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Rosary devotion has long been considered a "female-centered" religious practice. Despite this correlation, no scholars have investigated the relationship between women and the rosary. In this thesis I attempt to fill that void by examining a range of meanings the rosary held for laywomen in late fifteenth- and early sixteenth-century Northern Europe, c. 1470 to c. 1530. Using a theoretical framework informed by materialism, gender theory, and Marian theory, my thesis argues that beyond its usual associations with indulgences, the rosary also signified prayers for conception and safe childbirth. In reciting prayers to the Madonna, laywomen spiritually and mystically projected themselves into the narrative of the Virgin's pregnancy, desiring to bear a child as Mary bore Christ.To explicate the relationship between women and the rosary, my thesis considers a variety of rosary images: female donors with their prayer beads, Andachtsbilder portraying the Christ Child holding and playing with a string of beads, images of the Holy Kinship, instructive prints from rosary manuals, and early family portrait scenes. As a whole, these images suggest that the rosary symbolized a budding womb, a wife's ideal piety, the desire for children, the maternal qualities of the Virgin, and an amulet to assuage the rigor of childbirth. Lastly, my thesis considers the rosary as religious jewelry. By looking to several examples of women depicted with ornate rosaries, my thesis argues that laywomen wore beads to elevate their status and to emulate the aristocracy. Moreover, wearing rosaries and/or being painted with one's rosary allowed for a public pronouncement of one's private piety. For women, then, wearing a rosary was another way in which they could enter into the public devotional realm. In arguing that the rosary was perceived by women as a blossoming vine, as a piece of religious jewelry, and as an aid in childbirth, I hope to have contributed new ways of understanding this multivalent devotional tool, and to have opened new avenues for others to consider the rosary beyond its usual associations with prayer counting and indulgences.

Catholic schools in the United States have experienced daunting challenges since Vatican II (1962-1965) with a 45% decrease in number attributed to decisions made by Church leaders. Traditionally led by religious, the National Catholic Education Association (2010) reported 97% of Catholic schools are now staffed by lay people. This research details the importance of Catholic schools to the evangelizing mission of the Church, defines the role of laity, and acknowledges a lack of programs that support lay Catholic principals. Past studies provide a snapshot of trends, list expected competencies, and compare their positions to public school counterparts. The literature review indicates little attention has focused on lived experiences of lay Catholic principals. This study presents the stories of six female Catholic principals in an effort to provide a greater understanding of the responsibilities associated with their roles. Using narrative case study design, this research reveals aspects of their lives, careers, and families as it pertains to their experiences as Catholic principals. Six major themes emerged from the analysis of data: (1) the unwavering link between the Catholic Church and school; (2) the call for leadership that deepens the faith of their constituencies; (3) the importance of building community as a dimension of the principal’s role as faith leader; (4) the requisite for principals to model faith in action; (5) the need for spiritual and professional development to support principals as faith leaders; and, (6) the negotiation of tensions in their personal and professional lives. Results provide a richer understanding of the complexity associated with lay leadership and informs the reader of areas in need of further research to assure the future of Catholic education in the United States. Specifically, findings suggest Church leadership structure programs that adequately prepare lay Catholic principals for their roles, perform studies focused on the multifaceted roles associated with Catholic school leadership, and create opportunities for spiritual and professional development for those who currently serve in these positions. The study confirms priests as the link between the Catholic Church and school, and suggests their preparation, as well as desire to oversee a Catholic school, as critical.