There's Something About Mary by Kathleen Long Bostrom

In many paintings, she is depicted as saint-like, poised beatifically in flowing, blue gowns and gazing serenely at the earth with arms outstretched in blessing.

Many pray directly to her, hoping perhaps to get that much closer to having their prayers heard by the Almighty God. Others question her premarital sexual status with opinions on both sides of the debate—was she or was she not?

No matter the differing theological opinions, one thing is agreed: there was something about Mary—some reason God chose this unknown, young woman to be the mother of the Only Begotten Son, the Beloved, the Messiah and Savior of the world. However you choose to describe Mary’s role in the whole, incarnational entanglement, Christians believe that God chose Mary to be mother, mom, ma, mama. And chose her not only to birth Christ into the world, but to raise him through the stages of infant, toddler, little boy, adolescent and teenager, and to launch him into his years as a young adult and grown man.

What struggles and joys did Mary share with other mothers and which were uniquely hers? Find out by reading the full text of this article in the November/December issue of Horizons.

Call 800/524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the November/December 2007 issue (HZN-07-260; $4 plus shipping).

Kathleen Long Bostrom is the author of the 2005–2006 Horizons Bible study, For Everything, A Season: A Study of the Liturgical Calendar and copastor of Wildwood Presbyterian Church in Wildwood, Illinois. She is the author of numerous books. Her most recent is Waiting for Christmas: A Story About the Advent Calendar (Zonderkidz, 2006).

Illustration: Madonna of Nazareth by Wislawa Kwiatkowska, courtesy of the Diocesan Museum of Plock, Poland

Other Articles Online This Issue

Raising Children, Growing Ourselves
There's Something About Mary
A Miracle in Progress
When We Recognize Our Sisters
Together in Congo
Project Homecoming
Beyond the Kitchen Counter
Continuing the Journey
Keeping the Link [A WEB EXCLUSIVE]
Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church
Working for Justice and Peace
Faithful Parenting
Strengthening the PC(USA)


What struggles and joys did Mary share with other mothers and which were uniquely hers? Find out by reading the full text of this article in the November/ December issue of Horizons. Call 800/524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the November/ December 2007 issue (HZN-07-260; $4 plus shipping).	There's Something About Mary by Kathleen Long Bostrom In many paintings, she is depicted as saint-like, poised beatifically in flowing, blue gowns and gazing serenely at the earth with arms outstretched in blessing. Many pray directly to her, hoping perhaps to get that much closer to having their prayers heard by the Almighty God. Others question her premarital sexual status with opinions on both sides of the debate—was she or was she not? No matter the differing theological opinions, one thing is agreed: there was something about Mary—some reason God chose this unknown, young woman to be the mother of the Only Begotten Son, the Beloved, the Messiah and Savior of the world. However you choose to describe Mary’s role in the whole, incarnational entanglement, Christians believe that God chose Mary to be mother, mom, ma, mama. And chose her not only to birth Christ into the world, but to raise him through the stages of infant, toddler, little boy, adolescent and teenager, and to launch him into his years as a young adult and grown man. What struggles and joys did Mary share with other mothers and which were uniquely hers? Find out by reading the full text of this article in the November/December issue of Horizons. Call 800/524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the November/December 2007 issue (HZN-07-260; $4 plus shipping). *Kathleen Long Bostrom* is the author of the 2005–2006 Horizons Bible study, For Everything, A Season: A Study of the Liturgical Calendar and copastor of Wildwood Presbyterian Church in Wildwood, Illinois. She is the author of numerous books. Her most recent is Waiting for Christmas: A Story About the Advent Calendar (Zonderkidz, 2006). Illustration: Madonna of Nazareth by Wislawa Kwiatkowska, courtesy of the Diocesan Museum of Plock, Poland Other Articles Online This Issue Raising Children, Growing Ourselves There's Something About Mary A Miracle in Progress When We Recognize Our Sisters Together in Congo Project Homecoming Beyond the Kitchen Counter Continuing the Journey Keeping the Link [A WEB EXCLUSIVE] Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church Working for Justice and Peace Faithful Parenting Strengthening the PC(USA)	Current Issue NOV/DEC 2007 About This Issue Contents FREE Resource How to Use In Our Next Issue Items underlined can be seen in this Web site, all others appear in the November/December 2007 (HZN-07-260) issue of Horizons magazine. to Horizons, call 800/524-2612 or this issue ($4 plus shipping/handling)

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