THERE ARE MANY AVENUES FOR PRAYER, INCLUDING ART. IN THE MARIAN LIBRARY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON (UD), THIS SACRED CONNECTION COMES ALIVE IN BREATHTAKING WAYS.

Housing thousands of art pieces dedicated to Mary, the library invites visitors to encounter faith through the visual language of devotion. Each work is more than art—it’s a call to communicate deeper with God.

Bridget Retzloff, the Visual Resources Librarian, wants those who are not familiar with the Marian Library to know that it holds much more than books.

“The Marian Library is a collection of books, archival materials and artwork related to Mary,” said Retzloff. “It was founded in 1943 by the Marianists, the same religious order that founded the University of Dayton in 1890. Our collections support scholarship, teaching and devotion to Mary, for UD students and faculty, as well as scholars from around the world. [Everyone is] welcome to use our collections, visit our multiple exhibits each year and attend programming.”

Along with its many permanent exhibits, the library curates temporary ones, including changing nativity sets in its Crèche Museum.

“Each year we curate a large Christmas exhibit in two additional gallery spaces in the library, featuring a selection of nativity sets related to a different theme,” said Retzloff. “Through other exhibits, we highlight areas of our collection and make connections with UD classes or Marian research.” Working with faculty, students can receive co-curatorial experiences, in which they write exhibit text for parts of the collection related to topics they are studying.

The permanent displays of Mary, however, are visible both in and outside the library’s walls.

“While there are many large-scale sculptures of Mary in public and liturgical spaces around campus, [sculptures in the art collection] are mostly smaller statues that were likely intended for personal devotion in domestic settings,” said Retzloff. “There are over 2,000 statues… used for research, campus ministry events, drawing exercises and more. Visitors most often encounter part of the collection in our Reading Room, where … artwork depicting Mary, from around the world, is on exhibit throughout the year. They can help one to connect with Mary and see how she is depicted by artists of a variety of cultures.”

With over 11,000 artworks, the collection offers countless ways to imagine and connect with Mary. Guests are invited to explore and discover new insights into Mary and global devotion to her.

“The Marian Library’s art collections illustrate global devotion to Mary throughout history and can help viewers to connect with her life and identities,” said Retzloff. “Art can spark the imagination in unique ways. The artwork in our collection might lead one to develop research questions, connect with Mary in prayer, or learn about Marian devotion in different cultures.”

This article appeared in the February 2025 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.