Religious experience and public cult: The case of Mary Ann Van Hoof.
S L Zimdars-Swartz
Journal of Religion and Health March 1, 1989 DOI: 10.1007/bf00987502 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Mary Ann Van Hoof's reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary met her personal need to draw meaning from an emotionally deprived and abusive childhood, in addition to serving community needs. |
Abstract
This study focuses on the first year (1950) of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary reported by Mary Ann Van Hoof of Necedah, Wisconsin. It argues that Van Hoof's experiences met not simply the needs of the community-at-large, but also helped the seer draw meaning from an emotionally-deprived and abusive childhood. The study concludes by suggesting that public serial apparitions are complex events that should be examined for the light they shed on the interaction between the seer's personal characteristics and experiences and the public events that take shape around those experiences.