Miracles of Mary: Legends, Apparitions, and Miraculous Works of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Story and art often express the religious understandings of humanity better than doctrines and theology. Journalist Durham offers a wonderfully comprehensive collection of narratives and images to provide a multifaceted view of Mary as she has been experienced by humankind through the centuries. Miracles includes 56 stories ranging from the first century to the 1990s, grouped according to various aspects of Mary, such as Our Lady of Peace and Prayer, Lady of Legend and Healing Mary. ``The Gospels provide a rough sketch of Mary,'' says Durham, ``and we are left to fill in the details.'' His book functions similarly: the stories are presented in a straightforward fashion and the art speaks for itself. Believers and non-believers alike may interpret as they choose from this fascinating and varied mosaic; and even it that weren't true, the 60 handsome reproductions of artists' depictions of Mary would make this book well worth having. (Nov.)