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Keeping Mary Close: Devotion to Our Lady through the Ages
If you’ve ever wondered what devotion to Mary is all about, you’ll treasure this one-of-a-kind, popular glimpse into the early Church’s life, doctrine, and devotion to Our Lady. Through lively stories, teachings of the Church fathers, and evidence from ancient archaeology, the authors invite you to enter the fascinating world of the early Christians, giving you an imaginative glimpse into how they demonstrated their love for Mary through their prayers, art, and daily life. Along the way, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Mary’s role in your own life and that of the Church today.
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2015
43 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Mike Aquilina
127 books113 followersMike Aquilina is author or editor of more than thirty books, including The Fathers of the Church, The Mass of the Early Christians, and A Year with the Church Fathers. He has co-hosted eight series that air on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). He has co-authored books with Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., and theologian Scott Hahn. He is past editor of New Covenant magazine and The Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper. He appears weekly on Sirius Radio's "Sonrise Morning Show." Mike and his wife, Terri, have six children, who are the subject of his book Love in the Little Things.
In 2011 Mike was a featured presenter of the U.S. Bishops' Diocesan Educational/Catechetical Leadership Institute. He also wrote the USCCB's theological reflection for Catechetical Sunday in 2011.
His reviews, essays and journalism have appeared in many journals, including First Things, Touchstone, Crisis, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, and Catholic Heritage. He contributed work on early Christianity to the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought.
Mike is a also poet whose works have appeared in U.S. literary journals and have been translated into Polish and Spanish. He shared songwriting credits with Grammy Award-winner Dion DiMucci on the forthcoming album "Tank Full of Blues."
In 2011 Mike was a featured presenter of the U.S. Bishops' Diocesan Educational/Catechetical Leadership Institute. He also wrote the USCCB's theological reflection for Catechetical Sunday in 2011.
His reviews, essays and journalism have appeared in many journals, including First Things, Touchstone, Crisis, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, and Catholic Heritage. He contributed work on early Christianity to the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought.
Mike is a also poet whose works have appeared in U.S. literary journals and have been translated into Polish and Spanish. He shared songwriting credits with Grammy Award-winner Dion DiMucci on the forthcoming album "Tank Full of Blues."
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 9, 2015
“Keeping Mary Close” focuses on Marian devotion from the end of Christ’s earthly ministry until the Council of Ephesus, famous for affirming Mary as Theotokos against Nestorius, in 431. Tendencies in the last two hundred years to “minimize or dismiss” early Marian devotion is what the authors intend to counter. They do this well. Starting with Scripture, they survey all appearances and mentions of Mary in the Gospels. References to her in Paul and Revelation are also examined. Next, pseudipigrapha (ancient Christian writings not included in the canon of Scripture –think Gospel of Thomas), oracles, and traditions are reviewed. Short excerpts from these sources show an enduring and increasing interest in Jesus’ mother. A short chapter on the etymology of the name of Mary, including the famous Old Testament figure of that name (“Miriam”) is interesting. Most of the remainder of the book deals with doctrinal issues regarding Mary: her virginity before, during, and after the birth of Jesus (a fascinating pagan document slurring Mary is excerpted here); Mary as “Theotokos” or the “Mother of God” (Nestorius, and Julian the Apostate, certainly did not agree); the Immaculate Conception, i.e., Mary’s being preserved from all stain of sin, developed from the first Christian generation’s understanding of Jesus’ birth; and, the Assumption or Mary being taken to heaven body and soul without corruption (we are shown its roots go back to the Old Testament).
In other chapters, Mary as the New Eve, the antitype of the first woman, is shown to be established by the mid-second century. This is a fascinating motif and the parallels and contrasts between our first mother and our heavenly mother should be understood by all Christians. Near the end of the book, Mary, Star of Evangelization, is highlighted in her role in the early Church and throughout the centuries to the present day. The last chapter speaks of the so-called Rabulla Gospels, illustrated in the sixth century, which highlight Mary’s important role in salvation history. A good explanation of the special type of devotion due to Mary is explained here as well. The book closes, in an appendix, with a long excerpt from Blessed John Henry Newman on “The Dignity of Mary.”
If there is one criticism I have of this work, it is that it left me wanting more! It is just over 120 pages and can be read in an afternoon. Fortunately, an extensive bibliography allows the interested reader to go in-depth on any of the topics covered in the book, and more. Two additional works that the reader may find helpful are in my personal library; both are edited by Br. Stanley G. Mathews, S.M. and published by Grail, St. Meinrad, Indiana:” The Promised Woman” (1954, on the Immaculate Conception) and “Queen of the Universe” (1957, on Mary’s Assumption and Queenship).
This book, in a forceful way, shows that a Christian tradition without Sacred Tradition is an impoverished one. No Catholic doctrine of Mary in any way goes against the Bible. But ancient tradition, faithfully passed down, as shown here, by Jesus’ own disciples and their followers, gives us so much more to love about Mary and additional reasons to honor her in the special way that her own Son honored His mother.
