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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. >y errata ed to int ne pelure, i9on d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 MADONNA AND CHILD. (Mignaru.) ■if- V R *«■ i Hit vHllJ* ^ V CJL^ LEGENDS OF THE VIRGIN AND CHRIST ^ITH SPECML REFERENCE TO LITERATURE AND ART BY H. A. GUERBER AUTHOR OF "myths OF GRHBCB AND ROME," "MYTHS OF NORTHERN LANDS," " CONTES FT LltOENDBS," "STORIBS OP THB WAGNER OPERA," BTC. WITH THE MUSSOH BOOK CO.> j : <-^ 1900 Copyright, 1S96, by Dodd, Mead and Company for the United States of America. Printed at The University Press, John Wilson & Son, Cambridge, U. S. A. ,7 f pany ;t ; &Son, AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED TO flttg Kmlf anil aitmt, MR. AND MRS. ADOLPHE L. GUERBER. V i PREFACE. TN visiting the art galleries at home or abroad, or in turning over the pages of the current magazines, we find countless pictures of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Some of the most famous paintings in the world are based upon, or give some hint of, the numerous legends concerning Mother and Son which were so very popular during the Middle Ages. The prevalence of these tales, only some of which are embodied in the canon of any Christian church, was owing to the fact that they satisfied the childlike curiosity of people anxious to know more about the subject than could be found in the brief but authentic Scriptural account. Gradually woven into poetry and song, these' sacred legends became one of the principal themes of all wandering minstrelS; who told VIU Preface, them in castle and cot. For many centuries also they formed part of all the dramatic repre- sentations, and finally they were seized upon by great artists and transferred to canvas, where they still glow in undimmed beauty, and; in many cases, serve to keep alive traditions which would else have been forgotten. All those who have grown up in Roman Catholic countries or homes are, of course, I more or less familiar with some of the legends related here, which are nearly unknown to the 1 average Protestant reader. While some of them \ are puerile in the extreme, and even at timesf I childishly and unintentionally sacrilegious, the! majority are as beautiful and poetical as untrue, f The aim of this work is not to give a long list of noted pictures, but rather to place before the reader the many legends which have been used for illustration in art or literature. Then, with a distinct idea in his mind, not only of the Scriptural, but also of the legendary lore con- cerning Christ and the Virgin, it will be easy to trace out the story as told in art, and to gain a clearer insight into the artists' motives. Preface, ix As this is neither a devotional work nor a study of interpretation, the subject has been treated only from the legendary and picturesque point of view, and it is sincerely hoped that this fact will be duly borne in mind. Artists and authors hav.'ng found in these legends such a fruitful source of interest and inspiration, we venture to present them to the public, trusting they will receive a kindly welcome in their new dress. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. YOUTH OF THE VIRGIN MARY. Mary in the Bible — Legends in the first century — Cru- saders bring legends west — The character of the legends — Prominence attained by Mary — Marriage of Joachim and Anna — Their sorrow — The offering re- fused—Joachim's penance — Anna's two visions — Joachim's vision and sacrifice — Joachim's return — The meeting at the Golden Gate — The immaculate conception of Mary — Nativity of the Virgin — Presenta- tion of the Virgin — The priests' dispute — Mary's life in the Temple — Description of Mary — Her suitors — Her vow — The high priest's perplexity — The instruc- tions he receives — Judah chosen by lot — The calling of the unmarried men — The story of Joseph — The rods on the altar — The priest's dismay — Th i flower- ing rod — The dove — Marriage of the Virgin — The disappointed suitor CHAPTER H. THE ANNUNCIATION. PAGB Mary's companions — Joseph leaves Mary at Nazareth — Work for the Temple — Mary chosen by lot — The vision of Zacharias — The maidens mock Mary — The Xll Contents, PAGB council in Heaven — The Annunciation — The Ave Maria — The meaning of the rosary — The Immaculate Conception — The doctrine in Spain — A Mohammedan legend — The work finished — Mary's journey — The Salutation — The Magnificat — The Visitation — Miracle in the garden — The birth of St John — Mary's return home — Joseph's doubts — The high priest's summons — The waters of jealousy — The legend of the cherry- tree CHAPTER III. 23 THE NATIVITY. The prophecies — The portents — The Temple of Peace— The Tiburtine Sibyl — The Church of Ara Coeli — The three suns — The balsam — The date — Christmas-— Caesar's decree— The journey to Bethlehem — The two people — The cave — Joseph in search of aid — The suspense of nature — The birth of Christ — Adoration of angels — Legend of sainfoin — Zelomi and Salome— The Vision of the Shepherds — Adoration of the Shep- herds — The ox and the ass — The Feast of the Ass — The circumcision — The purification — The presentation in the Temple— Simeon and Anna — Septuagint legend — Mary's first sorrow 40 CHAPTER IV. THE FLIGHT. Balaam's prophecy — The Magi — The three miracles -* The star — Arrival at Jerusalem — Herod and the cock — Adoration of the Magi — Departure of the Magi — Subsequent career of the Magi — The wrath of Herod — The massacre of the Innocents — The flight of Eliza- Contents. Xlll PAGE beth — The murder of Zacharias — Joseph warned — The flight into Egypt — The wheat field — The pine and juniper — The roses of Jericho — The aspen — The wild beasts 64 CHAPTER V. THE SOJOURN IN EGYPT. The road followed — The brigands — The captives released — The good thief — The robbers' den — The palm — The fountain — The arrival in Egypt — The fallen idols — The conversion of the Egyptians — The priest's son — The Sphinx — The visit to Pharaoh — The dumb bride — The leper girl — The story of the mule — The sojourn at Matarea — The sycamore — The shadow of the cross — Miraculous cures — Bartholomew — Judas — The fortune teller — Christ's playmates — Tl-.e dead fish — The Egyptian teacher 85 CHAPTER VI. THE BOYHOOD OF CHRIST. The return to Nazareth — Christ and St. John — The broken pitcher — The children refuse to play — The story of the kids — The young king — Simon Zelotes — The seven pools — The sparrows — Two boys slain — The wrathful parents — The miracles — The educa- tion of Jesus — Zaccheus — Levi — The fruit tree — The roof accident — The dead babe — The sojourn at Jericho — The grain — The lions — The bedstead — The throne — The sojourn at Capernaum — The dead man restored — The sojourn at Bethlehem — James cured — The mason — Christ's home life — The dyer >— The twelve year old Christ at Jerusalem .... 107 XIV Contents, CHAPTER VII. THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST. PAGB History of Joseph the Carpenter — Joseph warned of death — Joseph's request — Mary's plea to Christ — The angels receive Joseph's soul — Joseph shrouded — The burial of Joseph — Christ's promise — Christ the car- penter — The Shadow of the Cross — The Baptism — The Temptation — The wedding at Cana — The wine measure — The goose — The woodpecker — The Virgin's terror — Story of Abgar — Description of Christ — The parting of Christ and His Mother — The Passion Play — The birth of Judas — Crimes and repentance of Judas — The treachery of Judas — The death of Judas — Judas in hell — The colour of Judas — The seamen and Judas — Leonardo da Vinci's Judas 129 CHAPTER VIII. THE PASSION WEEK. The Last Supper — Lucifer's crowr — Revolt of Lucifer — Man's downfall planned — The legend of Israfil — Bf nishment of Adam and Eve — The Holy Grail — The blood of Christ — Joseph in prison — Vespasian and Getus — Veronica's handkerchief — The first crusade — The Holy Grail in France — The Round Table — The Siege Perilous — The Holy Grail in England — Christ before Pilate — The officer — The standards — Procla's dream — The witnesses — The sentence 160 Contents. XV CHAPTER IX. THE CRUCIFIXION. The willow-tree — The birch-tree — The crown of thorns — Legend of the robin — The roses — Legend of the Cross — Seth's visit to Paradise — Seth's vision — The three seeds — Solomon and the tree — The Queen of Sheba — The pool of Bethesda — The legend of Gol- gotha — Constantine's cross — Constantine's conver- sion — Helena's conversion — Helena's dream — The finding of the Cross — The Cross in Persia — Heraclius and the Cross — The Invention of the Cross — The lance of Longinus — The three nails — The cross-bill . PAGB 179 CHAPTER X. DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, The Wandering Jew in fiction — The legend of the Wan- dering Jew — The Wandering Jew in Europe — The Crucifixion — The seamless coat — The legend of Pilate — The penitent thief — The fallen idols — The descent from the Cross — The Pieta — The entombment — La Pamoison — The Jews* decision — Joseph imprisoned — Guards at the sepulchre — Joseph missing — The guards' defence — The Ascension — The rumours — The search for Christ — The finding of Joseph — Joseph's account of his escape 199 kvi Contents, CHAPTER XI. n i ii THE DESCENT INTO HADES. PAGB The sons of Simeon — The Jews ask for their account — The writing of their statement — The dead in Hades — The Light — The prophecies — The plans of Hades and Satan — The story of Lazanis — The defence of Hades — The King of Glory -- The entrance of Christ — The submission of Hades — Satan bound — The righteous delivered — Christ appears to Mary — Christ appears to James — Christ leads the redeemed to Para- dise — Enoch, Elijah, and the good thief — The two versions — Pilate sees report — Herod's letter — The doom of Herodias — The death of Herod — The death of Pilate 215 CHAPTER XH. ASSUMPTION AND CORONATION OF THE VIRGIN. Mary at the Ascension — The seven so rows of the Virgin — Pentecost — The Holy Ghost — Disciples take leave of the Virgin — The Annunciation — The palm — The disciples— Mary's farewell — The Virgin's soul — The shrouding of the Virgin — The funeral of the Virgin — The High Priest — The burial of the Virgin — The Assumption — Thomas' doubts — The girdle — The Coronation — The privilege granted to Mary — The last Judgment 230 Contents, xvii CHAPTER XIII. MOTHER AND SON IN ART. Christ the model man — Mary the model woman — Christ in early Christian art — The symbols by which He was represented — Pagan and Biblical types of Christ — The Good Shepherd — The Virgin in early art — The disputes and schisms in the Church — The first portrait of the Virgin — John of Damascus — The influence of the Crusades — Saint Bernard's vision — The Church plays — The influence exerted by the Renaissance — The symbols of Mary — The legend of the rose — The names of Mary — The vesture of Mary and Christ — The Madonnas — Our Lady of the Snow — Our Lady of Loretto — Our Lady of the Pillar — Our Lady of the Chair — Series of pictures — The Incoronata — The Mater Dolorosa — The Pieta — The Mater Ama- bilis — Plants connected with Christ — Plants Ci. i- uected with Mary — Conclusion PAGB 242 I;, ' m\ m -1 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. '§ FAGB Madonna and Child. Mignard . . . Frontispiece Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple. Titian " Saint Anna and the Virgin Mary. Mailer . 13 Marriage of the Virgin. Raphael 21 Annunciation. Bouguereau 28 Immaculate Conception. Murillo 31 Simeon and the Infant Christ. Fra Bartolommeo 59 Adoration of the Kings. Pfannschmidt ... 71 Flight into Egypt. Van Dyck 89 Repose in Egypt. Merson 95 Christ disputing with the Doctors. Hoff- mann <, 128 The Shadow OF* Death. Holman Hunt . . . 136 Christ takes leave of his Mother. Plockhorst 148 Saint Michael. Raphael 161 The Crucifixion. Michael Angelo 189 Vision of Saint Helena. Veronese 193 Christ bearing the Cross. Raphael .... 201 XX Illustrations, PAGB Mater Dolorosa. Cuido Rem 206 Descent into Hades. A. DUrer 221 Assumption of the Virgin. Titian ... .237 Coronation of the Virgin. Fra An^elii . . 240 Predestination of the Virgin. MiilUr . . . 255 Madonna di San Sisto. Raphael 261 Madonna della Sedia. Raphael 267 (:• li 1 PAOB 206 221 240 261 267 CHAPTER I. YOUTH OF THE VIRGIN MARY. Mary in the Bible — Legends in the first century — Crusaders bring legends west — The character of the legends •— Prominence attained by Mary — Marriage of Joachim and Anna — Their sorrow — The offering refused — Joachim's penance — Anna's two visions — Joachim's vision and sacri- fice — Joachim's return — The meeting at the Golden Gate — The immaculate conception of Mary — Nativity of the Virgin — Presentation of the Virgin — The priests' dispute — Mary's life in the Temple — Description of Mary — Her suitors — Her vow — The high priest's perplexity — The instructions he receives — Judah chosen by lot — The calling of the unmarried men — The story of Joseph — The rods on the altar — The priest's dismay — The flowering rod — The dove — Marriage of the Virgin — The disappointed suitor. 