mary so much is all about.
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Summary: Great, Book on Marian typology in the Old & New Testaments
Review: Scott Hahn, former Protestant minister, and now a foremost Catholic apologist has done the world a service with this little book. Hahn knows the Bible thoroughly. He explains marian doctrines lucidly always citing scripture to buttress his statements. I am a lifelong, 57 year old Catholic. Reading this book has strengthened my faith. Thank you, Scott!
Rating:
Summary: a beautiful book
Review: When I first started to gravitate toward the Catholic Church (from a Protestant denomination), Mary was one of the biggest stumbling blocks on that journey. While I'm not entirely there yet, it is only waiting to begin RCIA in the fall that holds me back (not that the journey ever ends in any case)--and not an objection to Marian devotion. For that, I can thank Scott Hahan and his marvelous little book. In addition to prayer and reflection, of course, but Hahn gave me much on which to pray and reflect. Hahn writes in a lucid, conversational style; it's almost as though, in reading the book, you were having a one-on-one talk with him. He places Mary in the context of the entire Bible, in "types" from Eve onward, and shows that regarding her as Mother is not unusual (though it IS extraordinary--in a good way, that is). On this latter point, Hahn makes a particularly insightful argument about family and the Holy Family--surely God did not intend for us to be without a mother. For those not so well versed in the Bible, I would suggest having one at your side. Hahn makes frequent biblical references, and after reading one of his points, you just want to read the original text. And that's one of the beauties and joys of this book--that it fills the reader with a desire to return to the Word and meditate on its richness and meaning. The book is not long and can be read quickly if you want. But go slowly and spend some time with it. The experience is truly rewarding.
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