For this reason, this book is highly recommended for atholics whose own Marian understanding and devotion has waned or never really was a significant part of their prayer and worship. It is also a fine apologetical tool – a gentle way to introduce Protestant friends and family to the long, solid, and biblically-based understanding of Mary that was in place in apostolic times and has grown ever since. If nothing else, it will give all but the most hard-hearted a deeper appreciation of the Woman who said “Fiat!” to the angel (Luke 1:38)
In other chapters, Mary as the New Eve, the antitype of the first woman, is shown to be established by the mid-second century. This is a fascinating motif and the parallels and contrasts between our first mother and our heavenly mother should be understood by all Christians. Near the end of the book, Mary, Star of Evangelization, is highlighted in her role in the early Church and throughout the centuries to the present day. The last chapter speaks of the so-called Rabulla Gospels, illustrated in the sixth century, which highlight Mary’s important role in salvation history. A good explanation of the special type of devotion due to Mary is explained here as well. The book closes, in an appendix, with a long excerpt from Blessed John Henry Newman on “The Dignity of Mary.”
If there is one criticism I have of this work, it is that it left me wanting more! It is just over 120 pages and can be read in an afternoon. Fortunately, an extensive bibliography allows the interested reader to go in-depth on any of the topics covered in the book, and more. Two additional works that the reader may find helpful are in my personal library; both are edited by Br. Stanley G. Mathews, S.M. and published by Grail, St. Meinrad, Indiana:” The Promised Woman” (1954, on the Immaculate Conception) and “Queen of the Universe” (1957, on Mary’s Assumption and Queenship).
This book, in a forceful way, shows that a Christian tradition without Sacred Tradition is an impoverished one. No Catholic doctrine of Mary in any way goes against the Bible. But ancient tradition, faithfully passed down, as shown here, by Jesus’ own disciples and their followers, gives us so much more to love about Mary and additional reasons to honor her in the special way that her own Son honored His mother.
For this reason, this book is highly recommended for atholics whose own Marian understanding and devotion has waned or never really was a significant part of their prayer and worship. It is also a fine apologetical tool – a gentle way to introduce Protestant friends and family to the long, solid, and biblically-based understanding of Mary that was in place in apostolic times and has grown ever since. If nothing else, it will give all but the most hard-hearted a deeper appreciation of the Woman who said “Fiat!” to the angel (Luke 1:38)
July 23, 2018
I read this book about six months ago. It was an excellent read. But to be honest I have found it hard to approach reviewing this volume. In part I am a huge fan of everything I have read from the pen of Mike Aquilina, and I did not want this review to come across as just a fan boy. There are many great contemporary authors in Catholic Tradition today: Scott Hahn, Taylor Marshall, Kevin Vost, Amy Welborn and many more. But there is something about the books by Aquilina that really stick with me, for weeks, some like this one, for months. This was one of those books. I have always had a devotion to Mary, it was instilled by my Anglican grandmother. Even in my years away from the Catholic Church I always felt a closeness to Mary and prayed to her. This book helped me understand that more and helped me commit even more to helping my children always draw near to Mary. This volume focuses on Marian devotion from the time of Christ through to the council of Ephesus.
The chapters in this book are:
From Jerusalem to Ephesus
Mary in the Bible
Other Sources of Marian Devotion
Her Name
The Virgin
The New Eve
Mother of God
Conceiving Her Conception
Assuming Her Assumption
Star of Evangelization
The Illuminated Gospels
Appendix
John Henry Newman, "The Dignity of Mary"
Bibliography
Notes
In the introduction to this book James L. Papandrea states:
"You hold in your hands a great treasure: a window into the world of early Christian devotion. And when you look through that window, what you will see is a deep and enduring love and appreciation for Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Mary was the first Christian, the first to say yes to Jesus, when the angel presented her with the divine plan of the Incarnation (see Luke 1:26-38). Or to put it in popular evangelical terms, she was the first person ever to accept Jesus as her Savior.
In this way, and in many others, Mary is our prototype-the first one like us who welcomed Jesus into her life and walked the path of discipleship. Just as she received Christ into her body, in her womb, so we also receive Christ into our bodies when we take his Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.
Mary's importance for the Church, and for history, cannot be overestimated. She is as important as Jesus's inner circle of disciples: Peter, James, and John. She is as important as Paul. Graffiti in the Roman catacombs record the prayers of second- and third-century Christians-prayers asking for the intercession of Peter, Paul, and Mary. When the chi-rho monogram of Christ became a popular Christian symbol in the fourth century, it was often embellished to include the initials of Peter and Mary. And Mary is the only one of Jesus's followers to be mentioned in the creeds."
This historical focus of this book, is a counter to the tradition of the last 150-200 years to minimize, ignore or even supress Marian devotion. As such this book is desperately needed today. The first chapter of this book begins with a quote from the book of Acts 1:12-14:
"Then they returned to Jerusalem…. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."
