First mentioned 1633, when the people of Ammergau, to obtain relief from the black death vowed to produce the play every ten years. It was enacted and well known as early its 1634, hence productions must have appeared before that date. The oldest existing text was written about 1600 and contains traces of two older dramas. A Passion text by the Augsburg MeistersInger, Sebastian Wild, was woven into it together with parts of the Weilheim Passion Play of Rector Johann Aelbel. In the 18th century the Benedictine Rosner remodeled the text after the Jesuit drama. This version was reduced to a simpler form 1780, by the Benedictine Knipfelberger. Finally P. Otmar Weiss and M. Daisenberger gave it its present simple and dignified form and transcribed the verse into prose. Stage and costuming are adapted to modern requirements. The music is by Rochus Dedler.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
Read More