Our Lady of Charity: How a Cuban Devotion to Mary Helped Me Grow in Faith and Love

Johnson (My Badass Book of Saints), blogger at CatholicMom.com, turns her eye to Cuban symbolism and history associated with the Virgin Mary, the nation’s patron saint, in this enjoyable work. Johnson begins by recounting the story of how Mary’s divine intercession, in the form of driftwood bearing the inscription “I am the Virgin of Charity,” purportedly saved three Cuban fishermen from drowning in 1612; this legend quickly spread throughout Cuba. Our Lady of Charity, as Mary became known on the island, came to signify faith, family, and homeland. A shrine was erected in El Cobre, and devotion to her became widespread, inspiring the visits of three Popes. Johnson reflects on the significance of the Marian procession of Our Lady of Charity in 2012, which then toured Cuba over the following two years. Johnson ends with a section on how Cuban symbolism around Mary has recently found a strong foothold in Miami. Throughout, Johnson weaves in anecdotes about her travels in Cuba and the importance of the symbol as a link for the Cuban diaspora across national boundaries. Johnson’s excellent account of how Cuban Catholics have embraced Mary as a national symbol will appeal particularly to Catholic and Cuban-American readers. (May)