Description: Emerging in the early centuries of Christianity, St. Anne - mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus - become an increasingly popular figure in late medieval northern Europe, standing at the centre of an elaborately-constructed extended holy family. Despite this popularity, and the ideal model of female lay piety she represented, St Anne's absenc
Review Quotes:
"Through vivid prose and sharp analysis, Welsh weaves together a series of compelling narratives that demonstrate how St. Anne's cult adapted to the needs of different devotional movements. By synthesizing trends of a particular saint's cult, Welsh extrapolates larger trends in Christian devotional practices. This well-researched project should be read by late medieval and early modem religious historians alike, who will appreciate the thoughtful commentary on the interconnected issues of religion, culture, and gender in medieval and early modem Europe."
- Vanessa R. Corcoran, Catholic University of America, in Church History 87 (2018)