'T^HE Scriptures give us but little information ■*• about the Virgin Mary, and while the spurious gospels quote the Bible very freely, they add so many details derived from tradition and a very lively imagination, that they have never been considered worthy of credence by learned Christians. The unlettered majority, however, debarred from all access to the canonical works which A 2 Legends of the Virgin and Christ. i! I 1 ill 'i 1 existed at first only in manuscript form, and were very rare indeed, obtained all their infor- mation from priests, often not more learned than themselves, and from strolling minstrels and poets. Legendary stories about Christ and the Vir- gin Mary were current in the East from the very beginning of the Apostles' ministry, and were brought into the West by missionaries rnd returning pilgrims. The Crusades, drawing the East and the West into close contact, gave an immense impetus to the spread of these stories, which became the favorite theme of poets and preachers, the basis of all dramatic representations, and after influ- encing the literature of the day, left indelible traces upon the art Df the period. The Scriptures are not, and have never been considered, a mere biography of Our Lord, of whose life they relate only as much as is neces- sary to satisfy His followers that He is the Son of God, and to set forth His doctrine. This brevity was, of course, displeasing to the early Christians. Longing to know more than the canonical works contain, they gave ready credence to all the mythical details which were gradually added to the authentic narrative. That these additions were false and fantastic^ Youth of the yirgin Mary, J frequently illogical, and even at times very irreverent, did not occur to their simple minds. Like little children, they ascribed to the Deity their own passions and feelings, and hence were not shocked by tales which described lesus as mischievous, and even on occasions as down- right malevolent. As time passed on, the Virgin Mary, blessed among women, began to take a more and more prominent position in the narratives which chained the devout attention of old and young, and finally the following tale was evolved. In the city of Nazareth, there was a man named Joachim. He was exceedingly rich, and when only twenty years of age he married Anna, a woman of Bethlehem. Both husband and wife were of the royal race, and prided them- selves upon being direct descendants of King David. Joachim and Anna were pure and righteous^ and "they served the Lord with singleness of heart." Their property was always scrupulously divided into three equal parts, of which one was set aside for the Lord's service, the second bestowed upon the poor, and the third reserved for their own maintenance and that of their household. Years passed by in unbroken peace and pro$« ti :»' u I W i\ ! I ;n lit ;i!i: 4 Legends of the Virgin and Christ, perity, but Joachim and Anna secretly mourned, because at the end of twenty years they were still childless, a state of affairs which was con- sidered a curse among the chosen people. At the Feast of the Dedication, Joachim went up to the temple, as was his custom, to make an oflfering to the Lord. His gift was twice as large as usual, but his heart was heavy as he thought of again renewing the frequently-uttered prayer for offspring. He was about to lay his sacrifice upon the altar with the wonted ceremonies, when the high priest, who is called Issachar, Zacharias, or Reuben, according to different versions of the story, came toward him and rejected it, saying : *Mt is not lawful for thee to bring thine offering, seeing thou hast not begot issue in Israel." Not content with this reproof, administered in the temple, on a solemn occasion, and in presence of the assembled people, the irate high priest drove Joachim out of the sacreci inclosure. Sorrowful and deeply ashamed, for many of his own kin had heard the loud-spoken accusa- tion, Jo{?chim slowly went down the teniple steps. Then we are told that he hastened to the place where the registers of the Twelve Youlh of the l^irgin Mary. 5 Tribes were kept, although it is a historical fact that the Twelve Tribes had long ceased to exist as such at that time. Here Joachim carefully studied the records, and acquired the painful conviction that the high priest had told the truth, and that he alone, among all the righteous men of Israel, remained childless. This discovery was a great blow to him. He felt ashamed and accursed, and instead of returning to his home at Nazareth, he wended his way to a distant pasture, where shepherds were minding his flocks. Arrived in mountain solitude, Joachim built a rude booth or hut, because he intended to re- main there in fasting and prayer until the Lord looked mercifully upon him, and removed the curse under which he suffered so sorely. In the mean while his wife Anna, left alone at home, mourned both her widowhood and child- lessness. But her handmaiden, Judith, finally roused her from her sorrowful meditations, and bringing her a fillet, bade her bind up her hair and adorn herself in her wedding garments. Anna refused at first to hearken to this well- meant advice, and fancied that her handmaiden was mocking her ; but she finally yielded to Judith's persuasions, and donned her bridal attire. 6 Legends of the Virgin and Christ, It was about the ninth hour of the day when her toilet was completed, and she wandered out into the garden which surrounded her house. Her heart was still heavy, so she seated herself under a laurel-tree and listlessly gazed upward. In the branches above her nead was a nest, and as her eyes fell upon the young sparrows in it she burst into tears, and cried aloud, ** Alas I and woe is me I ... to what shall I be likened } I cannot be likened to the fowls of heaven, for the fowls of heaven are fruitful in thy sight, O Lord 1 Woe is me 1 to what shall I be likened ? Not to the unreasoning beasts of the earth, for they are fruitful in thy sight, O Lord I Woe is me ! to what shall I be likened 1 Not to these waters, for they are fruitful in thy sight, O Lord. Woe is me I to what shall I be likened? Not unto the earth, for the earth bringeth forth her fruit in due season, and praiseth thee, O Lord." Thus every sight and sound seemed to add poignancy to her sorrow, and made her wail aloud. Her complain* was scarcely finished, however, when an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared before her, saying: *' Anna, thy prayer is heard. Thou shalt bring forth, and thy child shall be blessed throughout the whole world." In her joy at these welcome tidings, Anna m Youtb of the Virgin Mary, made a solemn vow to dedicate the promised offspring, wliether man-child or maid, to the service of the Lord. Then she went into her chamber, and while she knelt there, absorbed in prayer, in joyful anticipations, and in fervent thanksgivings, another angel appeared to warn her that Joachim, her husband, was even then on his vvay home from the sheepcotes, where a similar promise had been made to him. Admonished by the angel to go forth and meet her husband at the Golden Gate, Anna lost no time, but hastened thither to receive Joachim's joyful greeting. Joachim's experiences, in the mean while, had been equally blissful ; for after a long period of fasting, which varying authorities limit to forty days or to five months, he too had been roused from painful meditations by the touch and ap- pearance of a celestial messenger. In his first astonishment Joachim remained motionless, but when he would have fallen at the feet of the radiant stranger and adored him, the angel bade him desist. The heavenly visitor then went on to announce that he had been sent to tell Joachim that the Lord had taken com- passion upon him, and that he would soon be the father of a daughter destined to serve the Lord in his temple. 8 Legends of the Virgin and Christ. i ill !! I p !! In his joy and gratitude at this news, Joachim would fain have shown hospitality to the angel. But the latter refused all proffer of meat and drink, and directed Joachim to build an altar and make a burnt-offering to the Lord. En- couraged by the presence of the angel, Joachim, the shepherd, ventured to take upon him the priestly ofUce, and after erecting a rude altar, he laid upon It a lamb without a blemish. When all was ready, and while Joachim knelt at the foot of his improvised altar, the victim was miraculously set afire, and the celestial messenger rose up to heaven with the smoke and perfume of the sacrifice which had thus been offered upon the lonely hillside. Rapt in prayer and full of thanksgiving, Joachim remained upon his knees until evening, when his returning shepherds, frightened by his immobility, ventured to approach and to rouse him. Joachim then told them of his angelic visitor, and of the joyful promise which he had received.. Some versions of the story state that Joachim tarried upon the mountain until the angel again appeared to him and bade him go down, while others aver that he immediately began his home- ward journey, which took him no less tha.i thirty days to accomplish. He was accompanied by Youtb of the Virgin Mary. g his shepherds, who brought the best of his flocks for a thank-offering to the Lord, and by other attendants, who carried doves for the same purpose. As Joachim drew near the Golden Gate, which artists depict as the gate of the city, temple, or house, as fancy prompts them, he saw his wife, and, running forward to meet her, they exchanged a joyful kiss, to which some old writers aver that the Virgin owed her being. This meeting between Joachim and Anna has often been the theme of artists, and one old master (Giotto) represents an angel hovering over husband and wife, and drawing their heads together for the chaste salute, while their ad- miring domestics are standing in the background with the doves and sheep. After spending one whole day at home with his wife, to whom he doubtless gave a minute description of his angelic visitor, Joachim again went to the temple at Jerusalem, and this time his offering was not refused. There, too, his heart was further gladdened by a favorable sign, which appeared on the sacred plate which the high priest wore on his forehead. The promise, so solemnly made to both Joachim and Anna, was duly fulfilled, and they became the parents of a beautiful little daughter 10 Legends of the yirgin and Christ. I w " t I I! iiK whom they called Mary, which in Hebrew is Miriam. The neighbours all crowded around theiu to congratulate them upon the birth of this long-desired child, and hence in pictures representing the Nativity of the Holy Virgin, we often see a group of admiring women around the new-born babe. Anna watched over the infant Mary with great tenderness, and mindful of her vow to dedicate her to the Lord as soon as she was old enough to do without a mother's care, she '* made of her bedchamber a holy place, allowing nothing that was common or unclean to enter in." None but the purest and gentlest maidens of Israel were permitted to wait upon little Mary, who, when only six months of age, was able to walk and took seven steps. When she saw this, Anna clasped her child to her bosom with rap- ture, and vowed that Mary should not set foot to the ground again, until she walked to the sanctuary to keep the vow which her mother had made. "When Mary was three years old, her parents felt that it was time to give up the child, as they had promised. They therefore made a great feast, to which all their friends and neighbours were invited, and when it was over, Joachim said: *' Let us invite the daughters of Israel, 11! liiil 4 i m nil brist. Hebrew is ed around »e birth of n pictures ly Virgin, ten around with great o dedicate )ld enough " made of ig nothing in." maidens of ftle Mary, as able to 5 saw this, with rap- t set foot d to the r mother \r parents 1, as they a great jighbours Joachim \( Israel, < X H O < H a* Youth of the yirgin Mary. II and they shall take each a taper or a lamp, and attend on her, that the child may not turn back from the temple of the Lord." Thus escorted by her playmates, Mary, clad in blue or in pure white, went for the first time to Jerusalem. The women's court was separ- ated from the altar by a flight of fifteen steps, which were intended as symbols of the Psalms of Degrees, that is to say, the Psalms from the one hundred and twentieth to the one hundred and thirty-fourth inclusive. Without waiting for Anna, who was exchang- ing her travel-soiled garment for one of im- maculate purity, the infant Mary, without one thought of fear, eagerly went up the steps alone. At the head of the flight, stood the high priest, in full pontifical array, and he kissed and blessed the child, saying : ** Mary, the Lord hath magnified thy name to all gener- ations, and in thee shall be made known the redemption of the children of Israel." Then took place the real Presentation of the Virgin, for the priest led her to the altar, where, we are quaintly told, '* she danced with her feet, so that all the house of Israel rejoiced with her, and loved her." Her parents left her there and went home rejoicing, because she had not turned away from the house of the Lord. 12 Legends of the Virgin and Christ, i' fill I II! « I jl !/ ft i 11 '• . (i Such was the beauty and attractiveness of the child thus committed to their care, that twenty- five of the priests claimed the honour of watching over her, and began to dispute together concern- ing it. After much discussion, they agreed that the matter should be decided by lot, and going down to the Jordan in a body, each flung an arrow into the stream. Only one of the arrows floated, that of the high priest Zacharias, and Mary was therefore entrusted to his sole care. From the very first he felt that the charge was sacred, and one of the legends relates that he kept her behind seven locked doors so that no one could gain access to her. Notwithstanding these extraordinary precau- tions, the angels, who had been present at Mary's Hlrth, and had hovered around her ever since, constantly visited her behind the fast closed doors, and although the high priest never saw them, he was mystified by the daily appear- ance of fresh fruits and flowers in her room. Another version relates, that Mary grew up with the other maidens in the temple, under the watchful eye of Anna, the prophetess, who, in- spired by the Holy Ghost, foretold her glorious destiny. All the versions agree however in say- ing that " Mary was in the temple as if she were ist. ess of the t twenty- watching concern- reed that ind going flung an at of the therefore very first d one of r behind )uld gain 1 precau- esent at her ever the fast 2st never J appear- )om. grew up nder the who, in- glorious r in say- )he were II Ml Hili 1 ST. ANNA AND THE VIRGIN MARY. (MiJLLER.) Youtb of the yirgin Mary, 13 a dove that lived there, and she received food from the hand of an angel." As for the usual portion of food set aside for her by the high priest, she always gave it to the poor. Mary's time in the temple was spent very methodically. From early morning until thd third hour of the day, she remained in prayer ; then she worked with her young companions until the ninth hour ; after which she agaiti resorted to prayer, until an angel brought her food from hedven, and bade her retire. In pictures representing Mary in the temple, we see her spinning and weaving, embroidering the priestly garments, and receiving from angel visitors fruits or flowers from heaven, or a loaf, and a pitcher of water, intended to represent the bread and