The twentieth century has seen a tremendous resurgence of interest in Mary. Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadaloupe and other Marian shrines attract multitudes. The great event, the Marian Year, took place in 1954. The most significant Marian occasion was the definition by the Church of the dogma of the Assumption. All this interest leads present-day Catholics to inquire concerning Mary. Why is she of such great significance to the Church? This book aims at satisfying this eager desire of Mary's children. without entering into the details of theological controversies, it is addressed to all Catholics i order that they may come to understand their Mother better. The writer's principal care has been to make clear the divine idea and plan with respect to our Lady, to point out the place and role destined for her by God: For what does she stand in the eyes of God? Why and how did He will Mary to be?

I. The threshold of the mystery -- God's paradise -- Progressive revelation -- II. Mary in the divine plan -- Man in the thought of God -- Mary in the thought of God -- Mary in the heart of God -- II. The Immaculate Conception -- Mary, the fulfillment of the past -- Exemption from original sin -- Fullness of grace -- Corollaries -- The soul in harmony with God -- Harmony of soul and body -- Does this privilege exclude merit? -- IV. Dawn: The annunciation -- The message itself -- The message as understood by Mary -- V. Sunrise: The incarnation -- Mother of God -- Mary the chosen of her Son -- Virginal motherhood -- Mother in faith -- Implications of this motherhood -- Historical and mystical motherhood -- Christ's filial love -- VI. The redemption -- Passion and compassion -- Passive role -- Active role. VII. Mary's and the church motherhood -- A meeting place -- Mary and the church at the annunciation -- At the nativity -- Mary and the church on Calvary and in the Cenacle -- Devotion to Mary and to the church -- Fatherhood in the papacy -- Fatherhood in the episcopate -- VII. The assumption -- Divine motherhood and the assumption -- The assumption with respect to Christ -- The assumption with respect with Mary -- Spiritual motherhood and queenship -- The assumption and its proclamation at the present time -- Christian respect for the body -- The assumption and Satan -- The assumption and the parousia -- IX. Maria mediatrix -- Acquisition and distribution of graces -- Mediation in Christ -- Mediation in Christ glorified -- Subordinated mediation -- Direct mediation -- Mary's mediation in the teaching of the church -- Other aspects of the doctrine. X. The practical aspects in Mary -- Nature of our dependence upon Mary -- Conscious and unconscious dependence -- Permanent and willing dependence -- Purification and unification -- Mystical union -- The lessons of the mystics -- XI. Mary and our times -- Mary and the apostolic renewal -- Motherhood of Mary and the apostles -- Devotion of Mary and the Apostolate -- Devotion to Mary in action and life -- The necessary initiation -- Mary and the renewal of family life.