The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Rating:
Summary: Bible background
Review: Anne Catherine Emmerich gives the "everyday" happenings in the lives of those she "observed". I thought this book was a lovely read, and give me renewed interest in the Bible itself. As with all her books, it is like reading the full story as opposed to the headlines. Because Anne Catherine was a nun, it is often supposed that this, and indeed all her books, are only for Catholics. However, for Jewish people, it gives a most profound knowledge of the rich Jewish culture two thousand years ago, and for Christians, it fills in the blanks that Mathew, Mark, Luke and John left - they probably didn't realise that two thousand years later, their readers would not know what a Jewish wedding was like (Mary's dress and hair do left me breathless!). After reading the Chapter of Christmas, you too will wonder how Santa Claus managed to take over this wonderful event. I have also read the four volumes of the Life and Passion of Our Lord. Easter has never been the same for me.

NOTHING in her books contradicts the bible in any way. It just brings it to life.

Rating:
Summary: Find out more about Mary
Review: Catherine Emmerich's book of private revelation about Mary tells us much about her life. But reading it raises a thirst to know more about why Mary and Joseph lived together as celibates. While Emmerich's book is a good start, it is only a start. It doesn't answer important questions concerning, such as:

How could their marriage be a true marriage if it was never consummated?

What was it about their life together that made such a thing not only possible, but desirable?

How can I translate the life Emmerich describes into an example for my daily life?

Where do we go for answers like these?

If you would like to find out more about the Blessed Virgin, Joseph and the Holy Family, if you want to know how every family is an image not only of the Holy Family, but of God Himself, consider Sex and the Sacred City by Steve Kellmeyer (ISBN 0971812810). Using easy, clear language, it explains why the Mary and Joseph were necessarily celibate, how the Holy Family is reflected in the lives of spouses who DO have sexual relations, why Pope John Paul II calls sex between married spouses "liturgical" and how our married life reflects the relationship Christ the Bridegroom has with each of us.

In the course of providing these explanations, Sex and the Sacred City also describes for every adult how we can live out the life of God in our own bodies, whether we are single or married. In this way, we see how to live out Jesus' example in our daily lives.

Get behind the descriptions and discover the depths of God's Passion for us!

Rating:
Summary: it ws Grace from God to even be allowed to read this book!
Review: It was as if God let me get to read this book: whether the visions are accurte or not even the idea of such amazing events taking place is like heaven and Gods presence. This book hit me so sublimely and wondeful...I felt Grace reading her words...so privleged.