water of life. A much discussed point in olden times was whether Mary, who is considered as the emblem of wisdom, knew everything by intuition, or whether she was educated by the angels, by her mother, and by Anna, the prophetess. This matter has never been satisfactorily decided, so in art she is sometimes represented as standing at her mother's knee, and receiving instruction, while angels hover above her with flowers and fruit. Mary remained in the temple from three to 14 Legends of the Virgin and Christ. m Mt li;»' *? "■■•illl twelve, fourteen, or sixteen years of age, accord- ing to c^ifferent authorities. We are told that she was so beautiful that "scarcely any one could gaze upon her countenance," and the des- cription of her appearance which, owing to its antiquity, seems the most likely to be accurate, runs as follows: "She was of middle stature; her face oval ; her eyes brilliant, and of an olive tint ; her eyebrows arched and black ; her hair was of a pale brown; her complexion fair as wheat. She spoke little, but she spoke freely and affably ; she was not troubled in her speech, but grave, courteous, tranquil. Her dress was without ornament, and in her deportment was nothing lax or feeble." Artists have, however, never followed this description slavishly, all preferring to depict the Virgm Mary according to the dictates of their fancy ; and hence the great variety of Virgin types which are to be found in every picture gallery or collection of works of art. The Virgin Mary was so pure, simple, and holy, that she is said to have enjoyed the privi- lege, never grpnced to a woman before or since, of freely filtering into the Holy of Holies, where the high pries*^^ himself only ventured once a year. Here she spent her hours of prayer, and on this account the ark of the cove- Youth of the yirgin Mary, 15 nant is sometimes seen in the background of paintings representing her at this stage of her career. Many miracles are ascribed to Mary during her prolonged sojourn in the temple. For in- stance, all who were ill were healed by merely touching her. Notwithstanding this supernat- ural power, and the fact that she alone, among all the virgins who dwelt in the temple, con- versed with and was fed by the angels, Mary remained both modest and quiet, and diligently laboured to finish all the work which her com- panions left undone. The fame of Mary's beauty and virtue was soon noised abroad, and when she grew up there was no lack of ardent suitors for her hand. Among others, the priest Abiathar came to woo in behalf of his son, offering to the high priest many rich gifts to induce him to favour his suit. These offers were all laid before Mary, who repeated again and again that she had no inten- tion of marrying, but that she wished to remain in the temple and serve the Lord. Her young companions, however, followed the usual custom, and left the temple as soon as they were of marriageable age to found homes of their own. Mary's obstinate refusal to do as they did troubled the high priest greatly. Such a case I W Legends of the Virgin and Christ. P iiillihl had never presented itself before, and while on the one hand the law expressly forbade keeping the maidens in the temple after a certain age, on the other it was written, *' When thou voweSt a vow unto God, defer not to pay it." The high priest was in a quandary. In his perplexity he assembled the priests and LeviteSj and laid the matter before them, imploring them to help him with their advice. The matter was discussed at length in solemn council, but they were as far from a decision as ever, when a mysterious voice was heard in the sanctuary^ bidding Zacharias enter into the Holy of Holies and pray there for guidance. According to another version of the story, no voice was heard, but the priests themselves hit upon this expedient. Whether it came from a hidden adviser, or from the council, the sugges- tion was received with joy, and the high priest made haste to ertt6r into the holy place, where he breathed forth an ardent prayer for help. While he was praying thus, *' behold, the angel of the Lord stood by, saying unto him, * Zacharias, Zacharias, go forth and summon the widowers of the people, and let them take a rod apiece, and She shall be the wife of him to whom the Lord shall show a sign.' " A third version of the self-same story makes k: Youth of the Virgin Mary, 17 no mention of priestly council or deliberations, but states that it was during the night, and while the high priest was sleeping, that an angel ap- peared to him. The celestial messenger bade him assemble the widowers and bachelors in Israel, and told him that a sign would reveal the man who alone was worthy of acting as guardian to the Virgin Mary, and to protect her so she Qould keep her vow. When morning dawned, the high priest re- lated his vision to Mary, who, with her usual gentle acquiescence, expressed her readiness to do the Lord's will. Next the high priest re- sorted to a practice common among the Jews, and ordered that lots should be cast to discover in which tribe Mary's future protector should be found. The choice thus fell upon the tribe of Judah. Then the criers were sent forth, with the Lord's trumpet, to summon all the marriageable men to the temple of Jerusalem, where the high priest wished to see them, and whither they were ex- pressly told to bring their rods or wands. The summons was obeyed with great prompti- tude, and one of the accounts states that Joseph, the carpenter, dropping his axe and catching up his wand, rushed in breathless haste to the temple. As soon as he crossed the threshold of a ISj 1 8 Legends of the Virgin and Christ, i|iji' his shop,, or of the temple, a dove appeared by miracle upon the tip of his staff, and thus the promised sign was granted. Other versions, however, relate that Joseph obeyed the summons very reluctantly, for he was already a very old man. He had married at forty, and lived forty-nine years with his wife, who had died, after giving him four sons, Judas, Justus, James, and Simeon, and two daughters, Assia and Lydia. Some of Joseph's children had already been married for some time, and one tradition says that, as he had grandchildren who were older than the Virgin Mary, he deemed it absurd to lay claim to her hand. Other writers, however, remembering how important it was that the coming Redeemer should have a protector strong enough to defend Him during His helpless infancy, and capable of supplying the family wants even in a foreign land, assert that Joseph at this time was only forty, instead of eighty years of age. One of the books of the Apocrypha tells us, therefore, that Joseph presented himself with the other candidates, although somewhat re- luctant, and that when they were all assembled, the priest took their rods, which he carried into the holy place, and laid upon the altar. I ■1^ ll!l iiilill:;!) Youth of the Virgin Mary, 19 There the rods remained, until he offered up a prayer unto the Lord, or until the next morn- ing, while their owners spent the night on their knees in the outer temple. Then the high priest, full of faith in the promise of the Lord, brought out the rods and gave them back to the suitors, eagerly watching for the promised sign. Imagine his disappointment, therefore, when the last rod had been restored, and the promised sign was still delayed. In his perplexity the high priest re-entered the holy place, and there, after renewed supplications, the angel again ap- peared, repeated the promise, and quoted the prophecy of Isaiah: ** And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grov\r out of his roots ; and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and un- derstanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." The angel next bade the high priest look on the altar, where he would find a short rod, which he had overlooked in his eagerness to witness the promised sign. The high priest obeyed, and found there, as he had been told, a tiny rod. When he picked it up he saw that, like Aaron's, it had budded and blossomed during ihe night. The flowering rod was quickly carried out to 20 Legends of the Virgin and Christ, i' 1- , i 'I, || S i'i 1 the waiting people and handed to Joseph, who had kept quietly in the background, because he felt himself unworthy of the honour of caring for pne of the virgins dedicated to the service of the Lord. ^s the rod touched his reluctant hand, some authorities claim that a second niiracle took place, for a sqowy dove sprang up from the $taff, alighted for a moment upon his head, anc| then flew up to the topmost pinnc^cle of the temple. After pausing there for a moment, in full view of all the assembled suitors, the bird winged its way up mto the sky, vvhere it was soon lost to sight. In representing this scene some artists have me^de use of one or the other versicn of the legend, while others, anxious to introduce all the picturesque features, have represented Joseph holding a rod covered with leaves and flowers, ^nd surmounted by a dove^ tl^e emblem of the floly Ghost. *.< From Jesse's root behold a branch arise, Whose sacred flower with fragrance fills the skies ; Th* ethereal Spirit o'er its leaves shall move, And on i<. top descends the mystic Dove." T^e Messiah. — Pope. In spite of the double miracle, which had thus plainly design^^tcd him as the destined pro' I iilii! MARRIAGE OF THE VIRGIN. (Raphael.) II III Youth of the Virgin Mary, 21 tector of the Virgin, Joseph refused to accept her hand until the high priest sternly admonished him. The priest bade him make haste and obey the commands of the Lord, lest he should incur the awful punishment which had visited Korah, Abiram, and Dathan. Thus warned of the peril of disobedience, Joseph dared make no further objections, and he was publicly betrothed to the Virgin Mary. As this was a civil contract among the Jews, the be-: trothal, or marriage, as it is indifferently called in legend and art, was celebrated in the open air. The cer'^Tiony was, however, accompanied by the usual festivities and pomp, and we are told that the Virgin wore a marriage robe of precious texture. " The ground was of the colour of nan- keen, with flowers blue, white, violet, and gold." This garment, first preserved as a precious treasure in Palestine, was sent to Constantinople * the fifth century, and was given, in 877, by Charles the Bald, to the Church of Chartres, where it can still be seen. It is also claimed that an onyx and emerald ring was used for the ceremony of betrothal. This golden circlet, to which miraculous powers are ascribed, as well as to the robe- is kept in the Cathedral of Perugia. Here it is known as 32 Legends of the Virgin and Christ. the Virgin's Betrothal Ring, and is regarded with much veneration. Among the witnesses of the marriage were all the rejected suitors, and the legend relates that Abiathar's son was so disappointed at failing to secure the hand of the Virgin, that he broke his rod in anger. Not content with this public demonstration, he furthermore withdrew to a hermitage on Mount Carmel, where he spent the remainder of his life in complete seclusion, and thus became the founder of the Carmelite Order of monks. CHAPTER II. THE ANNUNCIATION. Mary's companions — Joseph leaves Mary at Nazareth — Work for the Temple — Mary chosen by lot — The vision of Zacharias — The maidens mock Mary — The council in Heaven — The Annunciation — The Ave Maria — The meaning of the rosary — The Immaculate Conception — The doctrine in Spain — A Mohammedan legend — The work finished — Mary's journey — The Salutation — The Magni- ficat — The Visitation — Miracle in the garden — The birth of St. John — Mary's return home — Joseph's doubts — The high priest's summons — The waters of jealousy — ; The legend of the cherry-tree. JOSEPH had married Mary much against his will, and had publicly assumed the respon- sibility of guarding her from all harm. He had evidently heard so many tales of her virtue, and of the miracles which she wrought, that he stood somewhat in awe of her. So he begged the high priest that some of the temple virgins might go with her to keep her company. Five or seven maidens were selected for this duty, and Mary went with Joseph to Nazareth. Here, according to different versions, she either 24 Legends of the yirgin and Christ. dwelt in the house of her parents, which she liad inherited after Joachim's death, or in the humble home of Joseph the Carpenter, where she acted as mother to his youngest son, James, and thus won the appellation bestowed upon her in the Bible, '* Mary, the mother of James." All the versions agree, however, in stating that Joseph merely brought her into his house, wher^ he left her, saying: *' Behold, I have received thee from the temple of the Lord, and now I leave thee in »^y house and go to build my buildings, and will come to thee. The Lord will protect thee." Whether Mary remained thus alone with her companions a few months or two years is a matter of dispute also ; but the next salient point in the narrative leads us back to the temple at Jerusalem. The priests, again assembled jn council, had decided to have a new curtain made for the temple of the Lord. But the work could be done by certain persons only, and the high priest said: *'Call me undefiled virgins of the house of David." His servants went forth to do his bidding, and after diligent search they found Mary and seven other maidens. They were brought into the temple, told what work was expected of them, and shown the materials. Next the priest said ist. 1 she had J humble he acted and thus Jr in the ting that 2, wher§ received I now I uild my e Lord vith her rs is a It point mple at 3led jn n made t could le high of the ig, and seven o the them, it said The Annunciation, ii to Mary: "Cast me lots who shall spin the gold, and green, and fine linen, and silk, and blue, and scarlet, and true purple." Mary obeyed, and when the true purple and scarlet fell to her share, she reverently carried it home and began her work, which must have eXJ tended over a period of several months. The apocryphal writings only allude to the apparition of the angel to Zacharias in thfli temple, and to the Scriptural promise: *' Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt havd joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled wilh the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn