Mysterium a seculis tacitum lingva incorrupta sacramentalis merces silentii
- First performance: 1732, Uherské Hradiště, the whole school
- Author: Antonius Jenisch, SJ (1698–1754)
The play A Mystery Kept Secret for Ages, Uncorrupted Language as a Reward for Keeping the Holy Silence of Confessionwas composed in 1732 by professor of rhetoric as a representative performance of the entire college in Uherské Hradiště on the occasion of the festive opening of its new assembly hall, renewed after the damaging fire of the previous year. John of Nepomuk has a rather atypical role in this play; he becomes a patron of theatre. Two central narrative lines intertwine here: in the main narrative, Athenarchus wants to choose a patron deity for the new theatre whose construction he had summoned. The task is however entrusted to Mythosophus, who chooses Harpocratus, the god of silence. Hagiophylactus opposes: theatre should not be dedicated to pagan idols. He arranges for Philologus to make the choice, who, under the guidance of Eudoxus and Polyhistor, kindles an affection for John of Nepomuk. Even Mythosophus becomes a worshipper of the Saint and the theatre is dedicated to John. The secondary narrative features a pair of servants, Musellus and Fusculus, whose scenes provide comic relief. The text is replete with allusions to the Prague canonization celebration, which were understandable for the viewers and enabled the author to recreate the atmosphere of the occasion and bring some of its glamour to a small theatre hall in Uherské Hradiště. More info in Czech
Text
Antonius Jenisch: Mysterium a seculis tacitum, lingva incorrupta sacramentalis merces silentii. A. 1732 National archives CR, fond Jesuitica, sign. IIIo-447, box 176, f. 54r–69v
Synopsis
[Antonius Jenisch]: Mysterium a seculis tacitum, lingua incorrupta sacramentalis merces silentii. Revelatum in magni confessionis sigilli Protomartyre S. Joanne Nepomuceno celebratum comica panegyri anno a DIVI passIone sUpra treCentos qVInqVagessIMo, saCrae Vero apotheosIs tertIo. Quo Musis Hradistiensibus e veteri in novam digressis scenam magno huic sacramentalis consilii et judicii Angelo eadem vocali cordis et oris lingua dicabat, dedicabat, devovebat ligata et obligata universae gymnadis eloquentia National archives CR, fond Jesuitica, sign. IIIo-447 kart. 176, f. 52r–53v National Library of the Czech Republic, sign. 52 A 39, adl. 60 Digital copy
Kateřina Bobková-Valentová – Alena Bočková – Magdaléna Jacková – Martin Bažil – Eva Pauerová – Jan Zdichynec – Zdeněk Žalud: Sv. Jan Nepomucký na jezuitských školních scénách. Praha: Academia, 2015. (= Theatrum Neolatinum. Latinské divadlo v českých zemích, 1.), p. 354-465.
Bibliography
Alena Bočková: From sanctulus to sacer. Suggested Typology of Jesuit School Plays Featuring St. John of Nepomuk in the Czech Province, Acta Universitatis Carolinae – Philologica, Graecolatina Pragensia 25, 2015, p. 113–133.
