Strange Heaven: The Virgin Mary as Woman, Mother, Disciple and Advocate

by Jon M. Sweeney

Book Overview

Offering a glimpse into how the Incarnation placed Mary at the center of salvation history, an investigation into the mystery surrounding the Virgin Mary explores the many meanings of her life and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 155725432X
• ISBN13: 9781557254320
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Paraclete Press (MA)
• Length: 233 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Should be read by all Catholics, Protestants, and "In-Betweeners" (Episcopalians)

As an Anglo-Catholic Episcopalian, I have always venerated the Mother of God as much as any Roman Catholic or Orthodox Christian. In this amazing book, Jon M. Sweeney explains why. In engaging prose that draws the reader in and won't let go, he covers what we know about Mary from the Bible and from Catholic tradition. He gracefully adheres to the "via media" (middle way) between Catholic and Protestant as he reveals why Mary is truly for all of us. Even if you *think* you know why you love Mary (or why you don't, because as a "true Christian" you can only love Jesus and not his Mother)...you will learn something from this book. Highly recommended!

Informative and Broadening

As an Episcopalian I, like many Protestants, have always been rather skeptic of Catholic Marian worship. Strange Heaven directly addresses this skepticism with a study of Mary worship, written in clear layperson's terms. In it, Sweeney addresses the reasons for the adoration of Mary and brings to light many of the non-canonical documents upon which this worship is based. Although the book will not cause me to change my general feelings about Mary, it definitely does broaden my understanding and make me more able to accept worship of the Theotokis when I am confronted by it.