To understand the cult of the Virgin Mary is to understand the Christian religion. The Virgin Mary is a ubiquitous but enigmatic presence in Christian history and culture. The tradition about Mary forms a vast and multi-layered aspect of Western history, culture and spirituality. It is not just in the Catholic tradition that Mary has become a particular focus of study and interest. Mary has also become a crucial interest for Christians outside this tradition (Protestant, Anglican) as a path to ecumenical understanding. This book is intended as a reference book for the student or scholar seeking knowledge of the history and contemporary practice of the cult of the Virgin Mary. It provides new essays which give overviews of particular areas of study - both historical and thematic - together with texts from primary sources and important scholarly articles, some of which appear in English for the first time. The volume is designed to be suitable for use as a course book at undergraduate and Masters levels. The result is astonishing and will open up whole new avenues for theological and spiritual enquiry. "The Virgin Mary": A resource book for study will be essential for anyone who has a strong theological or devotional interest in Mary. But it will open the eyes of those who do not.

About the Author
Tina Beattie is married with four children. After taking a degree in Theology and Bristol University, she moved on to study for a PhD on 'Images of Mary.' She is Lecturer in Christian Studies at the University of Surrey, Roehampton, UK. Sarah Boss is director of the Marian Study Centre, University of Durham, UK.

Reviews
"Bound to be immensely useful" -- Peter Costello, The Irish Catholic
'Mary: The Complete Resource is a pleasure to read. The discussion is scolarly, but not dull; the range of approaches is broad and non-partisan; the bibliographies are extremely helpful. Best of all, some sections conclude with chunks of original material.' Cally Hammond, Church Times -- Cally Hammond, Church Times, November 2007
"[Mary: The Complete Resource] is very comprehensive indeed. There are chapters on Mary in scripture, in the Church fathers, in the Protestant tradition, in film, in medieval art. Black Madonnas, rosary beads, you name it." Melaine Donagh, Oldie -- Melanie Donagh, Oldie
"The essays on this book are accurate, concise and engaging surveys of their assigned topics...As a teacher of a course on Mary in Doctrine and Devotion, I have searched for several years for a text that will surpass the once comprehensive, but now dated work of Hilda Graef (Mary: A History of Doctrine and Devotion, combined edition, London: Sheed and Ward, 1985). My search is over. Sarah Jane Boss has provided me and my students with an indispensable work that will serve for years not only to initiate students into the study of Mary, but also to guide generalists and specialists alike to the very best bibliographic sources available." Tim Perry, Providence College, Canada, International Journal of Systematic Theology
'It is a wonder that such a comprehensive and detailed volume as Mary the Complete Resource should not have appeared until now: how did theological colleges and universities manage without such a definitive encyclopaedic reader, which clearly should be available to all ordinands and undergraduates, and those working in related areas.' Paul Brazier, Heythrop Journal * Heythrop Journal *



Book Information
ISBN 9780860123415
Author Professor Tina Beattie
Format Hardback
Page Count 580
Imprint Burns & Oates Ltd
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 1280g