t6 the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just ; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." This whole scene, so graphically described by Saint Luke, and which has been the subject of many a painting, is dismissed in the spurious gospels with the few words : '* And at that time 26 Legetids of the yirgin and Christ. Zacharias became speechless, and Samuel was in his stead, until Zacharias spake." Mary, as we have seen, had taken her work home, where her companions, jealous that the choicest materials had fallen to her share, began to taunt her, and mockingly called her " Queen of the Virgins." This raillery gradually in- creased, and they even began to bow down to her and to do her pretended obeisance. As usual, Mary remained gentle and humble, so her companio:">3 continued thei- taunts until an angel appeared to them and bade them refrain. He further told them that the title, ** Queen of the Virgins," which they had given Mary in de- rision, was prophetic of her future exalted position. Silenced and terrified by this unwonted re- proof, the maidens humbly begged Mary's par- don, and never again ventured to treat her with anything but the utmost deference. Mary's life, in the mean while, was quite unchanged. Her time was divided between prayer, meditation, and work, and the angels visited he.' daily and brought her food. One day, after spinning diligently for the new temple veil, Mary took up her pitcher and went to the fountain to draw water to wash her hands. It was while she was thus out of doors The Annunciation, 27 new went her oors that she heard a voice saying, " Hail, thou favoured one, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women." Astonished at hearing such a greeting in a place where she deemed herself alone, Mary looked around her to discover whence the voice came. She saw no one, however, and, taking up her pitcher, went into the house, where she resumed her work, if we are to believe one ver- sion of the tale which has come down to us. Another version, however, says that she began reading the prophecy in Isaiah, " Behold, a vir- gin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,"and that she unconsciously exclaimed aloud how happy she would be to serve as handmaiden to a woman so blessed. The words liad scarcely left her lips when the Salutation which she heard before in the garden was repeated, and looking up, she beheld a radiant angel, who cried, '* Blessed art thou. among women." The legends, which have a quaint way of filling all gaps, gravely inform us that the time having come when the long promised Redeemer should appear in the flesh, God had assembled all his angels and made his purpose known to them. Then, wishing to apprise Mary of the honour awaiting her, he bade Gabriel go down and an- 'f0 §8 Legends of the Virgin and Christ, nouhce to her that she was to be the mother bf the Messiah. God chose Gabriel for this joyful embassy, to Indemnify him for having been obliged in years long gone by to drive our first parents out of the Garden of Eden. The angel who had announced Paradise lost was to have the privilege of fbre- telling Paradise regained 1 Gabriel, radiarit with joy, flashed down from the heavenly abode to bear this welcome message.. He was accompanied by the heavenly host ; but while a few angels followed him all the way down to earth, they waited outside, While he alone went in to Mary. As emblem of his office, Gabriel, "a young man whose beauty could not be told," bore a lily without stamens, and on account of this circumstance, painters have always represented Inm with the blossonl which is a sjrmbol of purity, g(nd is hence known as *' Fleur de Marie." Mary was so accustomed to heavenly visitants that she felt no fear of them at all. The angel's words alone caused the terror recorded in the Bible. The legends state th£(t she questioned the angel, who now went on to explain to her, ** The power of the Lord will overshadow thee ; wherefore also that holy thing which is born of thee shall be called the son of the Most High ; rist. mother 6f ibassy, to i in years 3ut of the inounced i of fbre- liarit with abode to nly host ; 1 the way while he m of his e beauty stamens, painters blossom e knoAVtl I visitants angel's in th6 jstioned to her, thee ; born of High ; THE ANNUNCIATION. (Bouguereau.) The Annunciation, 29 and thou shalt call his name Jeisus ; for he shall save the people from their sins." Simply, humbly, and with touching faith, Mary accepted the message, whose full import she could hardly understand, and said : " Behold the servant of the Lord is before him ; be it unto me according to thy word." In many old pictures the artists have tried to emphasize the meaning of f f if. annunciation, by representing the Heavenly Father hovering above, and, flying downward from between his outstretched arms, a diminutive figure of the Saviour bearing His cross. Others, and they are most numerous, depict a snowy dove, flash- ing down upon a beam of light, which falls directly upon Mary in her humble attitude of handmaiden of the Lord. In the Middle Ages, when the worship of the Virgin had gained its strongest hold upon the people, and when she was literally placed above her Son, every detail of her life was discussed with great heat by the monks of various orders. Then, too, the decision was reached that the Annunciation took place at sunset. " Ave Maria ! blessed be the hour ! The time, the clime, the spot, where I so oft Have felt that moment in its fullest power Sink o'er the earth so beautiful and soft ; i 30 Legends of the Virgin and Christ. While swung the deep bell in the distant tower, Or the faint dying day-hymn stole aloft, And not a breath crept through the rosy air. And yet the forest leaves seem'd stirrM with prayer/* Byron. This hour henceforth became hallowed, and was marked by the pealing of a bell, which, in memory of the angel. Is known as the Angelus. It was in the 15th century that a Papa) edict first enjoined the recitation, at that hour, of the Ave Maria, a prayer sacred to the Virgin Mary, and which is worded as follows : " Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee ; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and in the hour of our death. Amen." This prayer, which is generally used by the Roman Catholics, holds a more important place in the rosary than the Lord's prayer. For, in the larger rosary there are a series of one hundred and fifty repetitions of the *' Ave Maria," with a ** Pater-Noster " interpolated after each decade, while in the lesser rosary there are fifty Aves and five Pater-Nosters. The small beads in rosaries serve to keep account of the number of prayers addressed to the Blessed Virgin, while the larger ones • :-^ I • '''.^rtf^^ *^v *'. J^ ■:Ji 'if^ ■K IK"- E'lft# ' ^kM%^ ^bk . . '*^ ,•., ■^:i..'?w^„: ^^^^^^^^B' ^"^v ^H f- W^ lSlfe:^W.V v. ^^^^^^H i, ^ Vagf-,-v' /^j^K ■ i^' ■ ^^l^*^-^-"" #J r i^ ■ / l^ ■ V B '^/'h^ ^ '/ ' ■ ■f.h i^ - r. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. (Mlriixo.) Mi 1 1 i The Annunciation, 31 serve tc mark every recurrence of the Lord's prayer. The Annunciation is further commemorated in the Roman Catholic Church by a very impDr- tant festival^ which the Church Calendar appoints to be held on the twenty-fifth of March. To mediaeval discussions, and to a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church we further owe a style of picture, which in art is generally known as the Immaculate Conception. In these pic- tures, the Virgin, a young girl from twelve to sixteen years of age, is represented as caught up in the clouds, with the moon crescent under her feet and often surrounded by angels. On account of the vision of St. John, recorded in Revelations, where he beheld '* a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars," the Virgin is also frequently represented wiih the sun as a background, flooding her blue or white robe with refulgent light, and crowned with twelve stars which are symbolical of the twelve tribes of Israel. " Woman ! above all women glorified. Our tainted nature's solitary boast ; Purer than eastern skies at daybreak strewn With fancied roses, than the unblemished moon Before her wane begins on heaven's blue coast ; Thy Image falls to earth.'* WordswortKi 32 Legends of the (Virgin and Christ. As the Spaniards were the most zealous advo- cates of the doctrine of the Immaculate Concep- tion, and claimed that the Virgin was born free from every taint of original sin, they nearly went mad with joy when the Pope, in 1617, confirmed by a solemn decree the doctrine which had long been the subject of so much dispute. " On the publication of this bull, Seville flew into a frenzy of religious joy," and the Spaniards celebrated the triumph of their long cherished belief by every imaginable festivity. And it is because this is a favourite doctrine in Spain that most of the paintings entitled the Immaculate Conception belong to the Spanish school. A peculiar Mohammedan legend relates that Mary fled oul into the desert immediately after the Annunciation, and, resting under a solitary palm-tree, gave birth to her child. A fountain sprang by miracle from the sandy soil, wherein she bathed the new-born babe, and it was said that only a few hours elapsed between the Annunciation and the Nativity. Such is not, however, the account given by apocryphal gospels, where we read that Mary resumed her work as soon as the angel Gabriel left her. When it was all finished she carried it to the high priest, who blessed her, saying: *' Mary, the Lord God hath magnified thy name, The Annunciation, 33 and thou shalt be blessed in all the generations of the earth." This blessing filled her heart with joy, and with its sound still ringing in her ears, Mary arose and " went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth." Mary had doubtless heard of the miracle which had be- fallen her kinswoman, and as her own mother was dead, it was quite natural that she should thus go and see her nearest female relative. Although Elizabeth was so much older, and such a greeting was unheard of from an aged to a young woman, she ran to meet Mary, saying, '* Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me > " This unexpected confirmation of the angel's promise and of the priest's blessing, united to her own conviction, filled Mary's heart with such joy that she gave vent to her thanksgiving in the hymn which is known as the Magnificat, and which St. Luke has preserved for us in his Gospel : *' My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath re- joiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden ; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and Holy is his name. And his 3 «• 34 Legends of the Virgin and Christ, mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm, he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled Jie hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel in re- membrance of his mercy, as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed for ever." This ''Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been used as the Vesper Canticle of the Church from time immemorial," and has been beautifully set to music by Palestrina, Bach, Mendelssohn, and other composers of note. While it is generally supposed that Mary, young as she was, undertook the journey into the hill country alone, or escorted by a boy servant only, some artists assume that Joseph went with her, and represent him holding the ass upon which Mary evidently rode, and gazing in wonder at her meeting with Elizabeth. Sometimes the women embrace in the house, at other times on the door step, or even in the open air, where Scriptural subjects in the background frequently serve to connect the Old Testament with the New, or foreshadow some important event in the life of Christ or of John the Baptist. The Anmmciation. 3S Mary's sojourn in Elizabeth's house, which is generally known as the Visitation, is supposed to have extended over a period of several months. Mary dwelt there iii great retirement, *- for day by day her condition became more manifest," and she only wandered out into the garden from time to time to hold communion with nature. One of the legends relates that while she was wandering thus among the flowers, she one day accidentally touched a blossom which until then had been inodorous. This passing contact was enough. The flower breathed forth the most exquisite perfume, and we are told it has been fragrant ever since, although the narrators of this miracle have omitted giving us the name of the plant on which it grew. The feast of the Visitation, also observed by the Roman Catholic Churcn, is fixed for the second of July, which may have been the epoch when Mary's visit drew to a close. Although it is not expressly stated that Mary was present at the birth of John the Baptist, her visit extended so nearly to the time when Elizabeth's hopes were to be crowned, that some artists have ventured to represent her either holding the new-born infant, or giving the tablet to Zacharias, that he might confirm his wife's words and de- clare that the child should be named John. •*r. 36 Legends of the Virgin and Christ. It was just before or immediately after John's birth that Mary returned to Nazareth, where she dwelt in great seclusion until six months had gone by since the Annunciation. Then only, according to some legends, Joseph came home from the maritime countries, where he had been building tabernacles. A family man, and the father of grandchildren, Joseph immediately perceived the state of affairs, and began to reproach Mary bitterly. She de- nied all his accusations, and her attendants, when questioned, testified that she had led a life of exemplary piety and retirement, receiving none but angel visits. Joseph, silenced but unconvinced, now quietly prepared to divorce Mary. But the Scriptures tell us, "while he thought on these things, be- hold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife ; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save Ms people from their sins.' " Some of the legends follow this version closely, and only add that upon awakening Joseph went in search of Mary, and humbly begged her par- don for his insulting suspicions and injurious words. The Annunciation, " * Bot I wot well my leman fre, I have trespast to god and the ; 37 