Ars Moriendi: Coping with death in the Late Middle Ages

Abstract

Analyzed from a modern psychiatric perspective, the Ars Moriendi offers descriptions of behavioral manifestations compatible with delirium, mood and anxiety disorders that characterize people with terminal illnesses. Moreover, we also explored parallels between the strategies used to cope with death anxiety in the Late Middle Ages and in contemporary society.

Coping With Pandemics

“…Medieval society's thought in Europe was dominated by the Christian religion. As such, the great mortality was often interpreted as God's punishment for deviant behavior (Espí Forcén and Espí Forcén, 2014; Espi Forcén and Espi Forcén, 2016). In addition, the plague posed an opportunity to blame other religious and ethnic groups.…”

“…As a result, many Jews perished due to spontaneous blood libel attacks during this period. The Church condemned this practice but did not manage to effectively control the attacks (Bridbury, 1973; Espí Forcén, 2009; Espi Forcén and Espi Forcén, 2016; Vallès et al, 2020).…”

Applying Lessons From Ars Moriendi to Foster Dying Well in Acute Care Settings

“…3 In 1415, an anonymous work of literature entitled Treatise on the Art of Dying Well, thought to be written by Jean de Gerson, the chancellor of the University of Paris, was written to serve as an instructional guide to dying well. 4 This treatise as well as woodcut block prints that illustrated the principles of the text are collectively referred to as the seminal works of the Ars Moriendi. The text contains 6 chapters that addressed how to die properly to save one's soul.…”

“…A literary genre called Ars Moriendi (translated "the art of dying") was written and illustrated to provide instruction on how to die well and how to care for the dying. 4 In her book The Lost Art of Dying, Lydia Dudgale revives and describes lessons derived from this text including the importance of accepting finitude, the need to embrace community, the need to let go of the fear of dying and considering dying at home, and the value of addressing spiritual needs and rituals at the end of life (EOL). 1 Nurses can apply 3 of these lessons to the care of patients dying in acute care settings.…”

Death and the Miser: microbiota regulate the outcome of checkpoint inhibition immunotherapy

“…Jheronimus Bosch provides the Miser with two options: to call to God for help with the assistance of an Angel, or to try and pay-off Death by offering money, assisted by a Devil. Near the end of the fifteenth century, this theme was popular and inspired by the book Ars Moriendi (Latin: 'the Art of Dying') [14]. The second chapter of Ars Moriendi describes the five temptations of a dying man: lack of faith, despair, impatience, spiritual pride, and greed.…”