NATUS EST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 297, 17 December 1941, Page 4

NATUS EST

| - 'HI-. revival of the earliest form of the drama in Western Europe by the enactinir of N'atus Esl in Christ Church Parish t hurch adds a new note to modern Church life. The monks who • hristianised France and England, or at least gave the earlier eliorts a quickening and a more widespread oriranisation, wee confronted with the task of tilling a story which was lengthy and eomplieatid, to an illiterate people. The narrative was relied on to a large extent, but the early missionaries were practical men. and saw that by enacting the most important historic events im luded in the Christian records they could convey mon uraphieally than by any other means the essential knowledge and precepts ol the new l aith. Ihi use of such nieaus produced Hi time the Miracle Play, one survival being the Passion Play at l lbeiainniergati. Durum medieval times these miracle plays were part of the general religious life of the community and liny senid as much good purpose as the religious picture does to-day. Tluology is called th. (Ju... the Sciences Incause all other sciences bow down to her. Religion, in turn. ■an claim the tutelage oi the arts. Architecture has provided St. Peter s at Rome and St Mark’s at Venice, ami the Catludral at Milan which has been described as frozen music, Notre Da ug Paris, Cologne Cathedral on the Rhine. St. Paul’s, and Westminster Alibi y in London, and Canterbury Cathedral, York Minsters, and many another ancient edifice. Michael Angelo painted the frescoes in tin- Vatiean. and from Jerusalem to San I- raticiseo pictures on canvas or on glass adorn the churches with the artist’s contribution. All th. great musicians have turned to tht Bild, for then- mast. Even th, model nisi. Si rails, could not break from that mighty tradition although he clto.se the daughter of a friend. Herod, for the main character of his Elect ra. Puritanism, that much maligmd and misrepresented movement lor it did not despise art and music, nor smash all images, nor insist upon total abstinence from alcoholic bever-ages-frowned upon the Miraeh Play, doubtless because it oi the theatre, which in Cromwell’s tim< had many bad ti.arks against it and under the Protectorate was suppresse.L The sixteenth century saw the re\ lV ;d of the Miracle Play. ; ‘"'l ■’'•'•"it limes some very interesting dramatisations of >erq,tural scenes have beet, effected. "The I’ppei Room” was given in \\ anganui some years ago. ami ‘‘Notus Esl ’’ the Nativity Play, should provide an interesting presentation Natus l-.st ,s how, ver. an act of worship ami the eongeegalion is expected to View it as smh and adopt a tai altitude in keeping with it.