Forgyf me, I the pray.' " Widkirk Play. The Arabic legends, hov/ever, give a different account of the affair, and claim that the unborn infant raised his voice to proclaim his mother's purity and innocence, and to chide Joseph for his unbelief. Then, convinced by miracle, Joseph made no further remonstrances, but sought and obtained Mary's full and free forgiveness. Although Joseph had been satisfied, the tongues of his neighbours daily wagged faoter, and it was soon rumoured far and wide that Joseph's betrothed, as she is generally called, had broken her vow of chastity, and that he had failed to keep his promise to the high priest and guard the Virgin of the Lord. These rumours finally came to the ears of the high priest, who, knowing Joseph was a just man, refused at first to credit them. But they soon became so persistent that the high priest sent his servant, Annas, the scribe, to Nazareth, to discover whether there was any foundation for the reports which were so rife. The scribe returned, confirming the news, and the high priest in anger sent for Joseph and Mary, whom he questioned and reproved separ- lH Legends of the l^irgin and Christ. ately. Baffled by their answers, yet unable to believe their repeated assertions that they had in no wise violated their vows, the high priest condemned them both to drink the "waters of jealousy." This ordeal was endured in public, and when they had safely undergone it, and walked seven times around the altar, the high priest was forced to acquit them both. Some accounts declare that after drinking the waters of jealousy, Mary, in the presence of the assembled people, uttered another grand hymn, a companion to the *' Mag- nificat," which, however, has not been preserved for our perusal. Thus freed from suspicion, Mary and Joseph returned home to Nazareth " glorifying the God of Israel." There, if we are to believe the legends, several extraordinary things happened, and one of these miracles is embodied in a quaint medieeval carol published in an old Eng- lish chap-book. This song, of which we can quote only a few lines, begins thus : — " When Joseph was an old man, an old man was he, And he married Mary, the Queen of Galilee ; When Joseph he had his cousin Mary got, Mary proved with child." Cherry- Tree CaroL V The Annunciation, 39 The story then goes on rehearsing Joseph's sus- picions, which he, however, wisely keeps to himself. While he and Mary were walking in their garden one day she expressed a wish for some fine red cherries hanging above her head, but Joseph roughly said the father of her child might gather them for her. Then the unborn infant spoke to his mother, saying : — " Go to the tree, Mary, and it shall bow down. And the highest branch shall bow to Mary's knee, And she shall gather cherries by one, two, and three." Cherry-Tree Carol. Mary then spoke to the tree, which, as Jesus bad said, bent down before her, and remained in that position until she had gathered all the cherries she wished, and made Joseph thoroughly ashamed of his churlish behaviour. It is popu- larly supposed that it is on account of this legend that artists sometimes represent the Virgin as amusing the Christ Child by dangling bright red cherries just within reach of his baby hands. m CHAPTER III. THE NATIVITY. The prophecies — The portents — The Temple of Peace— The Tiburtine Sibyl — The Church of Ara Coeli — The three suns — The balsam — The date — Christmas — Caesar's decree — The journey to Bethlehem — The two people — The cave — Joseph in search of aid — The suspense of nature — The birth of Christ — Adoration of angels — Legend of sainfoin — Zelomi and Salome — The Vision of the Shepherds — Adoration of the Shepherds — The ox and the ass — The Feast of the Ass — The cir- cumcision — The purification — The presentation in the Temple — Simeon and Anna — Septuagint legend — Mary's first sorrow. 'T^HE time was now rapidly approaching when •*• the angel's promise should be fulfilled, and the expected Redeemer be born. His coming had, as we know, long been expected by the chosen race, whose sacred books recorded many prophecies concerning him, from the words spoken by God himself in the Garden of Eden, to the last utterance of Malachi about three hundred years before. Since then, many unauthentic prophecies had been added, such as those contained in the The Nativity. 41 apocalyptic literature. Many writers further claim that Christ's coming had been also fore- told to the Gentiles, by means of the prophet- esses called Sibyls, who number from four to twelve, awCording to varying authorities, and who have been deemed worthy of a place in the magnificent decorations of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Many miraculous portents are further said to have occurred in all parts of the known world at this particular time. The principal one seems to have been the cessation of the constant war- fare which had desolated so many countries, and the beginning of a general truce, the fit herald of the " Prince of Peace." " It was the calm and silent night ! Seven hundred and fifty-three, Had Rome been growing up to might, And now was Queen of land and sea. No sound was heard of clashing wars, Peace brooded o'er the hush'd domain, Apollo, Pallas, Jove, and Mars Held undisturb'd their ancient reign. In the solemn midnight Centuries ago." Alfred Dommett. — A Christmas Hymn. All the noted oracles, through whom the gods had been wont to make their wishes known, ^■^ N',i. f;1 42 Legends of the Virgin and Christ. although still questioned by eager worshippers, were silent, and the heathens cried that their deities had become dumb. Then too, the nymphs and th2 genii of nature were heard softly be- wailing themselves, for they knew that their reign was at an end. *' The oracles are dumb, No voice or hideous hum Runs through the arch'd roof in words deceiving. Apollo from his shrine, Can no more divine, With hollow shriek the sleep of Delphos leaving. No nightly trance, or breathed spell Inspires the pale-eyed priest from the prophetic cell. " The lonely mountain o'er. And the resounding shore, A voice of weeping heard and loud lament. From haunted spring and dale, Edged with the poplar pale, The parting genius is with sighing sent ; With flower-inwoven tresses torn The nymphs in twilight shade of tangled thickets mourn. Milton. — Hymn to tht Nativity. Rome had at that epoch reached the zenith of its power, so most of the legends naturally refer in some way to its history. Thus we are told that at the beginning of the universal truce, twelve years before our era, the happy Romans The Nativity. 43 erected a temple which they dedicated lo Peace. Desirous of ascertaining how long the build- ing would endure, they sent to the oracle of Apollo, from whom they received the answer, *' Until a virgin bring forth and remain a virgin." This oracular speech being interpreted to mean that the temple would stand forever, the Romans proudly put up the inscription ** The Eternal Temple of Peace." But, on the very night when Christ the Lord was born in Bethlehem of Judea, the Temple of Peace fell with an awful crash. At the same time a fountain of oil gushed forth from the arid soil, and flowed down into the Tiber, ** in token that the Fountain of Piety and Mercy was born,'' and that its grace would extend to all people. The Roman senate now cftered to pay divine honours to Caesar Augustus, because he was the first to rule over a whole world at peace. In doubt whether to accept this worship the Emperor sent for the Tiburtine Sibyl, and bade her tell him whether any one greater than he should ever be born. The Sibyl refused to give an immediate answer, but a few days later she sought the Emperor's presence, and bidding him look 44 Legends of the yirgin and Christ. upward, showed him a golden circle around the sun. Within this circumference appeared a beautiful maiden, holding a child in her lap. The Sibyl then told the emperor that the babe was greater than he, and was the first-born Son of God. She had scarcely finished speaking, when a heavenly voice wa«" . eard to proclaim aloud, "Here is the ,*' Heaven." The vision soon faded away , i: li-e emperor, satisfied with what he had seen, not only refused the ciivine honours which the senate would fain have awarded him, but gave orders that an altar should be built on the eminence on which the Mother and Child had appeared. This shrine was dedicated to the ♦' First-Born Son of God." Some years later a Chr' ,tian church was erected upon the same spot, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In remembrance of the vision, the church, which still stands upon the Capitoline Hill, bears the name of ''Santa Maria Ara Coeli." It is reached by an imposing flight of one hundred and twenty-four steps, and among its most prized relics is a *' Bambino," or Infant Saviour, carved from wood from the Mount of Olives, and painted by St. Luke. ) This Bambino is exhibited in a manger on Christmas Day, and as the Romans claim that it Tbe Nativity. 45 is gifted with miraculous powers it is often carried to sick beds, and thus made a source of revenue to the church. A very ancient bas- relief represents the Tiburtine Sibyl explaining the heavenly vision to the emperor, a subject which has also been treated by several other artists of the Italian schools. In the far East three suns appeared at once on this auspicious day, and while the people gazed upon them in awe and wonder they were seen to merge into one. Hence this phenomenon has been explained as a symbol of the Trinity. Then, too, the vines of Engedi flowered spontaneously, and " produced balsam, in token that he was born who should preserve all things by the virtue of the stream of his blood." Although by our present method of computing time we profess to count the years from the birth of Christ, it is not positively known when He was born. Learned investigations have pretty clearly demonstrated, however, that our era — which was introduced in Italy in the sixth century — begins in about the fourth year of our Redeemer's life. The early Christians did not at first celebrate the Nativity, although birthday festivities were common at that time among the heathen. The anniversary of Our Lord's coming, therefore, 46 Legends of the Virgin a^rid Christ. passed almost unnoticed until about the fourth century, when it first began to be observed. Such was the popularity of this innovation, however, that fifty years later it was adopted by all the Christians. But it became a gen- eral custom only in the thirteenth century, and was so popular among the unbelievers because it replaced the ancient Roman Saturnalia and the Northern Yule festival, which had been celebrated at the same season, and combined their feasts and customs with its deeper sig- nificance. The twenty-fifth of December was agreed upon as a particularly auspicious day for this celebration for several other reasons. For in- stance, St. Augustine said John the Baptist was born on June 25th, at the summer solstice. As the great Precursor had said of Christ, '* He must increase, but I must decrease," it seemed particularly appropriate that John's birthday should fall on the day when the sun begins to decrease and that of his Master on the winter solstice, or day when the sun again begins to increase. Thus the birth of the sun. and of the Sun of Righteousness were, not without a deep sense of poetical fitness, made synchronous, and served to illustrate the prophecy of Malachi : *' Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun The Nativity, 47 of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings." The natural sequence of this mode of reason- ing was that the Annunciation was fixed on the :*^th day of March, a date which was also con- sidered the anniversary of the Creation, because then the days and nights are of equal length, and it therefore seemed as if they best illustrated the text of Genesis, *' And the evening and the morning were the first day." Spring was chosen in preference to fall for this anniversary, because it was written that on the third day '*the earth brought forth grass," a statement which is true only at the vernal period, when every year the miracle of creation is renewed to remind mankind of the origin of all things. In the Gospels we find the statement, " And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed." It was in obedience to this imperial order that Joseph was obliged to go to Bethlehem, where the records for the tribe of Judah were kept, so as to register himself and all his family. The legends tell us that Joseph was in a great quandary, because he did not know how to enrol Mary ; and that he started out with her 48 Legends of the yirgin and Christ. t leaving the matter undecided, and saying, "The day of the Lord will itself bring it about as the Lord willeth it." He was accompanied, accord- ing to some versions, by his children by his first marriage ; but other accounts state that he and Mary travelled alone. The Virgin rode upon an ass, which Joseph led, and from time to time he turned around to see how she was bearing the journey. Once he saw her tearful and distressed, and was greatly troubled lest she were suffering ; but when he again looked around he was surprised to see her radiant with joy and smiling brightly. These sudden alterations of mood in a person so calm and pensive aroused his curiosity, and he questioned her, saying, '* Mary, what aileth thee, because I see thy face at one time laughing and at another time sad } '' Mary said to Joseph, *' I see two peoples with my eyes, one weeping and lamenting, and one rejoicing and exulting." This answer was so far from clear that Joseph harshly reproved her for talking nonsense. But even while he was speaking there appeared be- fore him a beautiful youth clothed in white, who said to him, *'Why didst thou call superfluous the words concerning the two peoples of whom Mary hath spoken ? For she saw the people of the Jews weeping, who have departed from their The Nativity. 