The Stella Maris of John of Garland

An edition of the Mary legends in Latin from northern France collected by John of Garland. From the point of view of the history of the Mary cult in the middle ages, an important subject too little investigated, the collection of John of Garland should be a document of particular value. It represents the attitude toward the Virgin Mary, not of the trained theologian, nor of the simple souls often portrayed in the legends themselves, but that of an educated layman who was also a schoolmaster. It was composed, as the author of the gloss remarks, with a great deal of feeling, and with deep sincerity.