Truly Our Sister: A Theology of Mary in the Communion of Saints
“Elizabeth Johnson proposes in this new book on Mary a radical return to the historical person of Miriam of Nazareth. …One of the basic aims of the book is to help women all over the world affirm their rightful place in church and society and to propose a refreshing but very scholarly (theological and pastoral) approach to Miriam of Nazareth without developing a marian doctrinal theology in the traditional sense… Her inspiring meditations and analyses help us to better understand that the life of the historical woman Miriam of Nazareth is indeed a powerful journey of faith, with significance for people struggling to negotiate the challenges of faith today.” –Achiel Peelman, O.M.I., Theoforum, Vol. 35, No. 1, 2004“…comprehensive and provocative new presentation of a feminist Mariology. It deserves serious attention and critical evaluation… She periodically reports what the Catholic Church teaches, but she allows alternative views equal time without rebuttal…Truly Our Sister is a provocative book, and if it invites new attention and devotion to Mary by those who have felt alienated from her, that is all to the good.” –Sr. Sara Butler, M.S.B.T., Dunwoodie Review, 2004“I know of no book on Mary, past or present, that is superior to Truly Our Sister. It is remarkably creative, challenging, and ground-breaking, and yet deeply rooted in the Catholic tradition. Elizabeth Johnson has already established herself as one of the Catholic Church’s leading theologians. This book solidifies and enhances that well-deserved reputation.” —Richard P. McBrien, Crowley-O’Brien Professor of Theology, Notre Dame University"Truly Our Sister is an inspiring book: poetically written and enlightening, it calls on all Elizabeth Johnson's learning and insight to present us with a view of Mary that is deeply satisfying not only intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually as well. A sign of hope to the common reader as well as the professional theologian."—Mary Gordon, best-selling novelist and Millicent McIntosh Professor of English at Barnard College"With her outstanding command of critical feminist theory and theology, biblical scholarship, history, and even archeology, Elizabeth Johnson has framed a thoughtful proposal for the place of Mary of Nazareth in the communion of saints. A companion to her stunning volume, Friends of God and Prophets, this book exceeds its riches to offer a superb, beautifully written treatise that demonstrates the power and possibilities of post-Vatican II theology for the world today. It is simply breath-taking in its scope and achievement."—Anne Carr, Professor of Theology, Divinity School, The University of Chicago"As is her pattern and style, Johnson does a thorough job of mapping out [her] high and ambitious objectives. Her global chorus of women's voices offering a smorgasbord of interpretations of the Marian tradition is awesome....With great confidence, the author offers sophisticated and inspiring interpretations of 13 scriptural readings in which Mary appears....an erudite and radical tribute to Mary."—Frederic Brussat on www.spiritualityhealth.com"Lucidly written, logically structured, and enriched by her vast reading and 20 years of teaching and writing about Mary, the book develops a solid post-Vatican II theology that is both critical and deeply steeped in the tradition it opens up so creatively. It should be read not only by theologians but by all Christians who have often inherited a distorted view of Mary's place with us and in the church." —National Catholic Reporter"Elizabeth A. Johnson, C.S.J....has now published a major theological study on Mary, and it is a very impressive work- comprehensive, erudite, critical, and passionate....What she has achieved is deeply admirable....This is a remarkable piece of work, an extensive tour of recent New Testament scholarship and its use of different methods and theoretical frameworks, leaving none of these familiar passages unaffected by critical questioning and fresh readings." —Commonweal"...it was well worth the wait....The author's impressive comprehension of the method of feminist theology shines throughout....It is difficult to find flaws in this work....[a] scholarly, well researched, beautifuly written and theologically profound book." —America“Truly Our Sister is an inspiring book: poetically written and enlightening, it calls on all Elizabeth Johnson’s learning and insight to present us with a view of Mary that is deeply satisfying not only intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually as well. A sign of hope to the common reader as well as the professional theologian.” —Mary Gordon, best-selling novelist and Millicent McIntosh Professor of English at Barnard College“The chapters on Luke’s story of Mary’s visitation of Elizabeth and on the Magnificat, all of it interpreted, ‘through women’s eyes,’ are my favourites in this last section of the book…Johnson’s reading of Jesus’ birth, of the parents anxiously seeking the 12-year old and of the story of the Cana wedding equally offer striking insights…I recommend this book especially to those of us who have found it difficult to erase from our minds the Church’s ‘Virgin-Mother of God’ image of Mary. This book can be the incentive for a new relationship with Mary.” –Catholic Network for Women’s Equality (Canada), 6/30/04 (Gertrud Jaron Lewis)“This is a theologically sound, spiritually empowering ethically challenging book on Mary. Our Blessed Mother’s image is a source of blessing for women’s lives both religiously and politically in this superbly written treatise.” –Mississippi Catholic, 03/26/04“This is an outstanding book which will stand as a benchmark in theological reflection on Mary for the future…The book is very concrete in its highlighting of the social, political and economic contexts of the world today. The extensive endnotes to each chapter reflect Johnson’s scholarship and depth of her knowledge of past and contemporary