49 God, and the people of the Gentiles rejoicing, who have now approached and are made nigh to the Lord, as he promised our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; for the time is come that in the seed of Abraham a blessing shall be bestowed on all nations." The Scriptural narrative of the birth of Our Lord is too familiar to need any mention here. But the legends, which, while quoting occa- sionally from the canonical books, vary widely, have furnished the material for so many noted works of art, that notwithstanding their evident falsity and manifold contradictions, they have attained great importance. We are told that travelling thus slowly, the night overtook Joseph and Mary when they were still three miles from Bethlehem, and that an angel came with a lantern to guide them along their way. As Mary was too weary to proceed any further, the angel led the travellers to a cave by the wayside, where, in bygone ages, Jesse, the father of David, had sheltered his sheep. Another version says that they came at night into Bethlehem, where they vainly knocked at every door asking for a night's shelter. The khan was full ; but the porter, hearing that Joseph and Mary belonged to the house of David, and full of reverence for the descendants of that 4 50 Legends of the Virgin and Christ. glopous king, led them into a stable hollowed out of the rocks, which was near the inn. Some w. iters claim that the porter was not so much impressed by the travellers' august lineage, as by the touching beauty of Mary, who implored him to find a place where she might rest. The most ancient legends, however, generally agrej with the first version, and say that Joseph, after helping Mary to dismount, bade his sons lead her into the cave, and watch over her. Then he took a lantern, and went off in haste, in search of some charitable woman who would come to their assistance at thib critical time. "When he had gone a short distance, Joseph turned around, and cast an anxious glance at the cave where Mary was to find shelter. Sud- denly he saw a bright light flash down from heaven, and as she entered the cave, the light seemed to pass in with her, filling its space with the radiance of noon, anu shining there steadily. This miraculous light is said to have beamed there night and day as long as Mary remained in the cave, and to have surrounded her with such dazzling splendour that no human eye could gaze upon her. Amazed by this portent, Joseph looked around him. All nature seemed to stand still in ex- pectancy of some great event, and Joseph, b. The Nativity. 51 relating his experiences of the time at a sub- sequent period, is reported to have said : '* And I Joseph walked, and walked not ; and I looked up into the air, and saw the air violently agitated ; and I looked up at the pole of heaven, and saw it stationary, and the fowls of heaven still ; and I looked at the earth, and saw a vessel lying, and workmen reclining by it, and their hands in the vessel, and those who handled it did not handle it, and those who took did not lift, and those who presented it to their mouth did not present it, but the faces of all were looking up ; and I saw sheep scattered, and the sheep stood, and the shepherd lifted up his hand to strike them and his hand remained up ; and I looked at the stream of the river, and I saw that the mouths of the kids were down, and not drinking and everything which was being impelled for- ward was intercepted in its course." This state of general suspense and hushed expectancy, which seems so fit at this auspicious time, has been set forth in inimitable beauty and delicacy of expression by Milton, in his Hymn in honour of the Nativity, where we read : — " But peaceful vv£.s the night Wherein the Prince of Light His reign of peace upon the earth began ; The winds with wonder whist, 52 Legends of the Virgin and Christ, Smoothly the waters kissed, "Whispering new joys to the mild ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave." A few moments later, Joseph met a woman, to whom he gave a hasty explanation, and she immediately turned to accompany him back to the cave. But her services were no longer needed, for during Joseph's short absence, Mary had given birth to her Son, whom the angels immediately surrounded and were the first to worship. The legends say that the angels were allowed this privilege, because they had been chosen to bear witness of His coming, and that the new- born child stood among them and blessed them while they adored Him, singing, ** Glory to God on high, and on earth peace to men of good will." Mary, whom some traditions represent as having escaped all suffering at this time, be- cause she alone among all wdnen was quite free from sin, now wrapped her new-born babe in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger. As His head touched the hay which formed His bed, the vegetable world also bore witness to His divinity, for we are told that the dry rose- coloured sainfoin was restored to life and beauty, m The Nativity. 53 and began to expand its pretty flowers, which lovingly twined into a wreath around our infant Saviour's head. When Joseph and the nurse Zelomi crossed the threshold of the cave they stood still in wonder at the bright light, the divine babe, and the radiant mother who bent in adoration over Him. The nurse, who had heard of Mary, of her long sojourn in the temple, and of the rumours which had lately been afloat in Nazareth and Jerusalem concerning her, now exclaimed in wonder, '^Can this thing be?'' and Mary proudly answered, '• As none among children is equal to my son, so his mother hath no equal among women." Zelomi was so overcome by the sight of the Virgin Mother and the Holy Child, that she stepped out of the cave to recover her senses in the open air. There she met Salome, one of her cronies, to whom she imparted the whole story, and who, unconvinced by her companion's testimony, vowed that ocular demonstration alone would convince her that a virgin had given birth to a child. The two women now entered into the cave together. Salome's doubts were dispelled, and a miracle further served to convince her of the holiness of mother and child, ^or it is said that rjf:: 54 Legends of the yirgin and Christ, as she t'^uched Mary her hand and arm fell lo hei' side paralysed. She cried out in fear, but Mary, or an angel of the Lord, kindly bade her stretch out her hand and touch the child believing, and she should be healed. Salome obeyed, and as her hand and arm were made whole once more she returned grateful thanks and worshipped Him. Then a voice was heard saying, *'Tell not the strange things thou hast seen until the child shall enter Jerusalem," an injunction which she obeyed. St. Luke tells us that there were '' shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their fluck by night. And lo I the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ' Fear not ; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which sliall be to all the people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you : ye <• al- find the babe wrapped in swaddling jlotheS; ly'.^ig in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multi- tude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, * Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will tov/ard men.'" f! The Nativity. 55 " The sacred chorus first vas sung Upon the first oi Christmas days; The Shepherds heard it overhead,— The joyful angels rais'd it then : Glory to heaven on high, it said, And peace on earth to gentle men 1 " Thackeray. The legends, doubtless, feeling that nothing could be added to this description, which is so brief but minute, have merely given us the names of two of the shepherds, Simon and Jude, adding that they afterwards became disciples of the Lord, whose advent had thus been made known to them by the archangel Raphael. In the miracle plays, however, some rough joking is introduced here, and the shepherds play tricks upon one another. Full of simple and unquestioning faith, the shepherds arose after this vision and went in haste to the cave, where they " found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger." " The shepherds went their hasty way, And found the lowly stable shed Where the Virgin-Mother lay ; And now they checked their eager tread, For to the liabe that at her bosom clung, A mother's song the Virgin-Mother sung. ** They told her how a glorious light Streamed from a heavenly throng, Around them shone, suspending night! life- [I i 56 Legends of the llrgin and Christ. While sweeter than a mother's song, Blesi angels heralded the Saviour's birth, Glory to God on high I and Peace on Earth." Coleridge. In works of art representing the Nativity, the adoration of the angels, and that of the shepherds, an ox and an ass are frequently seen in the background. The introduction of these animals is not merely intended to emphasize the fact that Our Lord was born in a stable, but also to set forth the popular belief that the dumb beasts worshipped Him also. " We sate among the stalls at Bethlehem. The dumb kine, from their fodder turning them, Softened their horned faces To almost human gazes Toward the newly born." Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Old writers claim that the presence of animals had been foretold in the ancient Jewish prophe- cies, and quote, in support of this belief, Isaiah's words: *' The ox knovveth his owner, and the ass his master's crib," and a passage in Habakkuk which is rendered in the Vulgate thus : '* He shall lie down between the ox and the ass.*' The legends therefore add that all nature bore witness lO Hirr , r.nd that me animals kneeling down cop^es;icd Him. The Nativity. 57 ** Ox and ass him know, Kneeling on their knee; Wondrous joy had I This little Babe to see." Wm. MoRRis,/r^w o/J Christmas Carol, This superstition is still current among the Breton peasants, who claim that domestic ani- mals are gifted with the power of speech at midnight on Christmas Eve. In England it was the custom in Herefordshire and elsewhere to drink the health of the cattle on Twelfth Night, calling each animal by name. " Here *s to the champion, to the white horn ; Here 's, God send the master a good crop of corn, Of wheat, rye, and barley, and all sorts of grain. If we live to this time twelvemonth, we '11 drink his health again." Wassail Pledge. A large cake, baked with a hole in the middle, was then hung upon the horn of the finest ox, which was tickled and goaded until it tossed its head and flung the cake off. If the cake fell behind the ox it became the property of the mistress ; but if it struck the earth in front of the animal, the farm hands considered it their lawful prize. Another mediceval belief was that the ass, an emblem of the Gentiles, brayed aloud for joy 58 Legends of the Virgin ami Christ, at the birth of Our Lord, while the ox, the type of the unbelieving Jews, remained stolid and unmoved. This superstition gave rise to a curious festival in honour of the ass, which had not only testified to Christ's divinity, but bore Him into Egypt, and later on, when He made His triumphant entry, into Jerusalem. On this festive occasion an ass was decked with flowers, and at mass the responses were made by imitat- injT[ the animal's braying. This curious festival w^s, strange to relate, very popular, and was only abolished in the i6th century. We are told that three days after the birth of Christ, Mary left the cave to take up her abode in the stable, or rude booth, constructed at its entrance. Here the Holy Family tarried three days, and on the sixth day they went either into Bethlehem, or to Jerusalem. On the seventh day the Christ Child was circumcised, according to the Jewish rite, and received the name of Jesus, a name which Origeu tells us has never been borne by any sinner. Bishop Taylor says that the Saviour then received ''that name be- fore which every knee was to bow, which was to be set above the powers of magic, the mighty rites of sorcerers, the secrets of Memphis, the drugs of Thessaly, the silent and mysterious murmurs of the wise Chaldees, and the spells of SIMEON AND THE INFANT LllRlsr. {lux IIak tulummeo.) The Nativity. 59 Zoroaster ; that name which we should engrave on our hearts, and pronounce with our rpost harmonious accents, and rest our faith on, and place our hopes in, and love with the overflow- ing of charity, joy, and adoration." Thirty-three days after the Circumcision, and forty days after the Birth of Christ, took place the Purification of the Virgin Mary, and the Presentation of Christ in the temple. The Mosaic law exacted that a first-born son should be redeemed by the offering of five shekels if the parents were rich, or by a pair of young pigeons if they were poor. As Mary and Joseph belonged to the poorer class she brought two doves to the temple, and having gone through the prescribed ceremonies for the purification of women after childbirth, Mary brought the infant Jesus into the temple. There the Child was welcomed by the aged prophetess Anna, who foretold that He had come to redeem the people. But, as she refrained from taking Him in her arms, she is considered a type of the synagogue, which prophesied about the Messiah, but did not embrace Him when He appeared. Simeon, on the contrary, is considered the type of the Gentiles, who not only te.tified to the Lord's coming, but were eager to follow His .%. ^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I l^|2£ |25 u& Ui |2.2 £f |i£ 12.0 I I 1.8 1 1.25 ||.4 11.6 , ^ 6" >■ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 145S0 (716) $72-4503 0ei Legends of the yirgin and Christ. teachings. While this scene is described in a few beautiful verses in the Scriptures, tradition adds several curious details to the account. We are told that, about two hundred and eighty years before, Ptolemy was anxious to have the Hebrew Scriptures translated into Greek, so that he might place them in his famous library at Alexandria. He therefore sent a message to Eleazar, the high priest of the Jews, asking him to send scribes and learned rabbis to his court to do that work. Eleazar selected six of the most learned men from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, and sent them to Egypt. These seventy-two men, among whom was Simeon, an erudite priest, were warmly welcomed by Ptolemy, and were put in a quiet retreat on the island of Pharos, where they laboured diligently. Some versions say that each of these rabbis was required to translate all the Jewish canon, a piece of work which was accomplished in seventy-two weeks, or even in seventy-two days, according to different authorities. This transla- tion, which from the number of scribes and the time employed in making it is known as the Septuagint version, was so accurate, that all the copies were alike word for word, although no commMnipatio^ had been allowed among the rabbis. 