Mnemosyne Atlas 79
Eating God: Paganism within the Catholic Church
The evolution of ‘sacrifice’: from bloody archaic rites to their symbolic representation in the Holy Mass. In Eucharistic ritual, pagan sacrifice is sublimated in the divine transubstantiation, but its original sanguinary features are perpetuated and re-emerge in Christian miracles (the Mass at Bolsena by Raphael; St. Jerome’s last communion by Botticelli) and in legends (the Jewish profanation of the Host in anti-Semitic propaganda).

Notes by Aby Warburg (1929)
Processivae
Processivae.
Notes by Aby Warburg and coll. (1929)
Messe. Verzehren des Gottes. Bolsena, Botticelli. Heidentum in d. Kirche. Bluthostirnwunder. Transsubstaziation. Italienischer Verbrecher von der letzen Ölung.
Mass. Devouring God. Bolsena, Botticelli. Paganism in the Church. Miracle of the host. Transsubstantiation. Italian criminal befor the last rites.
Notes by Gertrud Bing (ca. 1940)
Die Messe als Machtanspruch. Echter Stuhl Petri (mit antiker Mythologie + Astrologie) und der pompöse Überschwang bei Bernini. Messe d. Bolsena – Rückfall in die wörtliche Auslegung der Transsubstantiation als Wunder. Jul.II. “der kriegerische Papst”. Mystische Transsubstantiation bei Botticelli – letzte Kommunion des Hieronymus Missbräuchliche Verkennung der Funktion d. Metapher: Hostienverkauf + Hostienschändung (Ritualmord). Prachtentfaltung bei der Massen – Messe auf d. Petersplatz: Der Triumphzug mit d. oriental. Wedeln. Die Schweizergarde (wie bei Jul. II) Das päpstliche Heer. Die (unbefugte) geistl. Hilfeleistung bei den Opfern des Eisenbahn Unglücks (rechts unten). Dazwischen: der Pabst als news (Cf. Doktorfeier) Was sollen die japanischen Martergeschichten? Was soll Giotto’s Spes? Hat irgend weis mit der Hostie zu tun kann aber keine finden.
The Mass as a claim to power. The true Chair of St Peter (with ancient mythology + astrology) and the pompous exuberance in Bernini. Bolsena Mass – relapse into literal interpretation of transubstantiation as miracle. Julius II “the warrior pope”. Mystical transubstantiation in Botticelli – Girolamo’s Last Communion. Abusive misinterpretation of the function of the metaphor: sale of the host + profanation of the host (ritual murder). Display of magnificence to the masses – mass in St Peter’s Square: the triumphal procession with oriental palms. The Swiss Guard (as in the time of Julius II). The papal army. The (unauthorised) spiritual aid to the victim of the train disaster (bottom right). In the centre: the Pope as news (cf. Doktorfeier). What is the point of the depictions of Japanese torture? Why Giotto’s Speranza? It has something to do with the host but I cannot find any connection.
Further Readings
♦ Seminario Mnemosyne, Letture grafiche di Tavola 79, “La Rivista di Engramma” 11, ottobre 2001 [OLD LAYOUT].
Other Readings
♦ C. Schoell-Glass, Aby Warburg Late Comments on Symbol and Ritual, “Science in Context”, XII, n. 4 (1999), 621-642.