Rose miracle
In the legend of the rose miracle , the charity and holiness of Elisabeth of Thuringia and her devotion to the poor and to poverty are embellished. Numerous pictorial representations of Elisabeth go back to this legend.
Since other versions of the legend refer to Elizabeth of Portugal and Nikolaus von Tolentino and since Elizabeth's charity concealed from her husband is historically unlikely, it can be assumed that the wandering legend was only transferred to her after her canonization.
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When Elizabeth one day goes into town to give bread to the poor, although this is precisely what she is forbidden to do, she meets her husband's mother (in other versions her husband himself), who does not approve of her mercy and sets a trap for her want. When asked what she has in the basket (other versions: under the apron) that she is carrying, Elisabeth replies that there are roses in the basket. Her mother-in-law asks her to lift the scarf to see the wonderful roses. Reluctantly, Elisabeth lifts the cloth and there are roses in the basket instead of bread for the poor.
Representations in art
- Moritz von Schwind in the Elisabeth Gallery of the Wartburg Palace , 1855
- Wall painting, 1520, probably by Conrad Stebel from Rotenburg in the Liborius Chapel in Creuzburg (near Eisenach)
- Panel painting by an unknown master from the 16th century in the parish church of Mariahof ( Styria )
- Neo-Gothic rood screen figure (Friedrich Lange) in the north aisle of the Elisabethkirche (Marburg)
- Sculpture of a side altar of St. Leonhard's Church in Saalburg-Ebersdorf - Friesau , 1515, by Hans Gottwald (pupil of Tilman Riemenschneider )
- Josef Wittmann in the parish church of St. Elisabeth in Kirchdorf near Rohr - Hallertau , 1956 fresco. The draft is in the Regensburg Diocesan Museum.
The rose miracle takes on a different meaning in the Hildesheim rose bush .
literature
- Michael N. Ebertz : "The rose miracle of St. Elisabeth makes sense to us". Magic and miracles in sociology . In: Werner H. Ritter (Ed.): Signs and wonders. Interdisciplinary approaches (biblical-theological focus; 31). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2007, ISBN 978-3-525-61604-8 , pp. 185-202.
- Michael Overdick: Between alms donation and rose miracle. For the depiction of St. Elisabeth in popular 19th century prints . In: Dieter Blume (Ed.): Elisabeth von Thuringia. A European saint . Verlag Imhof, Petersberg 2007, ISBN 978-3-86568-251-2 , pp. 539-545 (also catalog of the exhibition of the same name ).