1 > The Nativity. 6i Another version of the story says that the work was divided among the learned Jews, and that the translation of the prophecies of Isaiah fell to the lot of Simeon. He was very anxious to do the work, as well as possible, so that the Greeks might be duly impressed with the beauty and truth of the Jewish Scriptures. But he soon came to the passage, '* Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." To avoid the mockery of the Greeks, who he knew would point out the absurdity of such a prophecy, Simeon trans- lated the Hebrew term virgin by a Greek word signifying a young woman, and the passage thus rendered could give no cause for cavil. When he had written it, however, an angel came, effaced the word he had substituted, and replaced it by the proper term. Simeon, un- daunted by this correction, and still wishing to avoid giving offence, wrote the translation again and again as he thought it had better be worded. But after the angel had thrice corrected him another miracle occurred, for he suddenly under- stood that what he had doubted might come to pass. At the same time, a voice warned him that he should not see death until the prophecy had been fulfilled, and the promised Messiah was born. Legends of the yirgin and Christ, i'\' M !ii li 1 j The translation finished, Simeon returned to Jerusalem, where he dwelt in the Temple, anx- iously awaiting the coming Redeemer. Three centuries and more had passed over his head, when Mary entered the sacred precincts to pre- sent her Son to the Lord. As Simeon's eyes fell upon the little group, the Spirit made known to him the divine origin of the Child, whom he took in his arms, exclaiming : ** Lord, now lettest ihou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word : for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast pre- pared before the face of all people ; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.'^ This scene, which is the subject of many a noted picture, is generally called the ** Nunc Dimittis." Simeon holds the Infant Saviour in his arms ; Anna the prophetess, stands beside him, and Joseph and Mary are represented listening to his words with awe and wonder. The divine character of the Child is further emphasized in some works of art, by showing Him with the thumb and the first two fingers raised to express the Trinity. This episode is also, like the circumcision, called the first sorrow of the Virgin, for Simeon, after blessing the little group, addressed Mary, S \ ^J The Nativity. 63 saying: ** Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel ; and for a sign which shall be spoken against (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also) ; that the thoughts of many hearts nwy be revealed." It is in allusion to this text that some artists have depicted Mary with a sword in her heart, and when reference is intended to the seven great sorrows of her life, she is represented pierced by seven swords. ■! ! i; ' CHAPTER IV. THE FLIGHT. Balaam's prophecy — The Magi — The three miracles — The star — Arrival at Jerusalem — Herod and the cock — Adora- tion of the Magi — Departure of the Magi — Subsequent career of the Magi — The wrath of Herod — The massacre of the Innocents — The flight of Elizabeth — The murder of Zacharias — Joseph warned — The flight into Egypt — The wheat field — The pine and juniper — The roses of Jericho — The aspen — The wild beasts. n^HE next momentous event in the Life of **• Our Lord, according to both Scripture and tradition, is the Adoration of the Magi, so briefly related by Saint Matthew, and so mar- velously enlarged by the legends, which alone concern us here. One version relates that Seth, son of Adam, taught by the angels, foretold the appearance of the Nativity star. This prophecy, repeated much against his will by Balaam (who is iden- tified with Zoroaster), when he would fain have cursed the Lord's chosen people, was : ** I shall see him, but not now ; I shall behold him, but The Flight. 6S not nigh ; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel." Overheard by the Gentiles of the country, Balaam's prediction was believed by them, and repeated to their descendants, who kept up a perpetual watch for the appearance of the miraculous star. Many years had gone oy, but their faith remained unshaken, and they still continued to scan the heavens. Several miracles which occurred to three of their number made the princes, or Magi, as they are generally called, suspect that the time for the fulfilment of the prophecy was very near. One of them saw an ostrich hatch an Qggy out of which came a lion, or a wolf, and lamb, which seemed a direct confirmation of Isaiah's words: "the wolf and the lamb shall feed together." The second prince beheld a flower far more beautiful than a rose, and grow- ing upon a vine. As he gazed upon it in ad- miration, a dove flew out of it, and foretold the birth of Christ. The third of the Magi had a child born to him, and the new-born babe pre- dicted the birth and death of the Redeemer, and died at the end of thirty-three days. The days of the infant's life are supposed to cor- respond in number with the years which our Lord spent upon earth, although some legends 5 6S Legends of the Virgin and Christ, li :Ji: !':! i I claim that He died at fifty, after having finished his allotted half century of human existence. Such miraculous portents might well have prepared the minds of the expectant Magi for some unusual event. So all three went up on Mons Victorialis, whence they anxiously be- gan to scan the heavens in search of the long promised sign. All at once they savir a brilliant star, which far outshone all the rest. As they gazed upon it, it assumed the form of a little child, and moving westward seemed to beckon them on. With loud rejoicings the Magi mounted their waiting dromedaries, and following the beacon star, jour- neyed straight on to Jeru«="^em. They arrived in this city at the end of th n days, and eagerly began asking every one iney met: ** Where is he that is born King of the Jews > for we have seen his star in the east and are come to wor- ship him." ** A star, not seen before, in heaven appearing Guided the wise men thither from the east, To honour thee with incense, myrch, and gold ; By whose bright course led on they found the place, Affirming it thy star, new-rgraven in heaven, By which they knew the King of Israel born.** Milton : Paradise Regained. I ) The Flight. 67 Another tradition says that the three wise men were representatives of the three great races descended from Noah's sons, and that starting from diiferent points, and following the guiding star, they met near the gate of Jerusa- lem, and only then learned that they were all bent on the same quest. On account of this belief, and because they were also supposed to represent the three stages of manhood, the first, Caspar or Jasper, is generally represented as a very old man, with a long white beard and with a Japhetic cast of features. The second, Bal- thazar, is middle-aged and black-haired, and evidently belongs to a Semitic race ; while the third, Melchior, is very young. He is repre- sented either as a Moor or negro, or is attended by a swarthy slave to designate his belonging to the third, or Hametic race, and to show that all the Gentiles also were to have a share in the promised redemption. The phenomenon in the heavens which so excited the wonder of the Magi has been ascribed by modern science to one of the rarest celestial events. Astronomers tell us that once in about every eight hundred years there is a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn. Kepler observed this conjunction in 1604, and then noticed a brilliant, but evanescent star. ( » ,y 68 Legends of the Virgin ami Christ. We are further told that this phenomenon oc- curred three times in 747 A. U. C, shortly before the birth of Christ, and again the year after with the addition of Mars. These may have been the three suns, which, as we have seen, were reported in the East, where it is well known that astronomy was even then a favourite study. The state and number of the Magi, and their eager questions, seem to have occasioned quite a sensation in Jerusalem. The rumour of their arrival even reached Herod in his palace. So he sent for the strangers, who, in answer to his questions, told him of the star which they had seen and followed, and of the royal babe whom they had come to worship. •* And by the light of that same Star Three wise men came from country far ; To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went.'* ' ' Sandy's Christmas Cafol. A very old ballad or carol, which embodies one of the legends current on this subject during the Middle Ages, tells us that Hercd was sitting at table when he heard this news, and vowed that he would not believe it until the roasted "\ The Flight. 69 cock before him crowed thrice. This quaint production runs thus : — " There was a star in the west land Which shed a cheerful ray Into King Herod's chamber, And where King Herod lay. " The wise men soon espied it, And told the king on high, — A princely babe was born that night No king should e'er destroy. " ' If this be true,* King Herod said, ' As thou tellest unto me, This roasted cock that lies in the dish Shall crow full fences three.' " The cock soon freshly feathered was By the work of God's own hand. And then three fences crowed he In the dish where he did stand." Carnal and Crane. The Scriptures relate that Herod was so troubled by the question of the Magi, that he assembled the priests and scribes, who told him that Christ was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea. The legends add that the priests, too, had seen the star, and that they confessed to Herod that the time had come when all their prophecies should be fulfilled. f.i 1 ■ ' fO Legends of the Virgin and Christ. The wise men, having thus obtained the infor- mation they wanted, took leave of Herod, who, pretending that he too was anxious to see and worship the Child heralded by such a miracle, dismissed them saying: '*Go and search dili- gently for the young child, and when ye have found him bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also." Still following the star, the Magi came to Bethlehem, where their arrival again created a great excitement, and when the star stopped above the stable they eagerly asked if there was a new-born child in the place. Upon receiving an affirmative answer, they quickly dismounted, to do homage to Him whom they had travelled so far to see. Some versions say that the star waited until the Magi's visit was ended, and then guided them safely home again ; but others state that as the wise men entered the stable, it dropped into a well at Bethlehem, at the bottom of which it can still be seen. But if several people try to ob- tain a glimp&e of it at once, it only becomes apparent to the wisest among them. The Three Kings, having come to do homage to the Lord, brought with them offerings suitable for a king, and thus fulfilled the prophecy: ** The kings of Tarshish aad the isles shall bring ^1 .i. ADORATION OF THE KlN(iS. (Pfannschmiut.) N?| 1 1 •! I i I i I i : ■ ' i The Flight. 71 presents, and the kings of Sheba shall offer gifts." These presents are briefly mentioned in Scrip- tures, but the legends like to expatiate upon the beauty and nature of the gifts, about which they do not always agree. Some versions insist that each one of the kings gave gold as a mark of tribute from a subject to a monarch. Most of them, however, claim that Melchior offered a crown and thirty pieces of gold. The latter were traditional coin, for. made by Terah, father of Abraham, they had b^en given to the Egyptians in exchange for spices to embalm the body of Jacob. These same coins, which numbered thirty, were subsequently brought by the Queen of Sheba to Solomon, and after passing through many hands were now offered in tribute to his descendant, the long promised and expected Messiah. The two other kings proffered myrrh and frank- ince.nse upon humbly bended knees. These three gifts have ever been considered emblematical of the three-fold nature of Christ. The gold was for the King, the frankincense for the God, and t%e myrrh for the Man, whose perishable body it was destined to embalm. The Infant Saviour is frequently represented as receiving these gifts with gracious condescen- sion, and some writers claim that He bestow^i^ '■(,i 72 Legends of the Virgin and Gmst. upon the givers, in exchange for the gold, in- cense, and myrrh, the spiritual blessings of love, meekness, and perfect faith. " The Magi of the East, in sandals worii, Knelt reverent, sweeping round, With long, pale beards, their gifts upon the ground, The incense, myrrh, and gold These baby hands were impotent to hold." E. B. Browning. The legends assure us that the Magi also offered gifts to Joseph and Mary, and the latter, in return, gave them one of the bands in which the Infant Saviour had been wrapped. Then, after having been warned in a dream not to go back to Jerusalem, where Herod was awaiting their coming only to harm the young king, the Magi took leave of the Holy Family and went home by another way. Some writers claim that they went to Tar- shish, whence they sailed away upon one of the swiftest vessels. But when Herod discovered that they had escaped from him thus, without giving him the required information, he was so angry that he ordered a general destruction of all the vessels in the harbour. The Magi had effected their escape none too soon. Thanks to the warning they bad miracu- The Flight. 