L’émergence de la compassion dans le regard sur la Passion au moyen âge: Franciscanisme et mentalité populaire

Abstract

This chapter begins with a discussion on the religious experience of medieval man. This discussion is carried out by analyzing the thought of Aron Gurevich and its perspective of historical anthropology. The history of Christianity can indeed just study institutions, doctrines, companies, individuals, and it can also understand these within the 'wider context of medieval man's general notions about the world and himself. The authors undertook a dive in the sources seeking to build a bridge between two poles: the spiritual or theological writings and popular religion. They were struck by the development of a literary image, together with the development of a pictorial image: the representation of the Passion of Christ, both in literature and in painting or sculpture. The chapter describes the mental universe centred on the Passion and death of Christ, and the development of compassion. Keywords: Aron Gurevich; historical anthropology; Christianity; theological writings; Passion of Christ