The book and article – Our lady of Israel
Presented below is a preliminary translation of my book’s introduction, which centers on Marian apparitions and the Rosary. Following this, you will find translations of additional articles pertaining to the book. My aspiration is for a future, more polished translation to emerge, one that thoroughly captures the intriguing subjects, figures, and locales tied to the doctrine and appearances of Mary within the spiritual landscape of Israel.
introduction
The book before you delves into the history of belief in Mary, the veneration of Mary, her apparitions throughout history, and the places in Israel associated with her. Mary is not only the mother of Jesus, the mother of God, but also to a significant extent, the mother of the entire human race, the ultimate maternal figure, underscoring the value of becoming acquainted with her. It is crucial for non-Christians too, particularly for us Israelis, given that Mary was born in Israel, a devoted daughter of her people. Beyond the many churches and sacred places in our country dedicated to her, she has appeared to various individuals in the last 150 years, altering the course of Israel’s history. She continues to appear, actively engaging in our present circumstances, striving to bring peace and solace to this troubled land.
This book introduces the story of Mary to a secular audience in a manner that is both accessible and engaging. It unveils the extent of Marian devotion, the methods of her worship within Christianity, not just from an intellectual or external perspective but also through the lens of religious experience. This approach aligns with the participatory method found in religious studies, a technique I have employed in my other works, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of Mary’s significance in a way that resonates on a personal level.
While exploring this book, you will delve into the practice of the Rosary within Christianity, understanding its significance and application. The Rosary prayer serves as a form of mystical Christian meditation, utilizing a string of beads to reflect on various episodes from the lives of Mary and Jesus, transforming these events into living lessons. Additionally, the book uncovers the remarkable phenomenon of Marian apparitions that commenced in the 13th century and have occurred multiple times in the Land of Israel over the past 150 years. This represents an untold and intriguing chapter in the spiritual history of the Land of Israel, detailed here for the first time, including the relevant sites and figures involved.
While Mary’s presence in the New Testament is relatively modest (mentioned about 20 times), the text unmistakably underscores her pivotal role in Jesus’s life. Over time, narratives detailing the life of this revered woman have proliferated, from her immaculate conception to her Assumption into heaven. Initially, accounts based on firsthand or secondhand testimonies emerged, encompassing both canonical texts in the New Testament and apocryphal writings excluded from it. Subsequently, these accounts were further interpreted and expanded, either by integrating them with philosophical concepts or by incorporating new legends and traditions. Moreover, contemporary texts have been created, purporting to include ancient traditions about Mary. Additionally, over the centuries, believers have reported various personal experiences linked to their faith in Mary, including visions, revelations, and apparitions, which have contributed to the collective understanding and devotion to Mary among the faithful and impacted individuals’ beliefs and feelings towards her.
Marian beliefs and theology have evolved within the Catholic Church over the years, reflected in the decisions of ecumenical councils concerning Christian dogma. Alongside these doctrinal developments, prayers and hymns dedicated to Mary were composed, and paintings and statues of her, some reputedly created by the first apostles, began to emerge, often under miraculous circumstances. Devotees have attributed miracles to these sacred objects. Over time, Mary began to manifest to believers, sometimes spiritually and occasionally physically, in events known as apparitions.
From the Middle Ages onwards, Mary’s significance within the Christian faith grew to rival, and sometimes even surpass, that of Jesus, particularly in her role as an intermediary for the faithful, a beacon of hope, and a pathway to salvation. Believers were encouraged to develop a personal connection with her, exemplified by the deeply personal devotion of Bernard of Clairvaux, a pivotal Catholic figure and theologian of the 12th century. This burgeoning devotion catalyzed a wave of Marian apparitions across the globe, with Mary manifesting in forms that resonated with the unique cultural and spiritual contexts of different Christian nations. In Mexico, she is revered as Our Lady of Guadalupe; in France, as Our Lady of Lourdes; in Portugal, as Our Lady of Fatima; and the list continues, each appearance reflecting the distinct spiritual landscapes of these countries.
Throughout history, Mary’s apparitions have served to guide and assist humanity’s development. In each instance, she appears to offer direction, becoming the patron or guardian of the location. Every appearance of Mary to individuals is distinct, with some related to miraculous objects like statues or images, others to visions experienced by specific individuals (often children), and occasionally, she manifests publicly, during which miracles occur. Notably, during these apparitions, Mary adopts the local attire and appearance, connecting more deeply with the people of each culture and region.
Among the lesser-known Marian apparitions to the Israeli public are those featuring Mary as Our Lady of Palestine, linked to historical periods when Israel was designated as the “Province of Palestine” under Ottoman or British rule. However, the State of Israel has been in existence for over 75 years now. While acknowledging the Palestinian right to the land, it is also the historical homeland of the Jewish people. Additionally, Mary lived during the era of the Second Temple’s Kingdom of Israel, was Jewish by ethnicity, and a devoted daughter of her nation. Therefore, in embarking on writing a book about Marian worship in Christianity, specifically her apparitions in Israel and Rosary practices, I chose to refer to Mary as “Our Lady of Israel.” This decision is intended to state a fact, rather than to dispute the Palestinian narrative.
Despite not being a Christian, my extensive interest in spiritual traditions, both academically and beyond, prompted me to explore Christian spirituality deeply. I found myself particularly drawn to the veneration of Mary and the concealed meanings within the Christian narrative. As I delved further, it became increasingly apparent that the core of contemporary Marian devotion lies in the practice of the Rosary, a subject to which Pope John Paul II dedicated a special apostolic letter. The Rosary, a term for a meditative prayer conducted with a string of beads, was directly taught and passed on by Mary to Saint Dominic in the 13th century.
Since its origin, the Rosary has gained widespread acceptance and popularity, particularly after Pope John Paul II enriched the prayer and its practice around the year 2000, endorsing its frequent use. The Rosary highlights twenty pivotal events from the lives of Jesus and Mary, referred to as “Mysteries,” each imbued with concealed significance. Participants deeply reflect on these occurrences from Mary’s viewpoint, seeking to understand their import and extract applicable life lessons. In the course of the Rosary, practitioners recite the Hail Mary prayer as they proceed through the beads, marking it as the quintessential Marian devotion. This ritual not only aids in uncovering the profound implications of Jesus’s and Mary’s life events but also in attaining the spiritual grace associated with them, and assimilating valuable lessons for life.
In this book, you will discover exclusive insights into the prayers and practices of the Rosary, its evolution, significance, and context, as well as references to locations in Israel associated with the twenty events (Mysteries) of the Rosary. Many of these sites are home to remarkable churches built to honor and elucidate the hidden meanings of these events. A significant portion of the book focuses on the Mysteries of the Rosary and their connection to various sites across Israel, effectively mapping out a pilgrimage route that traces the Rosary through special locales and magnificent churches within the country. This journey weaves a path through Israel’s sacred geography, linking holy places related to the Rosary, thereby transforming the journey into a living Rosary itself.
The concept of the route tracing the Rosary is to navigate through Christian sites in Israel associated with Mary, offering a key to a mystical and allegorical comprehension of the pivotal events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. This proposed journey is accessible to individuals of all religions and faiths, given Mary’s status as a universal maternal figure to humanity. It goes without saying, however, that this path holds particular significance for adherents of the Christian faith, especially those devoted to Marian doctrines.
The suggested itinerary of Rosary-related sites in Israel evokes the sacred mountain routes of Italy, where, starting from the 16th century, chapel paths were established in connection to the 15 original mysteries of the Rosary. These routes became pilgrimage focal points, with each chapel showcasing one of the Rosary Mysteries through sculptures and paintings. However, Israel stands unique as the only place in the world where a route can incorporate the actual sites of these mysteries, rather than mere representations. Despite the global popularity of Christian pilgrimages to Marian sites, it is noteworthy that such a pilgrimage route in the land where Mary was born, raised, lived, and died has not been extensively developed.
