Stories Of The Rose: The Making Of The Rosary In The Middle Ages

Stories Of The Rose: The Making Of The Rosary In The Middle Ages

For centuries, the rosary has been one of the most popular expressions of religious devotion among Roman Catholics, but its origins remain obscure. Stories of the Rose presents a compelling and readable history of the rosary in its formative years. It explores the many spiritual, literary, and artistic dimensions of the rosary and explains how and why it became so popular on the eve of the Protestant Reformation.From Library JournalThe rosary is a prayer, literary text, ritual, social practice, and object of religious art that was collaboratively revised and adapted by the communities of users over a period of 300 years in response to their changing spiritual and practical agendas. Winston-Allen (German, Southern Illinois Univ.) sets herself the task of examining the religious, social, artistic, and political implications of the rosary in terms of these agendas. Its history begins in or before the 13th century, when the practice began of considering the words of the Hail Mary to be roses that were being woven into a garland for the Virgin. The author's research breaks new ground by investigating nonliterary materials and the vernacular texts, especially German. She also extensively studied the artistic and other popular media of the 15th century. A comprehensive, integrative investigation that should appeal to all interested in Catholic religious practice and the cultural milieu of the Middle Ages.?Eugene O. Bowser, Univ. of Northern Colorado, GreeleyCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.From BooklistWinston-Allen, an assistant professor of German, offers an impressive study of the history and origins of the rosary. Although Roman Catholicism is not the only faith to use prayer counting beads, "saying the rosary" is a peculiarly Catholic form of devotion, consisting of meditation on the sacred mysteries and reciting prayers to the Virgin Mary. For centuries the rosary has served as a tremendous source of inspiration and prayer for devout Catholics; its origins are obscure, but it is thought to have emerged in the Middle Ages. Winston-Allen's intriguing work sheds light on its beginnings and explores how the rosary survived when many other devotional exercises of the Middle Ages did not, why it became so popular (even at the height of the Protestant Reformation), and how it was changed over time by writers, worshipers, and religious reformers. This fascinating history provides not only much detail but also valuable insight into the continuing appeal of the rosary. Despite its somewhat scholarly tone, it is accessible to general readers.Kathleen HughesReview?Winston-Allen's intriguing work sheds light on [the rosary's] beginnings and explores how the rosary survived when many other devotional exercises of the Middle Ages did not, why it became so popular (even at the height of the Protestant Reformation), and how it was changed over time by writers, worshipers, and religious reformers. This fascinating history provides not only much detail but also valuable insight into the continuing appeal of the rosary.?-Booklist?Winston-Allen has done her research well. The book makes for fascinating and educational reading and gives an important dimension to the rosary as we honor it today.?-Catholic Observer?The author's research breaks new ground by investigating non-literary materials and the vernacular texts, especially German. She also extensively studied the artistic and other popular media of the 15th century. A comprehensive, integrative investigation that should appeal to all interested in Catholic religious practices and the cultural milieu of the Middle Ages.?-Library Journal?Few of the devotional exercises arising in the late Middle Ages have been as popular, long-lasting, and influential as the rosary. Anne Winston-Allen shows us where the rosary came from and how it was adapted over time by writers, worshipers, and religious reformers. This fascinating and carefully researc