No doubt, this is an emotionally challenging book. I can't say I like the predictions, nor do I know what to fully make of them. But if you look at the predictions alone and miss what the rest of the book is saying, you've missed everything.

Read with an open mind and an open heart, Mary's Message To The World is a marvelous tool for spiritual growth. Love is explored in depth, and the clarifications are enlightening. We do ourselves a tremendous disservice by viewing love in the romantic sense alone. Genuine love, of course, is so much more: friendship, esteem, appreciation, kindness, compassion, respect, eagerness to help, acceptance, mature love (as a parent's love for a child), and unconditional love, the way God loves us. Sounds basic, yet we need these reminders. Love is an energy, radiating its own essence and possessing tremendous healing power. This book shows how we misunderstand love, how we've only tapped the surface of its incredible power, and how love is essential to a vibrant life here and in other realms.

Other topics are covered as well, including prayer, meditation, family life, and finding God by going within -- which, of course, is nothing new; Jesus says the same thing in the Bible ("the Kingdom of God is within you"). I found this to be the central theme of the book, which incidentally clarifies conversion; it's not a matter of "converting" to one religion or another, but rather, it's "a return to your original beginnings, to God."

Mary's Message to the World is a must-read for the serious spiritual seeker. Offering great wisdom and insights, its simple presentation can be challenging to absorb, but the words are absolutely transforming. I value this book not so much for the prophecies but for the instruction provided on how how to live in genuine love and peace, regardless of what happens around us, by being centered in God.

I am a Catholic and I say devotional prayers to Mary, so in the bookshop, Kirkwood's book "Mary's Message to the World" appealed to me. But initially, when I had read parts of the book, I was confused. Does the book tell the Truth ?? In answer to that, I said to myself, Oh well! Back to basics, to the foundation of my religious convictions.

I drew up a checklist, and compared the statements made in the book against my checklist. The checklist is a simple one. Firstly, faith (or trust) in God through prayer. Secondly, one should follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as summarized in the Beatitudes, etc (Mt 5, etc). Or, even more succinctly, Pray to God and show goodwill and empathy to one's fellow man. Thirdly, Catholic mystics claim that God does speak to oneself from within. The more one is steeped in prayer, then the more one will perceive God within oneself.

So, in general, does Kirkwood's book contradict any one of these tenets ? I think it does not. In fact, I think that the book supports all three of these tenets. Also, the book supports the fundamental Christian (and Catholic) tenet of only one God, the Creator of mankind and the universe, together with the one God, manifested as the Trinity - God the Father, Jesus the Messenger, and the Holy Spirit.

Now, what of specific issues mentioned in the book. Predictions and prophesy, especially, stand out like a sore thumb. But, prophesy is primarily a call to conversion. The predictions are a warning of what may happen if that call to conversion is ignored. The predictions are not unconditional claims. We need only remind ourselves that in the book of Jonah, Nineveh was converted and was not destroyed. Also, Jesus said in Act 1:7 "it is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority". And elsewhere, outside of the Bible is the beautiful comment: "do not say ... 'How much of what you predicted to us has not come true!' Instead, give thanks with me to the heavenly Father, because at the response of your prayers and your suffering, and on account of the immense suffering of so many of my poor children, again He alters the period of Justice, to permit the period of the great Mercy to come to flower ... ". Also, in Kirkwood's book, is a comment that is frequently repeated, and is interwoven with the predictions. It is, that if one is connected with God the Creator in prayer, then one need not be afraid of those predictions. And in the Bible, how often does one come across God's reassuring remark "do not be afraid, I will be with you" ?

So, if you are a Catholic, and the mystical, spiritual writers appeal to you, then reading the book is somewhat like preaching to the converted. But, the book may appeal to you. If you are a non-Catholic, then relax, because the book does not try to promote any popular Catholic Marian devotion. If you do not belong to any of the mainstream religious denominations, and you are sincerely searching for spiritual or religious Truth, then ignore the secular stuff, and then you will find that the book is most definitely well worth reading.