73 OWNING. lously received, they reached their own country safely, and proclaimed what they had seen, ex- hibiting the band which Mary had given them as proof of their words. One of them even ven- tured to fling the bit of linen into the fire, where it was not consumed, but whence he drew it out unharmed. To emulate the king whom they had found in a manger, the Magi now gave away all their wealth to the poor, laid aside their rich robes, and went about preaching repentance and doing good. Some forty years later, we are told that the apostle St. Thomas found these men in India, where, after baptizing and instructing them, he bade them continue their good work. Full of zeal for the Master whom they had seen when a babe lying upon His mother's bosom, the Magi now travelled on into the far East, where they were eventually sentenced to death and perished martyrs of their faith. Their re- mains, discovered long after, were conveyed by the empress Helena to Constantinople. Fred- erick Barbarossa, emperor of Germany, trans- ported them next to Cologne, where their bones now rest in a magnificent tomb. Such is the fame of these relics that they have been the object of pious pilgrimages ever since the time of the first crusade, and the shrine of the Magi, ■;i !J j \ n I •A •') 1 !l 74 Legends of the Virgin and Christ, or the Three Kings of Cologne, is known throughout all Europe. Ever since the ninth century a festival has been held in their honour, which is celebrated on the sixth of January, and is known as Epiphany, Twelfth Night, or the Day of the Three Kings. It is marked by popular games and rejoicings, one custom being to elect as king of revels, the person who secures a bean baked in a special cake for that occasion. " This is our merry night Of choosing king and queen.? Black Letter : Christmas Carol in the Bodleian Library, Other legends state that Herod in the mean time had been vainly awaiting the return of the Magi. When he ascertained that they had really left the country, he flew into one of the awful paroxysms of rage for which he is so famous in history. This tyrant, who in anger once ordered the murder of his beloved wife Mariamne, and of two of his own sons, did not shrink from the massacre of all the children under two years of age, which were found in Bethlehem, and the region round about it. The Scriptures give no description of this massacre, but the legends^ 4weil upon it at The Flight 7S U some length. One version relates that Herod sent for the babes, whose mothers hastened to his palace little suspecting why their presence there was required. Then, when the mothers had all been penned into an inner court, from whence there was no possible means of escape, rude soldiers were turned in among them. These men snatched the babes from the arms of the frantic women and butchered them there in cold blood. Another version describes the troop*, unex- pectedly entering the peaceful village of Beth*- lehem, and falling upon, and murdering the little ones whom the mothers vainly strove to save. The number of these infant martyrs, who are called the Holy Innocents, is unknown, and has been variously estimated from half a dozen to several thousand. It is hardly likely, however, that in so small a place there should have been more than a score of children under two years of age, and hence they are generally represented as a dozen or more in works of art. As the Holy Innocents died for Christ's sake, they are called the first Christian martyrs, and are often represented as cherubic angels hovering over their Master during His early childhood or at the time of His crucifixion. ii ,ii ! iff ^6 Legends of the Virgin and Christ. " Who are these on golden wings, That hover o'er the new-born King of Kings, Their palms and garlands telling plain That they are of the glorious martyr train Next to yourself ordained to praise His name, and brighten as on Him they gaze/' Christian Year. w. According to one very old tradition, Elizabeth was then in Bethlehem, with the infant St. John. As the soldiers came to snatch him from her arms, she fled in terror. Closely pursued, and despairing of saving her child, Elizabeth rushed toward a rock, crying frantically, ** Mount of God, receive a mother and her child." At these words, the mountain or rock opened wide to receive her, closing again as soon as she was safe within, so that her pursuers could not get at her. Here, in the bosom of the earth, and cheered by a divine light which shone as long as she was forced to remain in hiding, Elizabeth nursed the Precursor, who had been saved by miracle, only that he might prepare the way for the Lord. Some writers claim that the mountain which opened to receive Elizabeth was transparent, and that Herod's guards could clearly see both mother and child ; but others aver that the soldiers did not know what had become of the fugitives, and \\ The Flight, 77 suspected Zacharias of having concealed them. They made this report to Herod, who, finding that Zacharias could not, or would not reveal the hiding-place of his wife and son, ordered him to be slain between the steps and the altar. The Levites, entering the temple on the next day, saw the blood-stained altar, and vainly tried to remove all traces of the crime. But one dark spot could not be cleansed ; the blood there was congealed, and as if petrified, and a voice was heard proclaiming that all attempts to remove it would be vain until the avenger came. Terrified by these words, and by the groaning of the wainscoting of the temple, which cried aloud and uttered awful denunciations against Herod, the Levites fled. Bu* ever since then has existed the widespread belief that blood shed I y violence cannot be effaced, but leaves an indelible stain. It is owing to this super- stition that many dark spots are still pointed out to tourists, in the places where historical crimes have been committed. As Zacharias was dead, another priest had to be chosen in his stead. This selection, made by casting lots as usual, fell upon Simeon, and a prophetic voice was heard, saying that the newly elected priest should not see death until he had seen the Messiah in the flesh. . =1 ■..• wttU^ ill yS Legends of the Virgin and Christ, The Massacre of the Innocents had been all in vain. Herod had failed to kill the babe he feared, for Joseph, warned by an angel in a dream, had taken Mary and the Child and left Bethlehem in haste. The brevity of the Scrip- tural narrative, where St. Matthew alone men- tions the flight, again contrasts greatly with the legendary accounts, which are as numerous as contradictory. Some versions say that the Holy Family fled filone, Mary riding upon an ^ss, and holding the Child, which is always represented as being less than two years old. Other accounts, of which ^he painters have taken advantage when several figures are desired, say that Joseph was accom- panied by his three sons, while Mary was at- tended by Salome, the girl or woman whose paralysed hand had been restored by touching the Holy Child. The little band is sometimes led or accompanied by angels, either the Holy Innocents, or those who bore witness to the birth of the Redeemer of mankind. The ass, which Mary rides, is said to have been the same which bent an adoring knee when the Child was laid in the manger, and sometimes the ox is also seen, drawing a rude cart con- taining the baggage of the Holy Family. As guardian and protector of the Virgin and Child, The Flight. 79 have vvhen imes con- As hild, Joseph is always present in pictures of the Flight, and while he is sometimes represented as very old, and requiring support from Mary rather than helping her, he is generally a man of middle age, tenderly watchful of his precious charges. Bethlehem was only two hours' journey from Jerusalem, and from thence to the Egyptian frontier, whither he was divinely ordered to direct his steps, Joseph knew that there was quite a long jourh*iy. The time required tQ cover this distance has been variously estimated as from three days to six months. Some of the legends, however, state that the way was miracu' lously shortened, and that a few hours after leaving Bethlehem, Joseph, looking up, saw with astonishment the first Egyptian city. We are^lso told that the Holy Family were led by angels, who pitched a tent for them every night, ferried them over the streams, lulled the Child to sleep by their heavenly strains, and carried a torch or lantern to light the way when they travelled by night. During the first part of the journey, which took place at night or in the early dawn, Joseph, afraid of pursuit, continually turned his head toward Bethlehem, where some legends say that a signal fi'^e was lighted as soon as the escape ol the Holy Family was discovered. The danger 8o Legends of the Virgin and Christ, of being overtaken was imminent. Mary saw a husbandman sowing grain before sunrise, and hoping to save her Ciiild, she bade the farmer answer, if any one inquired "' nher an old man, a young woman, and a id had passed by, " Such persons passed this way when I was sowing this corn." The man promised to do as Mary wished, and went home to breakfast. A few hours later, when the husbandman came to inspect his work, he found that the wheat had grown up by miracle, had ripened, and was ready to harvest. He therefore immediately began to reap it, and when Herod's guards came dashing up, and eagerly inquired whether he had seen the fugitives, he carefully answered as Mary had requested. *' After that came King Herod, With his train so furiously, Enquiring of the husbandman Whether Jesus passed by this way. " « Why the truth it must be spoken, And the truth it must be known, For Jesus passed by this way When I my seed had sown. (( * But now I have it reapen, And some laid on my wain, Ready to fetch and carry Into my barn again.' " Carnal and Crane. The Flight. 8i This answer, which was perfectly truthful, — for, as the legend takes care to point out, Mary was far too good to save her Child at the cost of a lie, — put the soldiers off the track. They hastily turned back, although an officious black beetle anxiously pushed itself up out of the brown earth, and chirped, *' Last night 1 last night 1 " Since then, the Highlanders, who relate this legend, and consider the beetle a traitor, always stamp upon it, crying, " Last night," to remind the insect that it incurred death in punishment for its intended betrayal. It is in allusion to this legend that a field of ripe grain, where the harvesters are hard at work, is sometimes intro- duced in the background of pictures represent- ing the Flight into Egypt. Another legend states that Herod's officers pursued Mary and the Child, and would have overtaken them had not a juniper opened to conceal them, or a pine hidden them beneath its sheltering branches. Most of the plants are said to have remained motionless on this occa- sion, lest by an inadvertent movement they should reveal the hiding-place of the Lord ; but ** the brooms and the chick peas rustled and crackled, and the flax bristled up.'' Legends of the yirgin and Christ. ** So ITcrod was deceived By the work of God's own hand, And further he proceeded Iiito the Holy Land." Carnal and Crdni. Had Herod only known it, the Child he sought could easily have been traced, for we are told that the Rose of Jericho, which is also called Mary's Rose, sprang up along the path the Holy Family had trodden, and blossomed brightly wherever they rested. "And dry Roses bloomed Back into beauty, when their garments brushed The Rosebush." Sir Edwin Arnold: The Light of the Worhi> This flo\ver, which bloomed at the birth of Christ, further showed its sympathy by closing at His crucifixion, only to open again at His resurrection. Further on, the Holy Family passed into the dense shade of a forest, where they would have lost their way had not an angel guided them. The trees, conscious of the presence of the Creator of the World, are said to have bowed down at His approach and to have done Him obeisance, as was due to a king. 1 Funk and Wagnall. The Flight, 83 " Once, as Our Saviour walked with men below His path of mercy through a forest lay ; And mark how all the drooping branches show What homage best a silent tree may pay." * Only one among them all, the haughty aspen, stood erect, and refused tUs homage which all the rest were so anxious to bestow. The Infant Saviour, who, according to the Arabic legends, talked even in His cradle, saw the aspen, and solemnly cursed it on account of its pride. Struck to the heart by the sound of his con- demnatory words, the guilty tree began to tremble, and has never ceased to shiver since. " Only the aspen stood erect and free, Scorning to join the voiceless worship pure ; But see ! He cast one look upon the tree, Struck to the heart she trembles evermore." ^ Next the Holy Family came to a cave in the desert, and the youths and Salome going ahead, soon ran back showing signs of the liveliest terror. Their fright was well founded, for out of the cave came lions, dragons, and all manner of wild beasts, ready to devour them. But the Infant Saviour got down from His mother's lap, and went and stood fearlessly among thenr, while the animals all came and adored Him. Joseph 1 Dyer's Folk Lore of Plants. Appleton & Co. 84 Legends of the Virgin ard Christ. and Mary were terrified, and trembled ; but the Child soon quieted their apprehensions by say- ing: ** Fear not, nor consider me because I am a little infant, for I was and am ever perfect ; it must needs be that all the wild beasts of the wood should grow tame before me." This legend owes its existence to a passage in Isaiah, where the prophet says, " The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid ; and the calf and the young lion and the falling together, and a young child shall lead them." It was completed by making the wild beasts all act as a body-guard to the Holy Family and escort them to Egypt, without molesting the ox, the ass, or the sheep, which formed part of the train. The desire of giving a Christian meaning to everything, which was a characteristic feature of mediaeval literature, made ancient writers add that the Christ Child sprang upon the lion, who, thus honoured above all the rest of the animals, has ever since been termed King of the Animals. l< ' > \ t " First came the lovely lion, Which Jesu's grace did spring ; And of the wild beasts of the field. The lion shall be king." Carnal and Crane, i s- CHAPTER V. THE SOJOURN IN EGYPT. The road followed — The brigands — The captives released — The good thief — The robbers' den — The palm — The fountain — The arrival in Egypt — The fallen idols — The conversion of the Egyptians — The priest's son — The Sphinx — The visit to Pharaoh — The dumb bride — The leper girl — The story of the mule — The sojourn at Mata- rea — The sycamore — The shadow of the cross — Miracu- lous ciures — Bartholomew — Judas — The fortune teller — Christ's playmates — The dead fish — The Egyptian teaclier. he of f