Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God

Anyone who's Catholic knows that for most of us laypeople, there's a lot to absorb and take in to really be educated on the Church's doctrine. Up to this point, I knew only a small amount of things about why we honored the BVM in the way we do. I always assumed that it was fairly cut and dry - she surrendered totally and completely to God's will, even when she likely knew that it would cause her grief and who knows what else back 2000 years ago, and as a result of her total and complete surrender, we should likewise follow Jesus everywhere and through all things. Luke 1:28 - And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Verse 29 goes on to say, "But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be." Think about that - GREATLY TROUBLED. That means she PROBABLY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE. If she did, why would she be troubled? If she wasn't troubled, why would Luke make mention of it in the Gospel? She would already know what was about to happen, and would have been waiting for that critical moment in time to take place. Verse 30: "Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." Verse 38: "Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.' Then the angel departed from her. " I AM THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD. MAY IT BE DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. The definition of "handmaid" is "female servant". She is a servant, a follower, humbled before her God. Just as you. Just as me. Just as anyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. The greatest lesson here - at least in my opinion - is that how many times does God call us to do things and we grumble, complain, and say "do I really HAVE to God?" *kicks at the dirt* "it's just soooooo hard what you're asking me to do... ugh..." *kicks at the dirt and looks up at the heavens with one eye* - and yet here was someone who was willing to sacrifice probably EVERYTHING at that time - even the man she loved - for the will of God. That, my friends, is the lesson (in my opinion, and I'm no scholar) that the Church teaches us to model our lives after. Never once did Mary question WHY. A lot of my Protestant friends quote the Scriptures where Jesus said "all those who follow the will of my Father are my brothers and sisters" - and I don't think this detracts from the role that the BVM played and continues to play. Nowhere in the Bible did Mary ever go around acting as though she was high and mighty because she bore the Son of God. She was all about humility and as a PERSON, she GAVE HERSELF FREELY TO THE WILL OF GOD. Her focus remained on Jesus, even until his death (and resurrection). For me, while this book is probably twice as long as it really needs to be, it has a lot of excellent information, and while it's a slow start, after I got about halfway through it, I had to finish reading it till the end. It's simple enough for someone as dumb as me to understand, yet high level enough to adequately defend Catholics' veneration of the BVM. I turned off my Kindle thinking wow... I learned so much just now... and I have a deeper understanding of just how intertwined and interconnected God's great plan is. When I venerate the BVM and pray the Rosary, I have a deeper understanding now and appreciation for how God really works. Marian devotion doesn't detract from God. I am Catholic in part because of my grandmother, who through her example showed me what it is to truly put others before yourself, love God above all else, and love one another. My honor and love for her doesn't detract from my love for God. In fact, it draws me closer to Him because she was an example that I yearn to be like and follow. Thus is the role of the BVM. She leads us to her Son, the source of all salvation.

This book was recommended by a Catholic friend to help me in my understanding of Mary. Good read.

This book was a real eye opener for me, a cradle Catholic, and I highly recommend this to all Catholics who like me have wondered why all this devotion to Mary when it clearly offends our Protestant brethren. I now realise that if others have an erroneous view of something that is good and laudable, it doesn't mean I have to commit sins of omission for their sakes less I become like the other players in the parable of the good Samaritan. Hahn, here, as a former Mary-hater, explains in a very clear, succinct manner the teachings of the Church over the centuries in an easy way for us modern believers to understand using personal anecdotes and experiences together with his unique ability of being able to explain complex doctrine in everyday layman language. If you a Fundamental Protestant who has been brainwashed by your pastor with slanderous information about the true relationship between Mother Mary and the Catholic Church, I challenge you to read this and to learn the truth. Imagine if you went to your good friend's house, one whom you admire and love greatly, and met his mother there. Would you in front of your friend despise her and ignore her, totally disrespecting her? Good luck if your friend ever talks to you again. And yet, some Christians claim to love Jesus and yet despise His mother? Common sense and courtesy tells us that if we love someone very much, we should also love his family and the ones that he loves too. So while we only worship God, we can still honor and respect His Family. Great book and highly recommended; I dare you to read it!

