Danse Macabre

Thoughts on Death and Memento Mori from a Hospice Chaplain

Apparently, in 1338 and well into 1339, Death showed up for a grand performance at a little village of Nestorian Christians. The village was known as Issyk-Kul; it lay south of Lake Balkhash, Russia. The cemetery headstones made clear a major work of the macabre had taken place in that short year. Three of the stones actually told us that the THE PLAGUE killed the people buried there. It was etched into their epitaph. THE PLAGUE. And so it began. One of Europe's largest choreographed pieces--composed by Death--began in a humble village and played over and over again through towns and cities until two thirds of human life within her boundaries was buried from dancing so well with Death. We have danced with Death all our lives: as individuals and as a people.