Thus we see, from days after Christ's death and resurrection, the early church had a close relationship to Mary and she played such a key role that she frequently appears in the early Christian writings, including those that made it into the canon and those that did not. But the book always ties it back to today. As Mary was central in the beginning, she is considered central to the new evangelization. If anything after reading this book, I believe we need more of a focus on Mary, her role, and her example. The authors state:
"Mary always stands in the midst of that Church. That is what we learn from the constant witness of the Fathers.
She is in its Scriptures.
She is in its preaching and proclamation.
She is in its poetry and songs.
She is in its creeds.
She is in the catacombs in Rome and the cemeteries of the Fayoum.
She is in its mosaics, frescos, and sculpture.
She is in graffiti at the Church's pilgrim shrines.
She is in the apocrypha and pseudepigrapha.
She is in the Church's calendar, on her feasts and those of her son.
She is burnished onto oil lamps and minted in coins.
She is ever among her fellow disciples. She is a mother to them, because she mothers her son, in whom they live."
This book was a phenomenal read. It looks back and shows us where we come from and can be used as a guide to plot the course forward. As I stated we need more of Mary today, in our lives, in our Parishes and in our world. This book is an excellent tool to remind us of that history and to help us on our way. Another incredible read by Aquilina!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Mike Aquilina.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!
The chapters in this book are:
From Jerusalem to Ephesus
Mary in the Bible
Other Sources of Marian Devotion
Her Name
The Virgin
The New Eve
Mother of God
Conceiving Her Conception
Assuming Her Assumption
Star of Evangelization
The Illuminated Gospels
Appendix
John Henry Newman, "The Dignity of Mary"
Bibliography
Notes
In the introduction to this book James L. Papandrea states:
"You hold in your hands a great treasure: a window into the world of early Christian devotion. And when you look through that window, what you will see is a deep and enduring love and appreciation for Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Mary was the first Christian, the first to say yes to Jesus, when the angel presented her with the divine plan of the Incarnation (see Luke 1:26-38). Or to put it in popular evangelical terms, she was the first person ever to accept Jesus as her Savior.
In this way, and in many others, Mary is our prototype-the first one like us who welcomed Jesus into her life and walked the path of discipleship. Just as she received Christ into her body, in her womb, so we also receive Christ into our bodies when we take his Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.
Mary's importance for the Church, and for history, cannot be overestimated. She is as important as Jesus's inner circle of disciples: Peter, James, and John. She is as important as Paul. Graffiti in the Roman catacombs record the prayers of second- and third-century Christians-prayers asking for the intercession of Peter, Paul, and Mary. When the chi-rho monogram of Christ became a popular Christian symbol in the fourth century, it was often embellished to include the initials of Peter and Mary. And Mary is the only one of Jesus's followers to be mentioned in the creeds."
This historical focus of this book, is a counter to the tradition of the last 150-200 years to minimize, ignore or even supress Marian devotion. As such this book is desperately needed today. The first chapter of this book begins with a quote from the book of Acts 1:12-14:
"Then they returned to Jerusalem…. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."
Thus we see, from days after Christ's death and resurrection, the early church had a close relationship to Mary and she played such a key role that she frequently appears in the early Christian writings, including those that made it into the canon and those that did not. But the book always ties it back to today. As Mary was central in the beginning, she is considered central to the new evangelization. If anything after reading this book, I believe we need more of a focus on Mary, her role, and her example. The authors state:
"Mary always stands in the midst of that Church. That is what we learn from the constant witness of the Fathers.
She is in its Scriptures.
She is in its preaching and proclamation.
She is in its poetry and songs.
She is in its creeds.
She is in the catacombs in Rome and the cemeteries of the Fayoum.
She is in its mosaics, frescos, and sculpture.
She is in graffiti at the Church's pilgrim shrines.
She is in the apocrypha and pseudepigrapha.
She is in the Church's calendar, on her feasts and those of her son.
She is burnished onto oil lamps and minted in coins.
She is ever among her fellow disciples. She is a mother to them, because she mothers her son, in whom they live."
This book was a phenomenal read. It looks back and shows us where we come from and can be used as a guide to plot the course forward. As I stated we need more of Mary today, in our lives, in our Parishes and in our world. This book is an excellent tool to remind us of that history and to help us on our way. Another incredible read by Aquilina!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Mike Aquilina.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!
October 8, 2022
Mike Aquilina and Fr. Gruber take us on a journey into theology, history, and prayer that ends with a deeper understanding of Mary. KEEPING MARY CLOSE will help the reader appreciate both the why and the how of our devotion to the Blessed Mother.
This short Marian devotional provides a splendid account of the theological development concerning Mary as the Mother of Jesus particularly through the eyes of the Fathers of the early Church to the present.
This short Marian devotional provides a splendid account of the theological development concerning Mary as the Mother of Jesus particularly through the eyes of the Fathers of the early Church to the present.
August 9, 2016
This is a wonderful, accessible, and illuminating book about the Marian devotion in the early church's life. It includes a superb bibliography.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews