The Journeys of Mary
Part III
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Mary watched as the shadows on the ground lengthened, filling the space around her. She raised her eyes to look at the sky. A blazing sun had set, painting the sky with the colors of fire: orange, red, and yellow. Slowly, those colors softened, changing to pink, lavender, grey, and deep purple. Soon a deep blue would appear just before the deep black of night. Birds were gathering in the bushes around her, filling the dusk with their twitter and chatter. It seemed they came together every night at sunset to exchange the news and adventures of the day in joyful birdsong. Mary thought about the families of Ephesus. They, too, would be gathering around their tables for the evening meal. Although she carried a great sorrow in her heart, Mary felt at peace. “I love this time of day,” she thought. “I can sit here and reflect on all the wonders of creation.” The words of the psalmist filled her mind, and she found herself singing softly, “How wonderful is your work, O Lord, in all the earth.” Reluctantly, she arose from the stone bench in the small grove of the last station on the path and began to return to her house. As she started down the path, she saw John approaching her. He waved and called out, “Somehow I knew I’d find you here!”
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About the Book
In her lifetime, Mary, the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, took many journeys. Between her first journey to Jerusalem for her Presentation when she was four years old, and her last journey to Jerusalem a year and a half before her death, Mary traveled throughout the Holy Land and into Egypt. Following in the footsteps of her son, she witnessed his ministry as he taught and healed. When he was condemned to death, she followed him to the foot of the cross. In The Journeys of Mary Part III, the story that is told in Part I and continued in Part II are brought to conclusion. In The Journeys of Mary Part I, St. John, in order to protect Mary from persecution, leaves with Leah, her maidservant, and Mary for Ephesus. On that journey, Mary recalls her early life which included trips to Jutta, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Egypt, and finally Nazareth. In Part II, Mary is living in Ephesus. Mary Magdalene comes for a visit and helps Mary to create a Way of the Cross. Along with St. John, the women journey back in time and recall the agonizing passion her son suffered for the salvation of all. In Part III, Mary returns to Jerusalem with John to join the gathering of the Apostles to discuss the problems facing the Christian communities as the message of Jesus spreads throughout the known world. As she journeys to Jerusalem, Mary remembers the events that occurred during the three years of the ministry of Jesus. In Jerusalem, as she walks the Via Dolorosa, she relives his death on the cross and his Resurrection. After a final trip to Jerusalem with St. John shortly before her death, Mary returns to Ephesus. With her Assumption of body and soul into Heaven, Mary’s earthly journeys end. The Journeys of Mary is the story of both the interior journey Mary takes as the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, and the exterior journeys she takes as she lives out a life fulfilling the will of God.
About the Author
Mary Ann Donovan loves travel and adventure. Her many journeys have taken her to pilgrimage sites and other sacred spaces. The lives of the saints, visionaries, and other pious souls associated with holy places have inspired Mary Ann. As a former educator with degrees in administration and liberal studies, she enjoys sharing her knowledge and experiences with others as a guest speaker, as well as a freelance writer and author of several books. A trip to Turkey brought Mary Ann to Ephesus and “The House of the Virgin Mary” or Panaya Kapulu. Having always thought that Mary, the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, had ended her days in Jerusalem, Mary Ann began a personal quest to gather information about the life of Mary. Information provided by the Ephesus Society led to the visions of Anna Catherina Emmerick. Sister Emmerick envisioned the house of Mary and described it in detail in 1821. The site itself was not uncovered until seventy years later in 1891, when a group of Lazarites searched for it and found it by using Sister Emmerick’s directions and description. A gift from a friend of a four-volume set of Anna’s visions gave Mary Ann the information needed to write The Journeys of Mary. When not on the road with her husband, her favorite traveling companion, Mary Ann enjoys the time she spends at home with her family and her friends. Gardening, reading, outdoor activities, cultural performances, photography, scrapbooking, and bridge fill her busy schedule. Her bags, however, are always packed and ready for the next trip.