Our Lady of Victory or Our Lady of Beauty: The Virgin Mary in Early Modern Dominican and Jesuit Approaches to Islam

Abstract

Ottoman incursions into Europe during the early modern period prompted reactions from the Dominicans and the Jesuits, both of whom used images of Mary against Islam, though in different ways. Some Dominicans advocated conquering Muslims under the banner of "Our Lady of Victory," an image that emerged after the 1571 defeat of the Ottomans at the Battle of Lepanto, a victory Catholics attributed to Mary via the rosary. Some Jesuits, however, sought to convert Muslims through "Our Lady of Beauty," images which stressed the beauty and purity of Mary, who is revered by both Christians and Muslims. Neither approach was very effective in crossing early modern interreligious divides, yet today Mary continues to be employed both as a bridge and barrier between Christians and Muslims (and Catholics and Protestants), with mixed results.