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A Brief History of Catholic Claims to Shakespeare
The Atlantic ^ | NOV 26 2014, 4:35 PM ET | ADAM CHANDLER

Posted on 11/27/2014 7:27:57 PM PST by annalex

On Tuesday, word spread about the discovery of a "first folio" of the works of William Shakespeare [...]. It was uncovered by some industrious librarians in St.-Omer, France, near the city of Calais, at a public library that already boasts possession of an even rarer Gutenberg Bible.

The folio, as the BBC noted, "collects 36 of Shakespeare's 38 known plays for the first time, and was originally printed in 1623, seven years after the playwright's death." As Jennifer Schuessler reported, the folio's unearthing brings the total number of known Shakespeare compendiums to 233.

[...]

...over the past century-and-a-half, based on his works and some biographical plot points, scholars and religious figures have begun to debate Shakespeare's faith. In 2011, the Vatican's official paper offered that Shakespeare "convincingly adhered to the Catholic faith," submitting his inclusion of purgatory in "Hamlet" as part of the evidence.

[...]

While there is no conclusive proof of Shakespeare's Catholicism, the folio's discovery certainly heats things up.

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; History; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: awinterstale; firstfolio; godsgravesglyphs; renaissance; romancatholicism; shakespeare; williamshakespeare
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1 posted on 11/27/2014 7:27:57 PM PST by annalex
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To: NYer; Salvation; narses

For your ping lists.


2 posted on 11/27/2014 7:28:31 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex

Whatever the merit of the argument, that’s real weak.


3 posted on 11/27/2014 7:40:23 PM PST by gusopol3
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To: gusopol3
The bulk of the argument is in the 2011 Osservatore Romano article, referred to indirectly in the Atlantic story: Vatican claims there is 'little doubt' William Shakespeare was Catholic.

This is merely another corroboration of the theory.

4 posted on 11/27/2014 7:44:25 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex

William Shakespeare had two relatives who were executed by Elizabeth and the brother of one of his beloved teachers also shared that same fate.


5 posted on 11/27/2014 7:45:06 PM PST by Slyfox (To put on the mind of George Washington read ALL of Deuteronomy 28, then read his Farewell Address)
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To: annalex

You have to read Shakespeare in the original Klingon.

6 posted on 11/27/2014 7:46:39 PM PST by xp38
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To: annalex
The evidence of the Bard's Catholicism is thin, but real, and more references than inclusion of Purgatory in Hamlet. Still, the evidence for his political correctness in Jacobian England is stronger, including a real possibility of having had a part in the excellent King James translation.

If there were two of him, one a quiet Royal the other his flamboyant actor front, and more evidence of that theory were to come to light, then this avenue of investigation might be worthwhile. Until then, I'm thankful for the works and for the unnamed who squirrelled these folios away, one day in Calais.

7 posted on 11/27/2014 7:50:07 PM PST by Prospero (Si Deus trucido mihi, ego etiam fides Deus.)
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To: annalex

Jesuit schools holding the Bard in such high regard is proof positive that he was a (recusant) Catholic.


8 posted on 11/27/2014 7:52:18 PM PST by Oratam
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To: annalex

I won’t disagree that Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, c. 1300, was Catholic.


9 posted on 11/27/2014 7:59:56 PM PST by gusopol3
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To: annalex

And Abraham Lincoln was a gay man. Or whatever.

Who cares?


10 posted on 11/27/2014 8:03:54 PM PST by Yashcheritsiy (GOP wins - now hold their feet to the fire!)
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To: annalex

I’m away from home but I’ll cite the books I have on the subject when I return.


11 posted on 11/27/2014 8:23:11 PM PST by Mercat ("The sisters did not want to save the world. Someone already had.")
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To: Yashcheritsiy

That was my first reaction, but as we have learned since 1970 (or 60s), once the argument over the rewrite is started, it will continue.


12 posted on 11/27/2014 8:25:45 PM PST by ansel12
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To: Yashcheritsiy

“Who cares?”

Apparently there are a number of people here who do care. If you don’t, fine, but why even bother involving yourself in the thread then?


13 posted on 11/27/2014 8:31:27 PM PST by vladimir998
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To: annalex

“A scribe, by any other religion, would write as sweetly.”


14 posted on 11/27/2014 8:32:50 PM PST by Larry Lucido
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To: Yashcheritsiy

In Lincoln’s day, men traveling would sometimes stay overnight in a boarding house or type of motel in which lodgers would rent a bed or part of a bed. You might have two or three men in the same bed. Personally, I’d sleep on the floor before I’d sleep in a bed with a man I didn’t know. But this is virtually the entire argument made that Lincoln was gay. I don’t think there’s any evidence he was, but some of the proponents of the homosexual lifestyle often proclaim this or that famous person was in the closet. Sometimes true, usually not.


15 posted on 11/27/2014 8:40:06 PM PST by MDLION ("Trust in the Lord with all your heart" -Proverbs 3:5)
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To: annalex

“Get Thee to a nunn`ry”

There were no Church of England nunneries- Henry VIII seized them all and sold off their properties. In 1500`s, thousands of Catholic English women fled and went to live in Catholic nunneries in Belgium, France etc.

“Get Thee to a Catholic nunn`ry”

There fixed it.

When has anyone ever heard that a Protestant advocates a woman to go into a Catholic nunnery?


16 posted on 11/27/2014 9:25:52 PM PST by bunkerhill7 ("The Second Amendment has no limits on firepower"-NY State Senator Kathleen A. Marchione.")
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To: bunkerhill7

Nunnery was Elizabethan slang for a brothel. He was not telling Ophelia to go and take up in a religious order.Doesn’t mean he was or was not a crypto-Catholic. Just that it’s not exactly evidence he was.


17 posted on 11/27/2014 9:42:16 PM PST by katana (Just my opinions)
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To: gusopol3
Here is a good summary of the argument. Whether it's accurate or not, one should hear both sides presented before forming an opinion. I find this interesting and persuasive, especially the portions discussing Shakespeare's family behavior. They were willing to sacrifice financially and risk very serious consequences to avoid compulsory Protestant (Church of England) worship.

Joseph Pearce on Shakespeare

18 posted on 11/27/2014 10:17:21 PM PST by ottbmare (the OTTB mare, now a proud Marine Mom)
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To: annalex

Such a prolific author must have left behind an enormous collection of letters, rough drafts, annotated reference books, etc.

I wonder where the collection is kept at?


19 posted on 11/27/2014 10:20:06 PM PST by Rockpile
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To: gusopol3

Yes good point.


20 posted on 11/28/2014 4:10:46 AM PST by jocon307
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