Ihász István - Pintér János szerk.: Történeti Muzeológiai Szemle: A Magyar Múzeumi Történész Társulat Évkönyve 8. (Budapest, 2008)
II. Közlemények - Módszertan - Műhely - S. Lackovits Emőke: A kislődi Rőthy Mihály vallási néprajzi gyűjtemény
material culture, praying practices, the peculiarities of their private devotion and of what typified their pilgrimage-going customs. The collection can be divided into eight groups of objects: 1. Pictures 2. Statues 3. Books and small publications 4. Candle-holders and miscellaneous metal objects 5. Heirlooms 6. Textiles 7. Stones from the Holy Land and places of pilgrimage 8. A variety of other objects The pictures are connected partly with the holy communion, partly with the Cult of the Virgin Mary, partly with the life and activities of the Redeemer, with his suffering, resurrection and ascension into Heaven. Among the saints can mainly be seen depicted here those aid-giving and patron saints who enjoyed great popularity in the Germanic communities (Barbara, Martin, George, Vendel, Sebastian, Florian, Rókus, Saint John of Nepomuk, Saint Elizabeth and Margaret of the House of Arpad, Joseph, the Archangel Michael, St. Anthony of Egypt and of Padua, Aloysius, Ignatius). The collection is particularly rich in depictions of St. Anna, forms of appearance of the Virgin Mother and compositions connected with the cults of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, but the many pictures of the Holy Trinity and the Holy Family set before earthly families as a model are also worthy of notice. Among the portrayals of Christ the appearance of the suffering Jesus preserve quite extraordinary compositions. The story of His suffering itself and the badges of torture can be found here in various forms; indeed, medieval characteristics of the Anna Christi cult are also tangible. The oldest relic and that most worthy of attention is an interesting Rosary of the Dolorous Christ made in 1668. Apart from the monastic orders, since the Middle Ages the simple God-fearing communities have played a great part in spreading the attached cult. Crucifixes and crosses are to be found in large number, among them the ones that the German brought with them in the 18 lh century to their new homeland. Neither can the numerous prayer books, prayer sheets and canvas printed material, among them some which are related to the places of pilgrimage favoured by the community. With the help of the pictorial copies of devotional pictures and statuettes at places of pilgrimage and brought home from these places, along with related souvenirs and devotional medals we can open up the pilgrimage-going practices of the communities. It can be established that the centres of pilgrimage visited were overwhelmingly in Styria, and that many were visited in the course of one journey, but that the local places of pilgrimage and holy wells were also regularly visited. Given the size and composition of the collection it deserves a complete cleaning up, restoration and professionally ordered permanent exhibition. It has the potential for splendid museum education and is suitable for the creation of a quality publication designed for widespread consumption.
