Sing of Mary

Throughout the history of Christianity, Mary has been a beacon of hope to many who look to her. While Christians have always prayed to Mary, they have also sung to her in times of joy and sorrow. Sing of Mary analyzes Marian hymnody throughout Christianityand particularly in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States from 1854 to todayfocusing not only on the texts and music but also on the contexts out of which these hymns came. By using a holistic methodologydrawing from anthropology, history, liturgy, musicology, psychology, sociology, and theologythis study takes an interdisciplinary approach toward studying Marian theology and devotion through the lens of hymnody. This volume, accessible to both laypeople and academics, provides readers with a clear and full understanding of Marian hymnody by looking at many examples throughout the history of Christianity up through the present, thus shedding light on the history of Marian devotion and theology. The work concludes by providing hope for the future of Marian congregational song, particularly by exploring how the Magnificat can help Marian congregational song be meaningful to a wide range of Christians.