The Ars Moriendi, or “Art of Dying”, brings together Christian writings providing spiritual advice for the dying and their carers. A first version is a treatise offering exhortations, meditations, rituals and prayers. A second version describes the dying person’s struggle against temptations and the attainment of a good death.
🔥THE MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS🔥
Definition of Ars Moriendi
The Ars Moriendi brings together several editions, copies and versions of a popular 15th-century work also known as the “Art of Dying“. It was intended to bring comfort and practical advice to the dying and their families. All later versions refer to two Latin texts dating from 1415 (“long version”) and 1450 (“short version”). The popularity of these works is doubtless due in part to the spread of fatal diseases at the time.
The long version was written by an anonymous Dominican friar, probably commissioned by the German Council of Constance (1414-1418). It comprises six chapters, the first four of which encourage the dying Christian by offering hope, preserving him from temptation, reminding him of Christ’s love and urging him to imitate Christ. The final two chapters teach friends and family how to behave at the bedside of the dying and how to pray for them. 🙏
The short version, which appeared around 1450, is mainly an adaptation of the second chapter of the long version, dealing with the five temptations to overcome in the face of death. These temptations were illustrated by woodcuts, showing each temptation and its defeat. This version was never translated into English, but handwritten and printed editions were popular in Britain.
Manuscript copies were incredibly popular, and numerous printed editions were published throughout Europe after the invention of printing. There were nearly 100 editions of the long version before 1500. The copies in the Bodléienne library come from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and England. They date mainly from the 1490s.
The first of these two books describes how to live well as an essential preparation for a peaceful death. It discusses Christian virtues, Gospel texts and prayers, as well as the seven sacraments considered integral to Christian life and death. The second book, entitled L’art de bien mourir à l’approche de la mort, recommends meditation on death, judgment, hell and heaven, and deals with the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and extreme unction or anointing of the sick with oil.
Practical Tips for the Dying
This set of Christian literature therefore provides practical advice for the dying and their carers. These manuals informed the dying of what to expect and prescribed prayers, actions and attitudes that would lead to a “good death” and salvation. The first works of this type appeared in Europe in the early 15th century, giving rise to a remarkably adaptable genre of Christian writing that endured until the 18th century. ⏳
Written in Latin, the Ars Moriendi was primarily intended to be read by priests and scholars, among the few who could read and write. Priests were then responsible for passing on this knowledge to dying Christians and their families, in order to prepare them for divine judgment in the afterlife.
The book focuses on the final hours, arouses interest in the circumstances surrounding death, and encourages prayers and invocations to saints offering protection against sudden and unprepared death. The importance of the art of living goes back to a Stoic maxim, whose Christian meaning was given by the Church Fathers, declaring that no death is bad if it is preceded by a good life.
War and Disease (Black Death)
Disease, war and the evolution of Church theology and policy provided the context for this book. The Black Death had ravaged Europe in the previous century, and its reappearances, along with other diseases, continued to shorten people’s lives. Wars and violence also took a heavy toll on human lives. These were some of the reasons why people were so interested in this book at the time. ☠️
The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) between France and England was the greatest conflict of the era, but its violence and political instability also reflected many local conflicts. The fragility of life under such conditions led to a change in behavior and perception of life and death. Death and questions relating to the afterlife were therefore at the heart of conversations, and the wish to “die well” was a major preoccupation.
.
The late Middle Ages were a time of uncertainty, upheaval and death. The plague and near-continuous wars claimed millions of lives across Europe, prompting people to turn to their faith for solace. The intellectuals of the Christian Church realized that people needed practical guidance in the face of death. Thus was born a illustrated guide to death, known as Ars Moriendi. 💀
In medieval Europe, death was omnipresent. The bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, killed more than 20 million people, two-thirds of the European population. The famine struck again and again, and during the 1300s and 1400s there was hardly a year without conflict, rebellion or war. Faced with so much death and destruction, people turned to religion to understand what was happening at the end of their lives.
Status of the Ars Moriendi today
Over time, Ars Moriendi has lost some of its practical importance, largely due to the evolution of society and the decline of the devastating diseases that characterized medieval times. However, it continues to be studied by scholars and is an integral part of the history of spirituality and religious culture.
Today, the Ars Moriendi is often regarded as a testimony to the religious and cultural history of the medieval period. It is studied by historians, theologians and literary scholars to understand the attitudes and beliefs surrounding death at that time. It offers valuable insight into people’s concerns, hopes and fears about their own mortality.
In addition, certain aspects of the Ars Moriendi, such as reflection on life and death, spiritual preparation and comfort in times of crisis, continue to have relevance in our modern society. The quest for meaning in life and death, as well as the search for spiritual solace, are universal concerns that transcend the ages.
In conclusion, the Ars Moriendi is a collection of Christian texts that provide spiritual and practical advice for the dying and their carers. It was particularly popular during the Middle Ages, a period marked by illness, war and instability. Although its practical importance has diminished over time, it remains a valuable source for understanding the religious and cultural history of the period. What’s more, some of his reflections on life, death and spirituality continue to resonate in our contemporary society. 🔥THE MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS🔥