In his book Hail, Holy Queen, popular Catholic apologist Scott Hahn has given a passionate and interesting defense of the Catholic doctrines concerning Mary. The most interesting facet of this book is that he seeks to make the defense a Scriptural one. It is assumed by most Protestants (and quite a few Catholics as well) that the Catholic Church's positions on Mary are strictly from tradition and have no basic in the Bible. Hahn seeks to counter this impression by developing the basis for Marian dogmas as they exist (albeit in seminal form) in the Holy Scriptures. Through a series of sections on most Catholic positions on Mary, Hahn makes accessible the Scriptural arguments of Church Fathers and later Catholic theologians on such topics as Mary as Theotokos, as Second Eve, as Ark of the Covenant, etc. Hahn writes in a folksy style that can sometimes be overdone but this tendency is put on a short leash here. He writes with obvious enthusiasm as one who as a Protestant viewed Marian devotion as bordering on idolatry but now sees in Mary a spiritual mother who in all things points to her son. However, Hahn's arguments from Holy Scripture are unlikely to convince many Protestants who vehemently object to Marian devotion. He, like many Church Fathers, relies heavily on a typological basis for exegesis that is at odds with the post-Enlightenment form of the historical-critical method that is used by Protestant exegetes. His arguments would fail to hold water in their eyes but then their form of argumentation has little support with the Apostles or Fathers. It is in the foundational methodologies used that the positions on both sides of the question are fixed. Yet for those with an appreciation for the historic faith of the Church, Hahn provides some food for thought even when his arguments seem to read too much into the text. He does at times seem to reach but never attempts to beat the reader over the head with his position and does acknowledge competing interpretations. Overall the book is defintely worth reading if only to realixe that Mary is a much more important character than many would like to acknowledge.

Hahn does a masterful job of explaining various aspects of the Virgin Mary throughout the Bible, the New Eve representation in the New Testament and foreshadowed in the Old. I finished the book feeling so loved by God that He would share her with us. As a convert to Catholicism, thus book is a must read.

Simply outstanding! So many insights. So much supporting evidence. So well presented. Worth every second of your time to read and digest! A modern day Father of the Church.

Scott Hahn does it again. After reading his The Lamb's Supper, I had a much better knowledge about the Eucharist and the Mass. While I felt comfortable talking about them, as I was well aware of the scripture that backs them up, I never knew how I could defend my reverence for Mary. Until now. I immediately felt at home when he began discussing Revelation, as it was the focus of The Lamb's Supper, which is still fresh in my mind. He first pulls you in by referring to the male child in Revelation 12 as Jesus, quoting the child who "will rule all the nations." Protestants (should) agree that this is obviously Jesus. But who is the woman crying out in pain as she's about to give birth? Catholics would argue that it is Mary, but doesn't the Catholic Church teach that Mary had no labor pains because she was protected from the effects of Original Sin? Hahn has an answer for this. But what of the crown she wears with twelve stars? Do they not represent the tribes of Israel? Hahn argues that they can, but that doesn't mean it's all they represent. These questions and more are addressed in this book, and you may well finish the book with a new take on Revelation as well. This book is a must have for all Christians simply for the connection he makes to the old testament kinghood. The queen was not the king's wife, as he would actually have several, so the decision was made that the queen would be the king's mother. So if Jesus is our king, our queen is... you guessed it, Mary. A point Hahn makes prior to giving us this clue is how, though Jesus seems to rebuke His mother at the wedding feast at Cana, He performs His first miracle there because why? His mother, the queen, asked (and Scott explains that Jesus calling Mary "woman" wasn't any sort of insult by referring back to Adam and Eve). If we just look at king Solomon, Hahn reminds us that while the king was superior to the queen, he still did as she asked because she was his mother. Not only this, but she would often be asked by those wanting the king's help to intercede for them, knowing he would not refuse. Protestants beware. If Scott can give a Catholic a brand new view on Marian dogma, I wouldn't count on you finishing this book without making some major changes.

A very good book, passionate, full of love and full of theological depth and details! I would recommend to everyone!

A really interesting book, well written, not too heavy but tackling a fairly contentious subject. As someone who was raised Catholic, who became an enthusiastic born again Protestant Christian, but who is now being led back to her Catholic roots, this book has helped me to understand the important place Mary occupies in the doctrine of the Catholic church. I am delighted to find that there are many places in the Old Testament which look forward to Mary as the 'new Eve' and the 'Ark of the (New) Covenant'. Scott Hahn's arguments are very logical, compelling and particularly interesting as they come from a serious theologian who was himself once a committed protestant but who has since come into the RC church. I would recommend this book to anyone wondering what Catholics believe about the Blessed Virgin Mary and who want reassurance that these beliefs are not at all 'idolatrous' but rather add a wonderful depth and richness to the Christian faith.

Best book

A great book to learn more about the important role of the Virgin Mary.

So important to increase your love for the Holy Virgin Mary.

Very claryfying book. Suggest it to anyone who wants to know more about Mary and her roll at God's Kingdom.