THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY of AMERICA the Voice of Mary: Later

THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA The Voice of Mary: Later Medieval Representations of Marian Communication A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Faculty of the Department of History School of Arts and Sciences Of The Catholic University of America In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Doctor of Philosophy © Copyright All Rights Reserved By Vanessa Rose Corcoran Washington, D.C. 2017 The Voice of Mary: Later Medieval Representations of Marian Communication Vanessa R. Corcoran Director: Katherine L. Jansen, Ph.D. It is nearly impossible to overstate the importance of the Virgin Mary’s role in the landscape of medieval Christian spirituality. Innumerable prayers, hymns, sermons, liturgical traditions, and other devotional practices praised her as the Mother of God and imagined her speaking profusely to her supplicants. Yet Mary only spoke in the Bible on four occasions (Luke 1:26-38, 1:46-56, 2:41-52, and John 2:1-11). Why then, given this limited speaking presence, were late medieval authors so intent on giving her an enhanced speaking role in textual sources that augmented her power? The striking transformation from the muted early Christian portrayals of Mary to the later medieval depictions of her as an outspoken matriarch cannot be ignored. My dissertation explores the emergence of Mary’s powerful persona through an examination of her speech as reported in narrative sources from the twelfth to the fifteenth century, including miracle collections, passion narratives, and mystery plays. Within both Latin and vernacular sources, authors expanded upon stories rooted in biblical and apocryphal literature to give Mary a new voice. I argue that the creation and development of “Marian speech” enabled Mary to emerge in the late Middle Ages as a more dominant, influential figure in Christian thought and worship who functioned as an active speaker and effective intercessor. Marian speech as a constructed category has yet to be considered as a means of studying devotion to the Virgin Mary. An analysis of Marian speech reveals the development in articulating her power and place in Christian piety. By analyzing Mary’s voice, this dissertation raises questions about the religious and cultural conditions that prompted this change in how authors depicted Mary. Each section of the dissertation maps out different representations of Mary’s voice, as expressed in a series of speaking roles: as student and teacher, as wife and mother, and in the sovereign roles of Queen of Heaven, mediatrix, and Empress of Hell. This thematic approach draws attention to the widespread concerns for regulating women’s speech in the Middle Ages and serves as an effective barometer for measuring both religious and social change. This dissertation by Vanessa R. Corcoran fulfills the dissertation requirement for the doctoral degree in History approved by Katherine L. Jansen, Ph.D., as Director, and by Jennifer R. Davis, Ph.D., Caroline R. Sherman, Ph.D., and Jennifer Paxton, Ph.D. as Readers. ___________________________________________ Katherine L. Jansen, Ph.D., Director __________________________________________ Jennifer R. Davis, Ph.D., Reader ___________________________________________ Caroline R. Sherman, Ph.D., Reader ___________________________________________ Jennifer Paxton, Ph.D., Reader ii Contents Abbreviations……………………………………………………………………………………..iv Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………….……….v Introduction: The First Whisperings of Mary’s Voice…………………………...……………….1 Chapter 1: From Silent Sobbing to Speech: Mary’s Lament at the Passion ………………….…40 Chapter 2: “Instructed by Heaven”: Mary’s Medieval Learned Voice…………………..………82 Chapter 3: Medieval Marital Expectations: Marian Speech in the Domestic Sphere..................133 Chapter 4: The Voice between Heaven and Hell: The Virgin Mary as Intercessor……………179 Conclusion: The Great Crescendo……………………………………………………………...237 Epilogue: The Resonance of Mary’s Voice in the Sixteenth Century……………………….…255 Appendix: The Voice of Mary in the Bible………………………………………………..