When I started writing the book, I thought that the main point of it would be the explanation of the rosary and the site route that I propose following its mysteries, but as I delved deeper, I came to understand that the subject Marian worship in Christianity is much broader and has deeper meanings than I thought, and that there is room to expand on the this. In addition to that, the course of research and writing revealed to me that the twenty mysteries of the rosary and the deeper understanding they bring about the life events of Jesus and Mary, show the way of how to become a son of God yourself. What was revealed to me is that the exposure to the Mother of God life, as well as the accompanying practices and prayers dedicated to her, can have a universal inner meaning, and not just a Christian and one. The reference to Mary as the Mother of God, the belief in her ascension to heaven and her becoming the queen of heaven, has a far-reaching meaning that the Christian one, even if unconsciously, it relates to our inner possibility for a mystical union between the male and the female, the fulfillment of the spiritual quest for the missing part within us, and the possibility open to each and every one of us to become sons and daughters of God, and God-like in ourselves.
To thoroughly explore Marian worship and belief, the book begins with a section detailing the development of Mariological beliefs within the Catholic Church. This includes insights into Mary, the significance and roles of female divinities before her time, the evolution of belief in her, and her attributes as Madonna, queen, mediator, among others. My research stance is secular and universal, avoiding a narrowly focused Christian Catholic perspective. This stance, which I maintain across my other writings, allows me to present the essence of Marian faith in a manner accessible to those with spiritual inclinations who are not exclusively Christian Catholics or affiliated with organized religion.
Delving into the history of Mary, her veneration, and her apparitions across time, it became clear to me that she transcends being merely a historical figure from 2,000 years ago. Mary continues to live, manifesting herself to individuals, intervening in their lives, offering guidance, and even striving to instill peace in regions plagued by conflict. Consequently, the final section of the book is devoted to Mary’s appearances around the world, with a particular focus on Israel in the past 150 years. This segment features stories about local saints Marie-Alphonsine and Mariam Baouardy, who have been recently canonized, alongside other religious and intriguing figures in Israel and globally. This constitutes an undiscovered and compelling chapter in the spiritual narrative of the Land of Israel.
Thus, the book evolved into three interconnected parts, mirroring the Holy Trinity, where each segment complements the others to form a whole greater than its parts: the first focuses on the belief in Mary, the second delves into the Rosary and its associated sites in Israel, and the third covers Mary’s apparitions in Israel. The Rosary section, which constitutes the core and primary focus of the book, includes references to the New Testament and apocryphal texts (notably the Gospel of James), relating them to each of the twenty Mysteries. It offers traditional mystical interpretations of these Mysteries, alongside my own distinctive insights drawn from my experience and familiarity with various spiritual traditions.
While there are numerous critiques of Christian beliefs, doctrines, and practices, I firmly subscribe to the participatory approach, which posits that to truly understand something, one must immerse oneself in its perspective. Therefore, I invite readers to metaphorically walk in the shoes of Catholic Christianity, temporarily embracing its foundational beliefs to unearth the wisdom embedded within the tradition of the Rosary, Marian devotion, and the history of apparitions. This includes contemplating concepts such as the significance of virginity, Jesus as the son of God, among others. These elements can be understood allegorically, and it’s permissible to acknowledge that they may not encapsulate the entirety of truth (if an absolute truth exists). I suggest engaging with these topics with openness and a universal mindset, situating the practice of the Rosary and Marian veneration within the broader spectrum of human faith and spirituality.
I am optimistic that the articles within this book will illuminate the intriguing subject of Marian worship in Christianity, its beliefs, and particularly its diverse expressions within the Christian landscape of the Land of Israel and globally. Furthermore, I extend a prayer that Mary, as a daughter of this land, will fulfill one of her most crucial missions: to usher in peace to Israel, fostering harmony and love among its people.
Chapters from the book
Joyful Mystery of Annunciation in Nazareth
Joyful Mystery of Visitation in Ein Karem
Joyful Mysteries in Jerusalem and Bethlehem
Golgotha and Rotunda in the Holy Sepluchre
Marian Apparitions in Israel 1
Marian Apparitions in Israel 2
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