Since modern Marian apparitions began 105 years ago, the principal witnesses of Mary's presence have been children. As a mediator of grace, she has reached people of all religions. G. Scott Sparrow, a psychotherapist, shares his own experiences with the Divine Presence. The other Marian encounters he writes about occurred in the lives of men and women as waking dreams during meditation or prayer, in lucid dreams, or during out-of-body experiences.
Sparrow believes that Mary, the mother of Jesus, brings into the world "a nourishing spirit of self-sacrificing love that might, if embraced more widely, help to reverse the tide of hatred and bloodshed that prevails in many regions of the world today." Although Mary has shared secrets with witnesses, the author is more interested in her relationship with these people than with the content of her messages. Sparrow is encouraged by those who have tried to incorporate Mary's tenderness and responsiveness into their lives. He recommends daily prayer and the recitation of the rosary as a devotional exercise for those on the path of surrender to the Mother of Mercy and Companion of All.