…...269 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………271 iii Abbreviations Works: EETS Early English Text Society MED Middle English Dictionary OED Oxford English Dictionary PL Patrologia Latina iv Acknowledgements Throughout this process, many were quick to remind me that the dissertation “is a marathon, not a sprint,” and embodying the runner’s mentality I know so well, I am filled with gratitude to all of those who stood at the mile markers and aid stations along the way. Thanks to the Cosmos Club of Washington, D.C. for their grant that enabled me to conduct research at the Marian Library and International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton in 2015. The Catholic University of America Hyvernat Scholarship allowed me to focus on writing in Fall 2015, and similarly, the scholarship from The National Organization for Italian-American Women in Spring 2016. The Medieval Academy of America Travel Grant supported my presentation at the 2016 annual meeting, and the American Catholic Historical Association’s travel grant for the 2017 annual meeting did similarly. During these conferences, I was able to meet with scholars who discussed my project with me: Rachel Fulton Brown, Leslie Brubaker, Anne Clark, and Mary Cunningham. Their kindness and support of a young scholar renewed my enthusiasm for my topic. I must extend particular gratitude to Miri Rubin, whose extensive and eloquent research on Mary set a high bar for both admiratio and imitatio and whose spirit of both generosity and friendship I will cherish. Long before I arrived at CUA, many dedicated educators supported and encouraged my academic interests. My history teachers at Spencerport High School, John Deserto and Douglas Hanson, cultivated my love of history and their enthusiasm for the subject propelled me to seek further education in the subject. The College of the Holy Cross offered me my first thorough introduction to the fascinating world of medieval history and provided me with the first cohort of professors who I would later seek to emulate, especially: my first mentor Lorraine Attreed, Theresa McBride, Pamela Mindell, Sarah Stanbury, Fr. Thomas Worcester, and Stephanie Yuhl. v The Catholic University of America not only shaped me as a medievalist; it became a home and community that supported my interests. I am grateful to Bill Jonas and the Office of the President for involving me in the CUA collaboration with the NMWA’s exhibit, “Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea,” an opportunity of a lifetime. Special thanks to Dr. Kevin Rulo of the Writing Center, whose critical feedback and outside perspective I deeply needed and valued. The entire History Department was deeply supportive of my entire graduate education. Dr. Julia Young offered her personal interest and support, and gave me my first opportunity to aid in the creation of a book. Dean Laura Mayhall provided her sharp insights on historical pedagogy, and Dr. Jerry Muller gave me the opportunity to teach Junior Seminar three times. Dr. Jennifer Paxton satiated my appetite for English history and was in the front row of every conference paper, eager to listen and provide feedback. Dr. Caroline Sherman, who wondered aloud, “so what does it really mean when Mary speaks,” ultimately gave me the question that would drive this entire project, as well as many other rich insights over the years. Dr. Jennifer Davis once remarked to me that “teaching is helping students realize their potential, and then achieving it,” and she took that undertaking wholeheartedly in investing her time and resources in order to make me a better historian. Her independent study on early medieval hagiography galvanized me to finally change topics and was one of the most fulfilling experiences of school. Finally, deepest gratitude goes to Dr. Katherine Jansen, who has been at the helm of my graduate career unceasingly. When she handed Miri Rubin’s Mother of God to me and recommended, “You should write about Mary,” she inspired a project that I loved undertaking. She offered a wealth of resources, advice, copious reading lists, feedback, but also innumerable words of encouragement along the way and made “Operation Endgame” an enjoyable endeavor. Thanks to my classmates who became my friends and offered input throughout the vi writing process, especially to Carol Anderson, Brian Boosel, Kate Bush, Wes Bush, Ryan Carpenter, Katya Mouris, Austin Powell, Sarah Spalding, and Julie Yarwood. My dearest friends Amanda Daxon, Kathleen Mannava, Jennifer Olsen, and Sara Tully, always gave words of encouragement and support. They have remained the loving sisters I always dreamed of. My extended family was so reassuring throughout the project. The Corcorans welcomed me into their family. Immense gratitude goes to my own Taylor and McGuire relatives, who have supported me since the beginning. My aunts Barbara Crandall and Maryanne O’Connor were enlisted as writing taskmasters. My late grandfather George Taylor would have loved reading the finished product. My grandparents Bob and Lucille McGuire, have always shown interest in my work, especially Lucille, whose love of Mary motivated me to keep writing. My brother Ryan Taylor has always brought so much humor and joy to my life. My parents Doug and Judy Taylor were always a phone call away for both the highs and the lows, and believed in me even when I did not. They have remained twin pillars of inspiration and constant supporters who helped me reach this finish line. All of my victories belong to

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