PROPHETS AND PROPHET PLAYS

There are frequent references in the New Testament to the fulfilling of prophecies. The liturgy, too, includes many texts from the prophetic books as lections in the Office, or adapted as the theme for an antiphon, responsory or other musical form, especially during Advent and the Christmas season.

It is not surprising, therefore, that a large number of the plays on the life of Christ, especially those which stage the Nativity, include a preliminary scene or scenes of such prophetic utterances which may include any or all of the sixteen biblical prophets, especially the four major ones: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. Of the twelve minor prophets, Habakkuk is most commonly cited, though all appear in at least a few plays. In a large number of texts other biblical, historical or allegorical characters, especially Moses and David, figure among the speakers.

These prophetic scenes may be divided into two groups: in the first, a single prophet or a series of prophets come on stage and speak (or sing) the prophetic text; in the second, a group of prophets may be brought on stage together (usually in Limbo) and their prophecies are part of a dialogue.