Questions for Thank you St. Jude

Preface

• Describe Orsi's sources and their limitations.

Acknowledgements

• What do you make of Orsi's comment on xxi, "But what's belief got to do with it."

Chapter 1

• What do you make of the story of the switched statues? (7-9)
• Describe the conflicts over the meanings and names of the shrine. (23-25) What does this tell you about how "concepts" and the "imagination" can work in religious devotion?
• Describe the postconciliar changes that were made to the shrine. (35-ish) How'd they go over? Why?

Chapter 2

• Describe the four aspects which make up Orsi's conception of the "social history of hopelessness."

Chapter 3

• Describe the characteristics of the "ideal Catholic woman" that is portrayed in the Catholic Family romances to which Orsi refers.
• Why does Orsi conclude that devotion to St. Jude is of particular interest to women? (towards end of chapter)

Chapter 4

• How do women imagine St. Jude?
• What are his characteritics?
• How do these characteristics help women?