Choroba w wybranych pismach Izydora z Sewilli
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Date
2021
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Wydawnictwo KUL
Abstract
Izydor z Sewilli pisze o chorobie w wielu utworach, różniących się tematyką i charakterem. Postrzega ją jako bezwarunkowe zło. Bada jej fizyczne i duchowe przyczyny; doszukuje się naturalnych i ponadnaturalnych środków zaradczych. Uważa, że mamy prawo, a nawet obowiązek zwracać się po pomoc do medyków, których dorobek zna i szanuje, lecz przy tym powinniśmy pamiętać, że zdrowie – przede wszystkim ducha, jak również ciała – może nam zapewnić wyłącznie życie w jedności z Bogiem. Za najbardziej niebezpieczną chorobę uznaje niemoc duszy, czyli grzech; spośród schorzeń cielesnych wyróżnia jako najgroźniejsze morowe powietrze. Posługuje się związanymi z chorobą wyrażeniami metaforycznymi do opisania rzeczywistości grzechu; stosując alegoryczną metodę interpretacji Pisma, widzi w chorobach ukazanych na stronach Biblii symbole duchowego zła. Podkreśla, że chorym należy się troskliwa, pełna czułości opieka ze strony zdrowych. Dzięki lekturze listów Sewilczyka oraz relacji o jego śmierci wiemy, że on sam także doświadczał chorób, a znosił je tak, jak zalecał to czynić innym, to jest wytrwale, pokornie i cierpliwie dążąc do pełni życia, dla której zostaliśmy stworzeni i zbawieni.
Isidore looks at the world in the light of the Revelation, so that his look becomes really broad. He does not oppose the terrestrial to the eternal: in his feeling they permeate each other and make up the entirety of God’s work. Writing about the disease, he underlines that it is unconditionally evil. He studies its physical and spiritual causes and seeks both natural and supernatural remedies. He believes we may and even have to look for doctors’ help, he knows and respects ancient medicine’s legacy, but at the same time he considers sickness to be a result of the human sin and stresses that the true health can be achieved only by living in unity with God. In Isidore’s opinion, the most dangerous illness is that of human spirit, i.e. the sin. As to the terrestrial maladies, he describes in the most profusive way the plague. He uses metaphors related to disease in order to describe the reality of sin; employing means of allegorical interpretation of the Holy Writ, he regards sickness as a symbol of spiritual evil. He emphasizes that the sick deserve to be cared for and treated with kindness; he describes nursing the sick monks. He informs that apostle Paul cured his disciple and presents Christ as a great doctor of the mankind. Isidore himself experimented diseases. He faced them accordingly to what he recommended to the others, bravely and patiently looking for the vita vitalis, for which all of us have been created and saved.
Isidore looks at the world in the light of the Revelation, so that his look becomes really broad. He does not oppose the terrestrial to the eternal: in his feeling they permeate each other and make up the entirety of God’s work. Writing about the disease, he underlines that it is unconditionally evil. He studies its physical and spiritual causes and seeks both natural and supernatural remedies. He believes we may and even have to look for doctors’ help, he knows and respects ancient medicine’s legacy, but at the same time he considers sickness to be a result of the human sin and stresses that the true health can be achieved only by living in unity with God. In Isidore’s opinion, the most dangerous illness is that of human spirit, i.e. the sin. As to the terrestrial maladies, he describes in the most profusive way the plague. He uses metaphors related to disease in order to describe the reality of sin; employing means of allegorical interpretation of the Holy Writ, he regards sickness as a symbol of spiritual evil. He emphasizes that the sick deserve to be cared for and treated with kindness; he describes nursing the sick monks. He informs that apostle Paul cured his disciple and presents Christ as a great doctor of the mankind. Isidore himself experimented diseases. He faced them accordingly to what he recommended to the others, bravely and patiently looking for the vita vitalis, for which all of us have been created and saved.
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Keywords
Izydor z Sewilli, Etymologie, medycyna, monastycyzm, choroba, pomór, grzech, zbawienie, Isidore of Seville, Etymologies, medicine, monacticism, disease, plague, sin, salvation
Citation
"Vox Patrum", 2021, T. 78, s. 467-498