Table of Contents

Preface
List of Illustrations
1: Introduction
2: Immaculate and Sorrowful Mary: Apparitions 1830-1917
3: Sister Lúcia's Narrative of War and Peace
4: Catholic Interpretations
5: Women as Visionaries
6: Children as Visionaries
7: Basque Raggle-Taggle: Ezkioga
8: Between the Wars: the Belgian Visionary Epidemic
9: 'When the Gestapo Hounded the Apparitions': Mary in Nazi Germany
10: Hearts and Nations: Visionary Women as Popular Theologians
11: The Cold War and the Marian Cult
12: Vatican II: Visionary Reactions to Change in the Church?
13: Medjugorje: the Queen of Peace and a Civil War
14: Grottos, Statues, and Visions in Ireland
15: The 1980s: Italy, Spain, France, and England
16: Conclusion
Bibliography

About the Author

Chris Maunder is a senior lecturer in Theology & Religious Studies at York St John University; he has worked there as Head of Department and Head of both B.A. and M.A. programmes, but is now semi-retired. Since completing a PhD at the University of Leeds in 1991, he has written several articles on the European apparitions of Mary. Whilst being a scholar of Catholic popular religion in his professional life, he is also passionate about Marian shrines as a
personal interest, visiting them across Europe and helping to maintain his local shrine, a 15th-century rock chapel in Knaresborough, Yorkshire.

Reviews

Maunder adopts an objective, scholarly and journalistic approach to the original events and their aftermath. While alert to rationalizing interpretations of claims about the paranormal, he avoids cynicism. The book is engagingly written and has good and full bibliographical details. J. K. Elliott, Times Literary Supplement A brilliantly researched, thoughtful book Julie Peakman, History Today an intriguing and insightful book Lavina Byrne, Church Times [Maunder] brings tremendous enthusiasm and erudition to his subject and ranges confidently across the continent and the century Methodist Recorder [This book] will be read and utilised by everyone interested in the manifestations of popular European Catholicism, whatever their point of view. Peter Costello, Irish Catholic a comprehensive overview of the subject Ted Harrison, Fortean Times This book is highly recommended and will prove essential reading for those seeking to better understand this often trivialised religious phenomenon. St Mark's Review The book is an excellent, objective and scholarly examination of a subject which will be of value to both believers and sceptics. Ted Harrison, Theology