Description
Book SynopsisAn interdisciplinary study of Mary as a religious symbol in post-Reformation Germany. The author uses a rich array of illustrative material to demonstrate that Mary did not disappear from Protestant devotional life, and that in Catholic areas devotion to the Virgin did not always displace more traditional forms of Marian piety.
Trade Review'… a nuanced account of Mary's significance for Lutheran and Catholic circles in the Holy Roman Empire during the Reformation.' H-Net
'Bridget Heal's Cult of the Virgin Mary in Early Modern Germany provides readers with a fascinating examination of the tenacity of Marian devotion and diversity of religious life in early modern Germany. Situating her analysis of both archival and artistic sources within the distinctive historical and theological currents that shaped the religious experience of townsfolk in her three cities, Heal demonstrates the variety of Marianism in both Protestant and Catholic territories. Enriched by more than sixty evocative images of Marian artworks from throughout the Empire, analyzed with a keen eye for their historical significance, this work represents a valuable contribution to the literature on religious culture in early modern Germany.' Central European History
'The text is accompanied by well-chosen, mostly unfamiliar images and concludes with an excellent index with plenty of thematic entries which makes this important study highly user friendly.' Journal of Ecclesiastical History
'Heal's work will be a valuable resource for scholars in art history, gender studies, the history and theology of the Reformation, and the intersection of politics and religion in Renaissance and Early Modern Europe.' German Quarterly
Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Transformations in Marian teaching; 2. Marian piety in Lutheran Germany; 3. Confessional frictions and the status of the Virgin; 4. The Counter-Reformation cult; 5. Catholic pluralism and Cologne; 6. Marian devotion and gender; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.
