In the sequence I have laid out of books to read, the only persons explicitly named are: Jesus Christ and his mother, the Queen Mother of heaven, Mary. Many protestant sects down play the significance of Mary, the mother of God. Do they think that Jesus Christ will take kindly to the slighting of His mother on the last day? We who, as we should be, are respectful of out mothers, due to the 4th commandment (Honor they father and thy mother), how much more does God the Son honor this commandment of His Father with respect also to his Virgin Mother, to the extent that he would die, one of the most excruciating death possible, because it was part of the Father’s plan for man’s salvation. God has logically given us 2 examples for how to live our lives because in the beginning “male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). He gave us the perfect male example in Jesus Christ and, unlike what I have read of Muslims, who consider women in the same class as animals because if one walks directly in front of you while praying, as with a dog, or a donkey your prayers are invalidated, He also gave human females a perfect example in the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is not to say anything our Lord does, does not form the perfect example also to women, it merely means that to have a clearer example in things exclusive to women, Mary most easily and in context shows the example (i.e. being a good wife, being a good daughter, being a good female consecrated virgin).
The first book is possibly the best compilation of essays on the Blessed Virgin compiled by one of my favorite authors – Frank Sheed, and is entitled “The Mary Book” published by Sheed and Ward. It is from this book that I gleamed the emphasis in the other books in this list from its Assembler’s Note and decided to buy them.
ASIN : B0000CHQTJ
Publisher : Sheed & Ward; First American Edition (January 1, 1950)
Hardcover : 409 pages
Nihil obstat: Patricius Morris, S.T.D., L.S.S.,
Censor Deputatus
Imprimatur: E. Morrogh Bernard,
Vic. Gen.
Westmonasterii, die 16a Junii, 1950
If you want a good book with respect specifically to the Immaculate Conception, you can find it in a Chapter in a book entitled “Our Lady of Wisdom” by Maurice Zundel. It used versions are sometimes available on amazon.
ASIN : B0042LIM3U
Publisher : Sheed & Ward (January 1, 1941)
Nihil Obstat: Arthur J. Scanlan, S.T.D.
Censor Liborum
Imprimatur: +Francis J. Spellman, D.D.
Archbishop, New York
New York, August 2, 1940
For the profound meaning underlying “Our Lady of Sorrows” is a book by the same name by Charles Journet available from amazon.
ASIN : B00NPKY9D6
Publisher : Sheed & Ward; First American edition (January 1, 1938)
Nihil Obstat: H.E. Calnan
Censor Deputatus
Imprimatur: Can. S. Banfi
Vic. Gen.
Southwarci Die 22 Aprillis 1938
To get a feeling on how Our Lady’s life had a bearing upon our lives here and now of the period between the Annunciation and Christmas one should read Caryll Houselander’s “Reed of God.” The following is identification information of a recent reprint but the approbations are from my 1944 copy.
Publisher : Christian Classics; Revised edition (May 29, 2020)
Paperback : 192 pages
ISBN-10 : 0870612409
ISBN-13 : 978-0870612404
Nihil Obstat: Arthur J. Scanlan, S.T.D.
Censor Liborum
Imprimatur: +Francis J. Spellman, D.D.
Archbishop, New York
New York, January 10, 1944
With regard to the growth of Catholic devotion to Our Lady, “Our Blessed Lady: Sermons” by Father C.C. Martindale, S.J., once again sometimes available from amazon.
ASIN : B00085MO60
Publisher : Sheed & Ward (January 1, 1938)
De Licentia Superiorium Ordinis
Nihil Obstat: Georgius Can: Smith, S.TH.D., P.H.D.
Censor Deputatus
Vic. Gen.
Westmonasterii, Die 17a Januarii, 1938
The next book has good information on the doctrine of our lady in the first five centuries and her appearances in the modern world among other good information. It is also available in its original French under the title “La Vierge Marie.” The English title is “The Virgin Mary” by Jean Guitton. Once again sometimes available from amazon
ASIN : B0007DUSCA
Publisher : Kenedy & Sons (January 1, 1952)
Hardcover : 190 pages
Nihil Obstat: Ricardvs Roche S.T.D..
Censor Deputatus
Imprimatvr: +Joseph
Archiepiscopvs Birmingamiensis Birmingamiae: Die XI AVGVSTI MCMLI
The second to last book was compiled by Raphael Brown and is entitled “The Life of Mary as seen by the Mystics.” Once again the Imprimatur etc. are from my 1991 copy with this being a newer reprint from the same publisher.
Publisher : TAN Books (November 1, 1991)
Paperback : 284 pages
ISBN-10 : 0895554364
ISBN-13 : 978-0895554369
Nihil Obstat: John A. Schulien, S.T.D.
Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: +Moses E. Kiley
Archbishop of Milwaukee June 8, 1951
To complete the set of books that are good to read, in my opinion, on the virgin Mary is one on the technical level, one on Mariology. Mariology is that part of Dogmatic Theology which treats of the Blessed Virgin Mary , the Mother of our Divine Redemer. The book is entitled “Mariology” by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Pohle, Ph.D., D.D.. Once again, as in some of my earlier book lists the identify information is for a newer reprint while the Imprimatur etc. are for my earlier 1957 reprint with a 1914 copyright with the B. Herder Book Co.
ASIN : B0BKN5XHY1
Publisher : Independently published (October 26, 2022)
Hardcover : 170 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8360449447
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 14-4326
Nihil Obstat: Sti. Ludovici, die 27 Aug., 1930
Joannes Rothensteiner ,
Censor Librorum,
Imprimatur: Sti. Ludovici, die 28 Aug., 1930
Patricius Paulus Crane, V.G.
The questions concerning the Blessed Virgin are so complex and mixed with emotion I have only included books with official approbations. The mother of our Lord is deserving of much love, in that her assent was responsible for our Lord’s coming, but absolutely not more than our Lord himself.
Traditional Thomistic Catholic 