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

[摘要] 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 (orChrist as the Physician), are demonstrated. The meal shared byAristorius (the merchant) and Isoder (the priest) is consideredfirst, followed by the torture of the host. which may be viewedas a re-enactment of the Passion. The 'quack doctor' scene, wherephysical, earthly physicians and medicine are negativelycontrasted with the spiritual remedies of the Divine Physician,is then discussed. Finally, what may be viewed as otherprescriptions for spiritual health or salvation presented inthe play, such as obedience to the Ten Commandments, andsacramental actions such as baptism, repentance, confession andabsolution are noted. These acts may be described asprescriptions as they are prescribed by the Bible and./or themedieval Catholic Church as methods wh ich contribute to themaintenance of a 'healthy' soul in order to ensurethepossibility of salvation in a society which often valued thespiritual above the physical.The second chapter focuses on Dates 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 relationto the idea of Christ as a physician. The references to thePassion and the eucharist and their connection with the conceptof Christ as the Suffering Physician are also considered.Le jeu et mystere de la Saincte Hostie (French) and the Miracolodel Corporale di Bolsena (Italian) both contain spiritualhealings (in the medieval Catholic view). These healings includethe conversion of Jews to Christianity and the restoration of a priest's faith in transubstantiation, both of which take placeas a result of host miracles. Prescriptions for spiritual healthor salvation such as the sacramental actions of repentance,confession. absolution and the actual act of reparation are alsodiscussed in relation to these plays. Relevant similarities anddifferences between the Croxton Play of the Sacrament and theDutch, 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 onlyreflect medieval acceptance of doctrine oftransubstantiation, but also point to a pervasive belief inChrist as a spiritual and at times even physical physician.

[发布机构] University of the Free State