Mary depicted in fiction...right or wrong?

[Cbus]

Right now I’m finishing a first draft of a novel which includes Marion apparitions. Her depiction is consistent with church teaching. In my novel she is a protector and intercessor and her chastity and sinlessness is not questioned. The only thing that may be controversial is that within these apparitions, she appears to be a normal, modern human who is capable of casual conversations and has the ability to develop friendships with those she is protecting.

The fact that she is Mary is not even revealed revealed in this book, although the astute reader may figure it out as I have left subtle hints along the way. She will be revealed at the end of the second book I am planning.

Part of my inspiration for this novel is that I have come closer to Mary recently. In the past, my attitude toward her was shaped by evangelical influences, but inexplicably this year I’ve come to feel very close to her. So in a way, my motivation is an attempt to honor her.

I know that there is no hard rule on this. It’s a judgement call, but I’m interested in hearing what others think.

 

[bmullins]

I think as long as you do it in a reverent way, consistent with Catholic teaching it will be an interesting read. It could easily go the other way though when you make her out to be ‘an every day’ person. I believe she is both accessible but also, quite a bit more than just the average person.

 

[Cbus]

Oh no…I do not depict her as an everyday person. She only appears a handful of times throughout the story and she makes heroic efforts to protect the protagonist and the co-protagonists in the story. But she also relates to them on a personal level.

The story’s backdrop is the Siege of Sarajevo for of the two main characters and the first Persian Gulf war for the other, although much of the story takes place elsewhere. The main characters are sinful and perform sinful acts within the story. Nothing too crazy, but things like casual physical relationships, minor drug use (including alcohol), violent anger, and selfishness. At first I felt guilty about having her in a story with those types of actions, but then I remembered that is her job–to help sinner heal, which is what she is doing in this story.

Basically the point of the story is to show the destructive nature of sin and how it negatively effects others and not just the sinner. It ends on a down note, but with just glimmer of hope, which will manifest in the second novel.

 

[bmullins]

I think it is a very promising story line. Especially if you incorporate minor hints of biblical typology in the story surrounding her. Things that only someone who is looking for them would even notice. Even incorporating certain phrasings to what she says to give them a spiritual meaning that points to tradition or some of the various appearances. I for one would probably read such a book if it were written well.

 

[Cbus]

I hope it will come out well. I’m going to go through all the proper steps which is rewrite, edit, have it critiqued, rewrite again, and then edited by a professional.

If I publish it in the kindle store and a few people purchase and read it, I will have fulfilled a goal of mine which to be able to call myself a writer.

Thank you very much for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[tafan]

The concept seems pretty unuque and interesting to me. Of course, with all fiction, the devil is in the details; in particular the quality of writing, character development, dialogue, etc. These are always more important than the story line.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Hmm… a writer I know always says, ‘Story trumps everything.’

As long as technique isn’t so bad that it gets in the way, I think he’s right.