theologies of Mary. Gracefully written, deeply theological and filled with a sense of the Spirit leading the reader to prayer, Johnson’s study of Mary is a gift to read and ponder.” –Grace & Truth, 2004“The current reigning heavyweight in the Mary book category” –Heather Grennan Gary, Religion Bookline from Publishers Weekly 7/27/04 (Heather Grennan GaryPublishers Weekly)“The author is at her best when she puts aside dense theology arguments and uses historical and archaeological evidence to paint a picture of how the real Mary – or Miriam of Nazareth – might have lived.” –Kelly Heyboer, Star Ledger, 7/18/04 (Kelly HeyboerStar Ledger Magazine)“Truly Our Sister is deeply grounded in the diverse feminist hermeneutics emerging in striking different settings around the globe. It culminates in a section entitled ‘The Dangerous Memory of Mary,’ feminist reading of 13 key scripture passages. This book is required reading, especially for feminist who have all but given up on Mary. Highly recommended.” –D. Campbell, Colby College, Choice, October 2004 (D. CampbellCHOICE)“The Chapters on Luke’s Story of Mary’s visitation of Elizabeth and on the Magnificat, all of it interpreted ‘through women’s eyes,’ are my favorites in [the] last section of the book. Johnson’s reading of Jesus’ birth, of the parents anxiously seeking the 12-year old, and of the story of the Cana wedding equally offer striking insights. I recommend this book especially those off us who have found it difficult to erase from our minds the Church’s ‘Virgin-Mother of God’ image of Mary This book can be the new incentive for a new relationship with Mary.” –Catholic Network for Women’s Equality Newsletter, Winter 2004“Johnson turns to the figure of Mary and examines her in the context of the feminist reading of the communion of saints presented in her groundbreaking study Friends of God and Prophets. Johnson does not set out to provide yet another comprehensive treatment of the church’s doctrine on Mary, but instead, something much more ambitious and necessary in the church and world of the 21st century… Truly Our Sister is deeply grounded in the diverse feminist hermeneutics emerging in strikingly different settings around the globe…. This book is required reading, especially for feminists who have all but given up on Mary…. Highly recommended.” –Choice, October 2004 (CHOICE)“Throughout, Johnson displays all the skills that have made her theological work such a decisive part of contemporary Catholic theology. She commands an impressive breadth of scholarly tools, being at home, for example, both in biblical scholarship and feminist theology. She is nothing if not sure-footed in the choices she makes of what to highlight and what to leave aside (a particularly important skill when writing about Mariology). The clarity of Johnson’s theological proposal as well as her scholarly honesty and openness are refreshing. There is depth of insight in Truly Our Sister, even where the author disagrees with another theological position, and a delightful, witty generosity toward the positions she argues against. Lastly, Johnson’s writing simply is beautifully evocative and rich in spiritual wisdom and insight. In the introduction, she speaks of her desire to ‘make sense of Mary so as to sound the challenge of discipleship…drawing people into deeper friendship with the heart of divine mystery and turning them toward the praxis of justice and compassion.’ Truly Our Sister does accomplish this.” –Pro Ecclesia, Winter 2005“Truly Our Sister is obviously not just another volume restating the doctrine of Mary. Rather, Johnson’s vision of Mary within the great company of friends of God and prophets opens up a wealth of extraordinary and intriguing lines of inquiry. With that, the book also displays constructive feminist theology at its most compelling.… Throughout, Johnson displays all the skills that have made her theological work such a decisive part of contemporary Catholic theology. She commands an impressive breadth of scholarly tools…Johnson’s writing simply is beautifully evocative and rich in spiritual wisdom and insight.” Pro Ecclesia, Winter 2005[The June 2005 issue of Sewanee Theological Review will publish Elizabeth A. Johnson’s lectures in The School of Theology’s longstanding DuBose Lectures. The overall title for the lectures and for the issue if STR is The Quest for the Living God.]“Johnson unearth Miriam of Nazareth by applying a critical feminist lens that strips away barnacles of patriarchy, essentialism and complementarity.… Johnson brings a prophetic theological breadth and a mystical poetic depth to this compelling theology of Mary. It should be required reading, for both disaffected Catholic women who finds traditional doctrines of Mary implausible at best, and for those who think that they have understood, yet are called to look again at the ways the symbol of Mary functions to harm and oppress women.… Elizabeth Johnson gifts us with a feast for further reflection and thought.” –Reviews in Religion and Theology, 12.2, 4/05 (Reviews In Religion and Theology)"Truly our Sisteris an award-winning publication that provides fresh thinking about Mary whilebeing faithfully grounded in scripture. Like contemporary movements thatattempt to understand the historical Jesus, this Roman Catholic feminist authorseeks to understand Mary's role and meaning in history...the book can be equallyinformative and thought-provoking for Protestant as well as Roman Catholic andOrthodox Christians...Truly Our Sisteris a book well worthy of recommendation to scholars, pastors, and laytheologians interested in thinking more about Mary, the mother of Jesus."- Dr.Cynthia H. Chertos,Congregation,Winter2006"Professor Johnson introduces her study as justonefruitful approach to the theology ofMary, seeking 'to understand her meaning as a particular person with her ownlife to compose.' There is, nonetheless, much that is of refreshing andstimulating interest here..."- Ann Loades,ModernTheology,21:3, July 2005(Modern Theology)