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Summary: This resonated in me...
Review: ...ALSO a boomer lapsed Catholic. Married to a scientist. He would hate this book. I LOVED this book. I particularly love the authors attachment to Mary souvenirs. I believe that the author is completely sincere, and so am I at this moment. I too long for "proof". A must-read for anyone who's attracted to Mary for whatever reason, or for someone looking for a good read who is willing to suspend disbelief for the time it takes to finish the book.
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Summary: Fatima revealed
Review: A few years back, after years of hardship and dissapointed I found a rosary that belonged to my Old Great Portuguese Grandmother (Mary Cunha) and started to use it. I was confused when the word Fatima kept popping into my head. I changed my email name to Fatima Faerie. Marys crept into my home and soon she was all around, This book explains alot about the little visits we get from Our Lady and how she brings you back to Christ. THE CRAZY THING IS the same thing happened to Beverly around the same time. TRULY something is happening.If you are in Northern California, please check out the holy ghost festas in the Portuguese community, you don't have to go to Mexico to see the real deal. I TOO have smelled roses, in my car with the windows rolled up. I Was confused and wondered what MARY would want from a freaky girl like me. Beverly explains the mystery and keeps it just that, a mystery. Thanks Mary and Thanks Beverly. This is the perfect book for getting back in to catholocism.
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Summary: Finding Mary
Review: A friend recommended this book ... and I have to say it was a fine read. It's the story of Beverly Donofrio's search for meaning in her life via the Virgin Mary. She started out collecting Mary icons at yard sales and soon had an entire room dedicated to Mary. God does work in mysterious ways. She delves in depth into her relationship with her son and how God healed that part of her life. But I had to laugh out loud at one statement she made. She said she just couldn't understand why God did not include Mary in the Trinity, bless her heart. What most people don't know (and male preachers/priests seldom ever mention) is that in the Old Testament God is referred to as El Shaddai. Shaddai is formed from "shad" (the breast) Genesis 49:25 or "The Breasted" - the "Nourisher", "the Strength-Giver", the "Satisfier" who pours Himself/Herself into believing lives. God is all female/all male and thankfully, much, much more than the sum of the two! ...
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Summary: Finding Mary
Review: A friend recommended this book ... and I have to say it was a fine read. It's the story of Beverly Donofrio's search for meaning in her life via the Virgin Mary. She started out collecting Mary icons at yard sales and soon had an entire room dedicated to Mary. God does work in mysterious ways. She delves in depth into her relationship with her son and how God healed that part of her life. But I had to laugh out loud at one statement she made. She said she just couldn't understand why God did not include Mary in the Trinity, bless her heart. What most people don't know (and male preachers/priests seldom ever mention) is that in the Old Testament God is referred to as El Shaddai. Shaddai is formed from "shad" (the breast) Genesis 49:25 or "The Breasted" - the "Nourisher", "the Strength-Giver", the "Satisfier" who pours Himself/Herself into believing lives. God is all female/all male and thankfully, much, much more than the sum of the two! ...
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Summary: Re-found Mary...after reading "Looking For Mary"
Review: A very touching book that brought me to tears. A great personal story about a woman's journey of faith, gaining control of her life and developing the relationship she always wanted with her son. The author, Beverly Donofrio is a very honest and "real" person which makes her story that much more interesting and inspiring. This book helped me regain my own faith at a time when I was trying so hard to get it back. I highly recommend it.
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Summary: Really opened my eyes
Review: As a Lutheran, I never really learned anything about Mary, other than the fact she was the mother of Jesus. But while at the library one afternoon, I was walking down an aisle and my eyes fell upon this book. It was tucked away behind some bigger books. I'm not sure why it stuck out but I picked it up, took it home, and read it. It was wonderful! It really made me more interested in Mary. While reading it one night, I smelled roses, which I found really strange, but oddly soothing. On the next page it says that when Mary is around, people say they smell roses. I thought this was a wonderful book.
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Summary: Afraid you have it all wrong
Review: As I look at this book and what others have to say about it I am afraid that the Catholics aren't aware that in the bible God says in Exodus 20:3-5 "You shall have no other gods before me. YOu shall not make for yourself a carved image- any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them." Unfortunately, many people worship the likeness of Jesus on the cross and statues of Mary and saints. The bible commands us to worship the Lord our God, NOT Mary or the saints or statues. I am also appalled to learn that people believe Mary is in some way divine and worthy of praise and worship. The mother of Jesus, is characterized (rightly) in the bible as a servant to her son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as a servant to The Almighty Father, and never as some deity to be worshiped. Although she had a virgin birth, never was she seen to be "Immaculate" or "free from the taint of original sin." To my knowledge, she died and is buried in the ground like everyone else and is awaiting judgement day. If you must learn more about Mary, and I encourage you to, PLEASE look to the bible for your information, as it is the inspired word of GOD, and is the ONLY book God inspired. The bible is the only source of truth in the world.
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Summary: Inspiring and real
Review: Beverly Donofrio's experience of Mary is both inspiring and stunningly real. Her honesty about her life and her journey to belief imparts hope to us all. I have never been to Medjugore or Guadalupe, but I trust Donofrio's account of those places and their spiritual impact because of her clear-eyed and unvarnished descriptions. In the midst of a troubled world, with war raging and evil brazenly stalking some of our most treasured territory -- the Catholic Church, our children, and our own United States -- Donofrio's book about Mary's intercedence and concern for all her children is comforting and gives one courage to stand up (or kneel down) to fight the evildoers. We can be confident that Mary will protect us and help us in our efforts. I have bought several copies of the book to give to my friends who are mothers. The book has special meaning for moms, with its message of love, forgiveness, and the promise of the love and support Mary can give us as we try to emulate her divine motherhood.
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Summary: If you are at all intruigued, get this book!
Review: I bought this book for two reasons: 1) I heard an interview with the author on NPR, and 2) my mother is a Mary devotee. But my indirect interest turned into fascination as soon as I picked it up. Mary brought the author to higher self-knowledge and peace - whether by divine intervention or simple timing, that is undeniable. Anyone who is looking for answers in their own life will probably find something that resonates with them. And, amaze your Catholic friends! I learned some things about Mary that even my mother didn't know!
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Summary: disappointing, confusing and confused
Review: I enjoyed Beverly's first bookm as well as the film based on it. This book resembles the first only in occasional vivid passages. What ever became of quality editors? Donofrio thanks two in her acknowledgments, but why? They passed on a text that is wildly unstructured. The Medjugorje trip simply doesn't work as a structural device. On p. 195 we read of a congregation in San Luciano that "over twelve centuries ago, ... was entrusted to Brazilian monks." Apparently Christianity made it to Brazil in the 8th century, about 7 centuries before Columbus! A silly mistake, but that's what editors are for. This is Viking Press! BTW, why, without explanation, is her junkie husband Raymond Boudreau in the first book, but Stephen Budrow in this one? Beverly is talented, but truly needs some writing discipline -- and better editors.
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