Two thousand years ago, a girl from Nazareth was transformed by a simple "yes" into the Mother of God--the subject of sublime devotion, divisive controversy, and extravagant speculation. A mother and a virgin, a saint and a peasant, a woman both tragic and triumphant, Mary has held sway over the human imagination for centuries. Yet she has never felt as relevant to our everyday lives as she does today. In "Full of Grace," Judith Dupre, the bestselling author of "Churches," offers an intimate exploration of this beloved figure, now and through the ages. In a series of poignant stories and essays, Dupre examines Mary's artistic, cultural, and historical influence, and at the same time shows how Mary's human journey of love, compassion, grief, and humble strength inextricably connects her to our modern lives.