A Scientist Researches Mary, the
Ark of the Covenant
by Courtenay Bartholomew
Completed June 2001
Professor Batholomew writes a very interesting book. He provides a very comprehensive analysis of many of the apparitions and messages of the Virgin Mary, tying them into his central thesis that Mary represents the "new" Ark of God's Covenant with humanity. In general, I very much agree with the thesis. As Mother of Jesus, Mary is by definition an ark of God's new covenant, the covenant embodied in Jesus Christ. Bartholomew's research, interwoven with his personal stories of his pilgrimmages and travel, provide great background and are very educational. His insights and theories are also interesting -- some very well-supported and arresting, others that are more of a stretch (maybe believeable, maybe not -- such as when he talks about where he believes the original Ark of the Covenant is).
So, I found the book very interesting and worthwhile, but I wouldn't recommend it for someone who has both an unfamiliarity with Marian apparitions AND a critical view of analyses like this. While I filtered out the things of which I was dubious, I think there could be a tendency (if not already fairly convinced of Marian apparitions) to toss out all of his research and anecdotes because a few are unsupported and dubious. Perhaps he articulates this best, though, quoting Franz Werfel, a Jewish convert to Catholicism who says about Mary's apparition at Lourdes: "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible" (p. 22).
This would be a shame, too, as there is some good research here. For instance, I was very interested in Bartholomew's discussion of the apparitions of Mary in which she appears as Our Lady of All Graces. Speaking of her ability to grant humanity spiritual graces, he quotes St. Pius X: "It cannot be denied that the dispensing of graces belong by strict and proper right to Christ, for they are the exclusive fruits of His death, who by His nature is Mediator between God and man. Nevertheless, by this union in sorrow and suffering which existed between the Son and the Mother, who, at the foot of the Cross of Redemption, died a martyr's death without dying, it has been allowed to the august Virgin to be the most powerful mediatrix between Jesus and man" (pp. 41-42). As one in need of many graces, I find these apparitions and teaching to be very comforting.
Another great quotation comes from Mary herself in the apparitions at Medjugorje. When asked "Gospa [Croatian for Virgin Mother], how is it that you are so beautiful?" Mary replies, "Because I love! Love, and you too will be beautiful" (p. 141).