Prescriptions for salvation: Christ as the suffering physician present in the Eucharist in the Croxton play of the Sacrament and related texts

Abstract

English: The object of this dissertation is to investigate the manner in which Christ, perceived as present in the eucharist (by means of transubstantiation), is portrayed as the Suffering Physician in various medieval sacrament dramas from England and Europe. Central to the medieval sacrament drama is the belief in transubstantiation. This refers to the teaching of the medieval Catholic Church (the dominant religious body in western Europe and England at the time) that a communion wafer (host) becomes at the point of consecration the real body of Christ (referred to as the Real Presence) by means of transubstantiation,(although retaining the appearance of bread). Christ may be perceived as suffering in these plays, as there is usually a reminder or a symbolic re-enactment of His Passion involving a consecrated host. He may be seen as a physician, as His Passion was often viewed and portrayed as the ultimate act of healing for the souls of humankind, offering salvation, the ultimate healing. Furthermore, in these dramas, spiritual and/or physical healings often take place as a result of one or more miracles performed by the power of the host (i.e. Christ). Chapter one concentrates on the Croxton Play of the Sacrament, which is the main focus of this dissertation. The discussion concentrates on a number of aspects of the play where the connection between the Passion, the eucharist and healing (or

Christ as the Physician), are demonstrated. The meal shared by Aristorius (the merchant) and Isoder (the priest) is considered first, followed by the torture of the host. which may be viewed as a re-enactment of the Passion. The 'quack doctor' scene, where physical, earthly physicians and medicine are negatively contrasted with the spiritual remedies of the Divine Physician, is then discussed. Finally, what may be viewed as other prescriptions for spiritual health or salvation presented in the play, such as obedience to the Ten Commandments, and sacramental actions such as baptism, repentance, confession and absolution are noted. These acts may be described as prescriptions as they are prescribed by the Bible and./or the medieval Catholic Church as methods wh ich contribute to the maintenance of a 'healthy' soul in order to ensure the possibility of salvation in a society which often valued the spiritual above the physical. The second chapter focuses on Dat es Tspel vanden Heiligen Sacramente van der Nyeuwervaert (Dutch). The discussionconcentrates on the numerous miracles of physical healing (performed by the host) reported in the play and their relation to the idea of Christ as a physician. The references to the Passion and the eucharist and their connection with the concept of Christ as the Suffering Physician are also considered. Le jeu et mystere de la Saincte Hostie (French) and the Miracolo del Corporale di Bolsena (Italian) both contain spiritual healings (in the medieval Catholic view). These healings include the conversion of Jews to Christianity and the restoration of a priest's faith in transubstantiation, both of which take place as a result of host miracles. Prescriptions for spiritual health or salvation such as the sacramental actions of repentance, confession. absolution and the actual act of reparation are also discussed in relation to these plays. Relevant similarities and differences between the Croxton Play of the Sacrament and the Dutch, French and Italian plays are also noted. From the discussion it becomes clear that the action, dialogue, themes and other dramatic elements of these plays not only reflect medieval acceptance of doctrine of transubstantiation, but also point to a pervasive belief in Christ as a spiritual and at times even physical physician.

Afrikaans: Die doel van hierdie dissertasie is om die manier te ondersoek waarop Christus, wat waarneem word as teenwoordig in die Nagmaal (deur middel van transubstansiasie). as die Lydende Geneesheer in verskeie Middeleeuse sakramentdramas vanaf Engeland en Europa. afgebeeld is. Van sentrale belang in die Middeleeuse sacramentdrama is die geloof in transubstansiasie. Dit verwys na die Katolieke Kerk (die destydse dominante godsdienstige liggaam in wes Europa en Engeland) se leerstelling dat die hostie, tydens die wyding, die werklike liggaam van Christus word (alhoewel die hostie nog soos brood lyk). Christus mag as lydend in hierdie toneelspele beskou word want daar is gewoonlik 'n simboliese heruitbeelding van Sy Passie waar 'n hostie betrokke is. Hy mag as 'n geneesheer gesien word want Sy Passie was dikwels as die beslissende daad van genesing vir die mensdom beskou. Verder vind daar geestelike en/of fisiese genesings in hierdie toneelstukke plaas, gewoonlik as gevolg van een of meer wonderwerke. wat deur die krag van die hostie (Christus) teweeggebring word. Die eerste hoof stuk handeloor die Croxton Play of the Sacrament. wat die hooffokus van die dissertasie vorm. Die handeling konsentreer op daardie aspekte van die toneelspel wat die verbintenis tussen die Passie, die Nagmaal en genesing (of Christus as die Geneesheer) demonstreer. Die toneel waar Aristorius (die handelaar) en Isoder (die priester) hulle aandete nuttig sal eerste in aanmerking geneem word. Daarna sal die marteling van die hostie, wat as 'n heruitbeelding van die Passie beskou mag word, oorweeg word. Die kwaksalwertoneeI, waar fisiese dokters en medisyne op 'n negatiewe manier met die geestelike geneesmiddels van Christus die Geneesheer gekontrasteer word. sal dan bespreek word. Ten slotte word ander 'voorskrifte' vir geestelike gesondheid of verlossing , byvoorbeeld. die Tien Gebooie en sakramente soos doop, berou vir sonde, belydenis en absolusie, ondersoek. Hierdie dade mag as 'voorskrifte' beskryf word want die Bybel en/of die Katolieke Kerk skryf hulle voor as metodes om die siel 'gesond' te hou en om sodoende verlossing te verkry. Die tweede hoofstuk fokus op Dat es Tspel vanden Heiligen Sacramente van der Nyeuwervaert. Die verhandeling konsentreer op die wonderwerke van fisiese genesing wat deur die hostie uitgevoer word en hulle verbintenis met die idee van Christus as 'n geneesheer. Verwysings na die Passie, die Nagmaal en hulle verbintenis met die konsep van die Lydende Geneesheer wat in die , toneelspel gevind mag word, word ook bespreek. Le jeu et mystère de la Saincte Hostie (Frans) en die Hiraco1o del Corporale di Bolsena (Italiaans) wat ook in hoofstuk twee onder die loep geneem word, sluit albei voorbeelde van geestelike genesing (in die Middeleeuse Katolieke siening) in. Geestelike genesings soos die omkering van Jode na die Christendom en die teruggawe van 'n priester se geloof in transubstansiasie, vind as gevolg van wonderwerke van die hostie plaas. Voorskrifte vir geestelike gesondheid of verlossing, soos die sakramenteie aksies van berou vir sonde, belydenis en absolusie, word ook hier in verbintenis met die Nederlandse, Franse en Italiaanse teneelspele bespreek. Relevante ooreenkomste en verskille tussen die Croxton Play en dié toneelspele word ook hier oorweeg. Van die onderhandeling blyk dit dat die aksie, dialoog, temas en ander dramatiese elemente van die toneelspele nie net die Middeleeuse geloof in transubstansiasie weerspieël nie, maar ook n deurdringende geloof in Christus as 'n geestelike (en soms ook n fisiese) geneesheer aandui.