The Mystical City of God: Popular Abridgement

By: Ven. Mary of Agreda

Narrated by: Becky Brabham

Length: 23 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Mystical City of God was composed in the 17th century by Mary of Jesus of Ágreda, a Franciscan nun.

The book recounts the life of the Virgin Mary and the divine plan both for creation and the salvation of souls. According to María de Ágreda, the book was mostly dictated to her by the Virgin Mary herself. The book moves between describing the Trinity, the Virgin Mary's life, and providing spiritual guidance to the author, which also spiritually benefits the listener. The book describes the virtues and how the listener ought to conduct his or her life using the Virgin Mary as a model for holiness.

This work bears the Imprimatur of many popes and bishops. However, misinterpretations of her writings led to it being temporarily placed on the Church's Banned Book List in August 1681. But with the order of Blessed Innocent XI, the condemnation was removed three months later, after it was shown that a flawed French translation was at the basis for the banning. The book was criticized by Jansenists and Gallicans in the 18th century, but the Church continued to defend its orthodoxy.

María de Ágreda was declared venerable in 1673, soon after her death.

Public Domain (P)2020 Patristic Publishing

So many misused words, poor pronunciation...

I am reading a long with my abridgement copy. So many words misused, mis pronounced, skipped entire paragraphs, only in chapter 5 book one and so many errors. Thank God I'm reading along, words used by mistake for others could throw off the whole theme or message. I hate to be critical, but the errors are everywhere. If you are not reading along, things could be misinterpreted very easily. Loving the book, I love to read along, I'm hoping my next audible experience is better, after all this will amount to a paid service eventually.

Profound

The graces I received (while listening to the History of the Blessed Virgin's life and death), from my Queen, to enter into the more profound meaning of everything, especially the Holy Eucharist, I can not even articulate. I suggest that everyone read or even better, listen to the audio of this book. Our human language can't even describe it.

A Rare & Prestigious Catholic Work

This is an incredibly rare piece of work, in the sense that while recognized largely by many Catholics, and more over by the Vatican as a real work inspired by an actual apparition of Mother Mary, what follows is Mother Mary telling Ven. Mary of Agreda, her life story.

Definitely worth a listen.

Five Thumbs up

Wonderful topic. Even more excellent is the material can be used during meditation. Well read.

Readers of Catholic books

The listening experience would be enhanced if this book was read by a Catholic or someone familiar with Catholicism. I noticed quite a few words that were mispronounced. Just a suggestion…….

Very powerful book

Great narration, and a beautiful story that penetrates your soul! A must read for all!!!

A Labor of Love

Seek and you shall find...knock and you shall enter. This book is an extention of hope 🙏 ❤ for all those who read it.

1/2 through and a bit annoyed

I’d really hope and suggest that they find Catholic readers or they do some research on how to pronounce some of the words.

Abbess Becky Brabham pronounces “uh-biss” kind of like Abyss.

Bi-location is pronounced “bee-location”.

Christendom usually said Chrissss-en-dom. She says Churs-ten-dom

I know it’s nitpicking a little bit but it is tremendously annoying. And these are small simple examples but it’s pretty common.

Overall she does well, not a ton of inflection. But I’ve roughed it out to this point. So I gotta finish.

Food for the Soul

Loved It. One of the greatest books of all time. Guaranteed not to disappoint.

Wonderful story

The story is wonderful but the narrator almost ruined this for me with her awful pronunciations.

Fantastic!!!

It would be an understatement to say that this book is a treasure trove!!! I cannot stress enough the importance of this work for the spiritual nourishment of Catholic souls.

Worth every minute of the 24 + hours!

A little slow to begin with but then I was hooked. My favourite chapter was on the betrothal of St Joseph to Our Lady, it blew my mind. So much more of the life of Our Lady makes sense to me now. Now I see her as a REAL being and I actually feel closer to her and more able to pray.