Looking for Mary Magdalene: Alternative Pilgrimage and Ritual Creativity at Catholic Shrines in France (Oxford Ritual Studies)

Winner of the Award for Excellence in Religion: Analytical-Descriptive Studies from the American Academy of Religion Anna Fedele offers a sensitive ethnography of alternative pilgrimages to French Catholic shrines dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. Drawing on more than three years of fieldwork, she describes how pilgrims from Italy, Spain, Britain, and the United States interpret Catholic figures, symbols, and sites according to theories derived from the international Neopagan movement. Fedele pays particular attention to the pilgrims' life stories, rituals and reading. She examines how they devise their rituals, how anthropological literature has influenced them, and why this kind of spirituality is increasingly prevalent in the West. These pilgrims cultivate spirituality in interaction with each other and with textual sources: Jungian psychology, Goddess mythology, and "indigenous" traditions merge into a corpus of practices centered upon the worship of the Goddess and Mother Earth, and the sacralization of the reproductive cycle. Their rituals present a critique of Roman Catholicism and the medical establishment, and question contemporary discourse on gender. This book provides a detailed ethnography of alternative pilgrimages to Catholic shrines in contemporary France that are dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene or house black Madonna statues. Based on more than three years of fieldwork it describes the way in which pilgrims with a Christian background from Italy, Spain, Britain and the United States interpret Catholic figures, symbols and sites according to spiritual theories and practices derived from the transnational Neopagan movement. The book pays particular attention to the life stories of the pilgrims, the crafted rituals they perform and the spiritual-esoteric literature they draw upon. Among other questions, the book examines how rituals, as for menstruation and menopause, are invented; what effects they have and what they can tell us about rituals in general; why this kind of spirituality is increasingly attractive for Westerners and is related to The Da Vinci Code ; and how anthropological literature has influenced the pilgrims. Among these pilgrims spirituality is lived and negotiated in interaction with each other and with their readings. Jungian psychology, Goddess mythology and “indigenous” traditions flow together into a corpus of theories and practices centered upon the worship of divinities such as the Goddess and Mother Earth and the sacralization of the reproductive cycle. The pilgrims’ rituals present a critique of the Roman Catholic Church and the medical establishment, as well as of contemporary discourses on gender Anne Fedele Provides A Detailed Ethnography Of Alternative Pilgrimages To Catholic Shrines In Contemporary France That Are Dedicated To Saint Mary Magdalene Or House Black Madonna Statues. Based On More Than Three Years Of Fieldwork It Describes The Way In Which Pilgrims With A Christian Background From Italy, Spain, Britain And The United States Interpret Catholic Figures, Symbols And Sites According To Spiritual Theories And Practices Derived From The Transnational Neopagan Movement. Going To See Mary Magdalene: Starting Out On A Pilgrimage -- The Lost Connection With The Feminine -- The Sainte-baume And Its Many Layers -- Pilgrims Dealing With Their Christian Backgrounds -- Celebrating Menstrual Blood -- Wounded Magdalenes -- Embracing The Darkness -- Ending The Pilgrimage And Returning Home. Anna Fedele. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover Contents Acknowledgments Introduction 1. “Going to See Mary Magdalene”: Starting Out on a Pilgrimage 2. The Lost Connection with The Feminine 3. The Sainte-Baume and Its Many Layers 4. Pilgrims Dealing with Their Christian Backgrounds 5. Celebrating Menstrual Blood 6. Wounded Magdalenes 7. Embracing The Darkness 8. Ending The Pilgrimage And Returning Home Conclusion Notes References Maps Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W Anne Fedele offers a comprehensive ethnography of alternative pilgrimages to French Catholic shrines dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene.