This glorious wound is a spice shop: The Contemplation of the Passion in the Vita Christi by Isabel de Villena

Abstract

This study explores the contemplative narrative surrounding the lifeless body of Christ in
medieval texts, based on the influence of Ubertino de Casale’s Arbor vitae crucifixae Iesu Christi (AVCJ)
on Francesc Eiximenis’ and Isabella de Villena’s Vita Christi. The article examines variations in stylistic
elements, metaphors, and thematic nuances through a comparative analysis of specific chapters of Isabel de
Villena’s Vita Christi (chapters 144, 219, and 220). This analysis reveals Ubertino’s impact on the frankness of
Eiximenis’s narrative and the amplification of the tone of lamentation in Isabel de Villena, which introduces
unique isotopies, portraying Christ’s chest as a healing cupboard. The study concludes by highlighting the
widespread influence of Ubertino on European spirituality, especially in the Iberian Peninsula, giving shape
to the contemplative expressions found in the vitae of Eiximenis and Isabel de Villena.
Keywords: Ubertino de Casale, Arbor vitae crucifixae Iesu, Francesc Eiximenis, Isabel de Villena, spirituality,
contemplation, Vita Christi