The relationship between heresy and leprosy is identified, already in the sources of the first centuries of the Middle Ages, as a characteristic trait of those who had not embraced the Catholic faith. Drawing on the analysis conducted by authors such as Gregory the Great or Rabanus Maurus on some significant biblical passages, the lepra is identified as a clear sign of the impurity of the soul of those who were struck by this disease. To remedy it, conversion and the intercession of the saints appear to be the most effective cures from a spiritual and not merely material point of view.
Il nesso tra eresia e lebbra viene individuato, già nelle fonti dei primi secoli dell’età medievale, come un tratto caratteristico di chi non aveva abbracciato la fede cattolica. Traendo spunto dall’analisi condotta da autori come Gregorio Magno o Rabano Mauro su alcuni significativi passi biblici, la lepra è individuata come un chiaro segno dell’impurità dell’anima di coloro i quali venivano colpiti da questa malattia. Per porre un rimedio ad essa, la conversione e l’intercessione dei santi appaiono i rimedi più efficaci sotto il profilo spirituale e non soltanto materiale.
Some notes on the relationship between leprosy and heresy in the early Middle Ages
Emanuele Piazza
2023-01-01
Abstract
The relationship between heresy and leprosy is identified, already in the sources of the first centuries of the Middle Ages, as a characteristic trait of those who had not embraced the Catholic faith. Drawing on the analysis conducted by authors such as Gregory the Great or Rabanus Maurus on some significant biblical passages, the lepra is identified as a clear sign of the impurity of the soul of those who were struck by this disease. To remedy it, conversion and the intercession of the saints appear to be the most effective cures from a spiritual and not merely material point of view.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.