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Mary Mackillop Unveiled
Aiming to make this compelling story of church politics and Christian service available to all, Lesley O'Brien presents a moving account of the life and times of Mary MacKillop, Australia's first saint. The only biography of Mary to be authorised by the Sisters of St. Joseph, this edition has been updated to include her Beatification by Pope John Paul II.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
Audio Cassette
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 22, 2021
Many Australians hold an over-simplified view of St Mary Mackillop’s life and her journey to sainthood. This book does a beautiful job of ’lifting the veil’ to that over-simplified understanding of the saint and in doing so, highlights why Mary really did live up to her name “St Mary of the Cross”. There was not a moment in her life without countless sufferings, illness, unjust accusations and hateful opinions around her and yet she patiently persisted, only ever intending to fullfill God’s will in all she did. An example to us all to be not of this world, but of the next, and to take up our crosses and follow Christ, sourcing our strength only in Him.
Reading this group was a great comfort and motivator in my own trials, and I feel St Mary close by guiding me through the crosses, as she once did herself.
St Mary Mackillop pray for us 🙏🏼
Reading this group was a great comfort and motivator in my own trials, and I feel St Mary close by guiding me through the crosses, as she once did herself.
St Mary Mackillop pray for us 🙏🏼
December 10, 2022
This book introduced me to a remarkable woman of whom I knew little, only that she had been embroiled in controversies with hierarchy and ultimately vindicated.
One great aspect of this book is that it shows Mary (now St. Mary of the Cross!) in all her dimensions. No pious hagiography, it lets us see her impatient, proud, critical of the woman who succeeded her as head of her religious order and complaining of ill health and ill treatment - all through her letters to those closest to her. So she is no plaster saint. But it also lets us see her incredible perseverance and courage, her rock-solid faith and trust in God, and her heartfelt care for others, whether her own Sisters, clergy, family or the poor and marginalized who were the focus of her order's attention and the reason for its founding.
Mary came from a very dysfunctional family - her father incapable of supporting his wife and eight children, largely because of his impulsive temperament and tendency to "speak his mind." And, honestly, her mother was not much better, though she had few means open to her to earn a living. It fell upon 16-year-old Mary to support them all, which she did for almost a decade, all the while feeling a strong call to serve God in the poor (those much like herself, and even worse off) as a religious Sister.
The obstacles she faced, once her family was on a stable economic footing, came largely from the Catholic clergy and hierarchy, a group thoroughly infected with the misogyny and prejudices of their era, and (particularly on the part of the bishops) desirous of having Sisters to serve their flock, but only Sisters wholly under their control. It was a blessing that, before her death, Mary saw her order safely established canonically, the Sisters free to follow their mission and live the particular spirit of their order.
I was most amazed by Mary's 2-year sojourn to Europe, made chiefly to get the approval of her order's Constitutions by the Vatican. She left Australia with a few names of clergy to contact in Rome and little else - no lodging, very little money, not even a passport!
For all her inner strength and determination, she was also a kind woman who loved to laugh and whose love was shown as much in small kindnesses as in the gift of her life in service. A thoroughly admirable woman, her story well-told in this book.
One great aspect of this book is that it shows Mary (now St. Mary of the Cross!) in all her dimensions. No pious hagiography, it lets us see her impatient, proud, critical of the woman who succeeded her as head of her religious order and complaining of ill health and ill treatment - all through her letters to those closest to her. So she is no plaster saint. But it also lets us see her incredible perseverance and courage, her rock-solid faith and trust in God, and her heartfelt care for others, whether her own Sisters, clergy, family or the poor and marginalized who were the focus of her order's attention and the reason for its founding.
Mary came from a very dysfunctional family - her father incapable of supporting his wife and eight children, largely because of his impulsive temperament and tendency to "speak his mind." And, honestly, her mother was not much better, though she had few means open to her to earn a living. It fell upon 16-year-old Mary to support them all, which she did for almost a decade, all the while feeling a strong call to serve God in the poor (those much like herself, and even worse off) as a religious Sister.
The obstacles she faced, once her family was on a stable economic footing, came largely from the Catholic clergy and hierarchy, a group thoroughly infected with the misogyny and prejudices of their era, and (particularly on the part of the bishops) desirous of having Sisters to serve their flock, but only Sisters wholly under their control. It was a blessing that, before her death, Mary saw her order safely established canonically, the Sisters free to follow their mission and live the particular spirit of their order.
I was most amazed by Mary's 2-year sojourn to Europe, made chiefly to get the approval of her order's Constitutions by the Vatican. She left Australia with a few names of clergy to contact in Rome and little else - no lodging, very little money, not even a passport!
For all her inner strength and determination, she was also a kind woman who loved to laugh and whose love was shown as much in small kindnesses as in the gift of her life in service. A thoroughly admirable woman, her story well-told in this book.
February 13, 2015
What a great book. For anyone who wanted to understand more about Mary MacKillop this book is recommended. In it we find out about her family, her desire to educate the poor and the barriers she overcame to do God's will.
September 30, 2013
A very enlightening and intriguing read, despite the fact that I don't often read biographies. Very thorough research is clear.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews