[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-566330-105":59,"doc-detail-566330-en":124},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":117,"head_meta":119,"extra_data":121,"updated_unix":123},105,"en","the-distant-star-the-marian-odyssey-of-a-convert-to-catholicism","The Distant Star - The Marian Odyssey of a convert to Catholicism","","A reflective Catholic meditation on Mary as “the Mother of God” and a guiding Star, presented through the personal journey of a convert from the Episcopal Church. The text contrasts earlier reverence with the later experience of being surrounded by devotion, addressing how converts may feel puzzled or apprehensive before understanding Catholic practices. It emphasizes the continued influence of Pope John XXIII’s love and frames growth in belief as a gradual awakening to heartfelt faith and love.",{"@graph":69,"@context":116},[70,84,99],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":45,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/religion-spirituality/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/the-distant-star-the-marian-odyssey-of-a-convert-to-catholicism/566330/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"author":86,"headline":65,"publisher":89,"fileFormat":92,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":93,"datePublished":93,"encodingFormat":92,"isAccessibleForFree":94,"interactionStatistic":95},"DigitalDocument",{"name":87,"@type":88},"Danger Angel","Person",{"url":74,"name":90,"@type":91},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-13",true,{"@type":96,"interactionType":97,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":98},"ViewAction",{"@type":100,"mainEntity":101},"FAQPage",[102,108,112],{"name":103,"@type":104,"acceptedAnswer":105},"What is “The Distant Star” comparing Mary to?","Question",{"text":106,"@type":107},"Mary is described as a star always near to each person, found by those who look with true desire, though often beyond many people’s vision.","Answer",{"name":109,"@type":104,"acceptedAnswer":110},"How does the author describe her reaction as an Episcopal convert?",{"text":111,"@type":107},"The author says she was practically stunned when an Episcopalian referred to Mary as “The Mother of God,” and later felt puzzled and a bit apprehensive when confronted by what she calls a “Cult of Mary.”",{"name":113,"@type":104,"acceptedAnswer":114},"What does the author emphasize about devotion and loving Mary?",{"text":115,"@type":107},"The piece highlights that love is the greatest thing, explains that emotional feelings may not always be present, and portrays Mary’s role as central to Catholic understanding and faith.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":118,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":90,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":120,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":122,"site_id":62},566330,1791861913,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":125},{"doc_id":122,"user_id":126,"nickname":87,"user_avatar":127,"doc_module":4,"category_id":44,"category_name":45,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":128,"file_id":129,"file_url":130,"file_type":131,"file_size":132,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":133,"language":134,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":135,"faqs":136,"seo_title":137,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":123,"read_time":138},962090769052,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","MARY today  \n1964  \n·How To StartA MadonnaCollection  \n·Good ShepherdGirls CrownOur Lady  \n·Mother andHelpmateof Christ  \n14  \n38  \nMary's Child  \nLove for Mary is amany splendored thing.Mary People for thismonth features awoman who collectsMadonnas.  \nCover:Linoleum cut by Peggy Falke  \nIn this issue:  \n# 2 THE DISTANT STARThe Marian Odyssey of a convert to Catholicism\n\n14 MARY'S DAUGHTERS.Sister M.Dominic,R.G.S.Al1,without exception,children of Our Blessed Mother  \n17 JULY 9TH:AMERICAN MADONNATitus Cranny,S.A.Our Mother calls all her children to oneness  \n19 MARY TODAYA famous master's work at the World's Fair  \n20 PRAYER AT DAWNMary Ellen KellyA reprint from the Compass,Milwaukee,Wisconsin  \n22 MARIAN MAN OF THE YEARDavid Hibler,S.M.The winner of the University of Dayton's annual award  \n27 REPERCUSSIONSCharles Lees,S.M.A secular magazine evaluates the morals of our day  \n28 OUR LADY OF PORTUGALMary's land,even before the apparitions at Fatima  \n# 36 LETTERS FROM OUR READERSOur readers write to compliment,scold,and thank\n\n38 MOTHER AND HELPMATE OF CHRISTJames M.Egan,O.P.A seriously dogmatic but warmly human treatment of Mary  \n# 44 HOW TO START A MADONNA COLLECTIONJane BoulwareA reprint from the Des Moines Tribune\n\nIn the next issue:  \nPHOTO-ART CREDIT  \n19,Anderson,Roma;22,Match,Paris;  \n25,Felici,Roma;28,31,35,Eric Rayner.  \nSTAFF  \nEditor:Charles Lees,S.M.● AssociateEditor:William Cole,S.M.   AssistantEditors:Robert_Maloy,S.M,StenleyMathews,S.M.,Louis Reile,S.M.,JohnMcCluskey,S.M.,Ted Szymanski,S.M.Art Editor:Joseph Barrish,S.M.●Circulation Office:Karl Wilhelm,S.M.Herbert Leising.S.M.·Chairman ofthe Board:Philip C.Hoelle,S.M.  \nMary Willis Shelburne  \n8 ANOTHER LOOK AT FATIMAJoseph A.Pelletier,A.A.A reaffirmation of the salutary message from Mary  \nEric Rayner  \nThere is no more lively topic among modern Catholics than therather sweeping changes in the liturgy and the new em-phasis it is receiving in Catholic life.Our July-August issuewill attempt a fresh look at some aspects of Mary's place inthe liturgy.Among our contributors will be Vincent Vasey,S.M.,rector of the Marianist International Seminary.Fribourg,Switzerland.  \nMary Today is published six times a year,with ecclesiastical approbation,at the MarianLibrary of the University of Dayton.Addressall subscriptions,renewals,and changes ofaddress to Mary Today,Circulation Depart-ment,163 Franklin Street,Dayton 2,Ohio.Manuscripts should be sent to Mary Today,Editorial Office,University of Dayton,Day-ton 9,Ohio,under the act of March 3,1879Subscription is $2.00 a year;foreign $2.50Mary Today is printed by Marianist Press.  \nThe author,Mary Willis Shelburne,is anationally known poet.Some of her poemshave been collected in her book,BrokenPattern.She resides at the present time inWashington,D.C.Mrs.Shelburne is aconvert to Catholicism.THE  \n.DISTANTSTAR3N THIS DAY of spaceexploration,it could notbe otherwise than that  \nscientists,astronauts,evenall thinking people,shouldwonder about the fartheststars --those they know arein the universe,yet havenever been seen.  \nEven those that must be far be-yond the sight of the most powerfultelescope.They ponder on the daywhen man may travel at the speedof light through the heavens to dis-cover them.  \nThere is another Star that is al-ways near to each of us.Those wholook with true desire will find it,yetit is almost,or entirely beyond thevision of many.This Star is Mary,the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ;the Mother of the divine Person withthe human nature-therefore,theMother of God.  \nAs a convert from the Episcopalchurch I was practically stunned re-  \ncently when an Episcopalian,holdinga high order of dignity in that church,made an unprecedented address to aCatholic group,and actually referredto Mary as'\"The Mother of God.”This had to be a reflex action fromthe all-embracing love of the latePope John XXIII,who by this lovehas already changed the world.TheHoly Spirit worked through him,and that clean Wind still is blowingthrough th","cbCaiqJWOTBanh9E","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqJWOTBanh9E","pdf",3209926,52,"English","# 2 THE DISTANT STAR\n## The Marian Odyssey of a convert to Catholicism\n## MARY'S DAUGHTERS\n## JULY 9TH: AMERICAN MADONNA\n## MARY TODAY\n## PRAYER AT DAWN\n## MARIAN MAN OF THE YEAR\n## REPERCUSSIONS\n## OUR LADY OF PORTUGAL\n# 36 LETTERS FROM OUR READERS\n# 38 MOTHER AND HELPMATE OF CHRIST\n# 44 HOW TO START A MADONNA COLLECTION","[{\"question\":\"What is “The Distant Star” comparing Mary to?\",\"answer\":\"Mary is described as a star always near to each person, found by those who look with true desire, though often beyond many people’s vision.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the author describe her reaction as an Episcopal convert?\",\"answer\":\"The author says she was practically stunned when an Episcopalian referred to Mary as “The Mother of God,” and later felt puzzled and a bit apprehensive when confronted by what she calls a “Cult of Mary.”\"},{\"question\":\"What does the author emphasize about devotion and loving Mary?\",\"answer\":\"The piece highlights that love is the greatest thing, explains that emotional feelings may not always be present, and portrays Mary’s role as central to Catholic understanding and faith.\"}]","The Distant Star - The Marian Odyssey of a convert to Catholicism | PDF",131]