The Mystery of the Rosary : Marian Devotion and the Reinvention of Catholicism

Ever since its appearance in Europe five centuries ago, the rosary has been a widespread, highly visible devotion among Roman Catholics. Its popularity has persisted despite centuries of often seismic social upheaval, cultural change, and institutional reform. In form, the rosary consists of a ritually repeated sequence of prayers accompanied by meditations on episodes in the lives of Christ and Mary. As a devotional object of round beads strung on cord or wire, the rosary has changed very little since its introduction centuries ago. Today, the rosary can be found on virtually every continent, and in the hands of hard-line traditionalists as well as progressive Catholics. It is beloved by popes, professors, protesters, commuters on their way to work, children learning their “first prayers,” and homeless persons seeking shelter and safety. Why has this particular devotional object been so ubiquitous and resilient, especially in the face of Catholicism’s reinvention in the Early Modern, or “Counter-Reformation,” Era? Nathan D. Mitchell argues in lyric prose that to understand the rosary’s adaptability, it is essential to consider the changes Catholicism itself began to experience in the aftermath of the Reformation. Unlike many other scholars of this period, Mitchell argues that after the Reformation Catholicism actually became more innovative and diversified rather than retrenched and monolithic. This innovation was especially evident in the sometimes “subversive”; visual representations of sacred subjects, such as in the paintings of Caravaggio, and in new ways of perceiving the relation between Catholic devotion and the liturgy’s ritual symbols. The rosary was thus involved not only in how Catholics gave flesh to their faith, but in new ways of constructing their personal and collective identity. Ultimately, Mitchell employs the history of the rosary, and the concomitant devotion to the Virgin Mary with which it is associated, as a lens through which to better understand early modern Catholic history. Why Has This Particular Devotional Object Been So Ubiquitous And Resilient, Especially In The Face Of Catholicism's Reinvention In The Counter-reformation Era? Nathan D. Mitchell Argues In Lyric Prose That To Understand The Rosary's Adaptability, It Is Essential To Consider The Changes Catholicism Itself Began To Experience In The Aftermath Of The Reformation. Unlike Many Other Scholars Of This Period, Mitchell Contends That After The Reformation Catholicism Actually Became More Innovative And Diversified Rather Than Retrenched And Monolithic. Unlike Other Types Of Catholic Practice Such As The Catholic Mass, Praying Over Rosary Beads Is A Largely Private Affair Not Easily Regulated By Church Authorities. Praying The Rosary Was Therefore Used To Open Up A More Democratic Religiosity, Offering Lay Catholics A Freer And More Flexible Kind Of Prayer. Making Incisive Use Of Art History, Mitchell Shows That This Innovation Was Especially Evident In The Sometimes Subversive Visual Representations Of Sacred Subjects, Including Of The Virgin Mary And The Related Devotion To The Rosary. The Rosary Was Thus Involved Not Only In How Catholics Gave Flesh To Their Faith, But In New Ways Of Constructing Their Personal And Collective Identity. Ultimately, Mitchell Employs The History Of The Rosary As A Lens Through Which To Better Understand Early Modern Catholic History.--book Jacket. Introduction -- Reframing Reform -- Reframing Representation -- Reframing Ritual -- Reframing Religious Identity -- Reframing The Rosary -- Reading The Beads -- Conclusion. Nathan D. Mitchell. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 12 1 Reframing Reform 16 2 Reframing Representation 58 3 Reframing Ritual 88 4 Reframing Religious Identity 125 5 Reframing the Rosary 163 6 Reading the Beads 204 Conclusion 248 Notes 254 Index 324 A 324 B 324 C 325 D 326 E 327 F 328 G 328 H 328 I 329 J 329 K 329 L 330 M 330 N 331 O 331 P 332 Q 333 R 333 S 333 T 334 U 335 V 335 W 335 Z 335 About the Author 336 Why has this particular devotional object been so ubiquitous and resilient, especially in the face of Catholicism's reinvention in the Early Modern, or Counter-Reformation, Era? In this book, the author argues that to understand the rosary's adaptability, and more.