The Glories of Mary by St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) is one of the greatest Catholic books ever written. Actually, it is five complete books in one volume. Here the great Doctor of the Church has assembled the very finest information about Our Lady that he could find, all taken from many writings of Saints, Doctors of the Church and other Holy authors, as well as from Sacred Scripture.

The first book (called the "first part") explains the words of the Salve regina (the "Hail Holy Queen!), showing how God has given Mary to mankind to be the "Gate of Heaven". The second book explains Our Lady's principal feasts: The Immaculate Conception, Nativity, Purification, Annunciation, Assumption, etc... revealing to the reader's mind fresh truths about these mysteries in her life. The third book explains the Seven Sorrows of Mary. The fourth book describes ten different virtues of Our Lady, and the fifth book gives dozens of famous prayers meditation and devotion to her.

He also includes here the theological proofs for the Immaculate Conception, explanations of the mysterious invocations in the Litany of Loreto, and the description of Our Lady's death. In all, The Glories of Mary amounts to nothing less than  the greatest compendium of nearly 18 centuries of Catholic teaching on and devotion to Our Lady. Easily understood.