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Show The Juggler's Christmas Gft There once lived in France a vmdering juggler named Bomaby. When he came to village square where ne wished to perform, ne started his act by balancing a tin plate on the rip of his nose. After that trick he stood on his hands, throwing six copper balls into the air . and catching them with his feet. Next, he juggled a dozen knives with his head between his knees. Following eacn trick he came forward and bowed to the crowd that had gathered. They applauded and threw pennies. Despite his great skill as a juggler, Bomaby was very poor. He suffered most in the winter. It was then that the ground was frozen hard, the weather bad, and the crowd small. Nevertheless, Barnaby was a humble man who loved God. . Early one December evening after a heavy snowstorm, the juggler overtook a monk walking along the road between two villages. Although he was quite cold anonungry, Barnaby greeted the monk cheerfully. The juggler was dressed in his only dothes-the green tunic ana tights in which he performed. The monk asked about the garments, lama juggler, ' said Barnaby, ' 'and it would be the best lfe in the world, if only it provided enough bread to satisfy my lunger." "Ah, my friend," said the monk, "there is no better life in all the world than serving our Lord." The juggler and the monk walked in silence for a way before Barnaby replied--"Good father I spoke too quickly. The lite I lead cannot in any way be compared to your calling. There may be joy in balancing a penny on a sack on the tip of my nose, but it Has none of the glory of serving God. I would gladly give up juggling to serve God as you do." , . The monk looked deeply into the juggler's eyes. He said, "Dear friend, if you truly believe what you say, come wim me and you shall serve God in the monastery where I am the abbot. So Barnaby followed the holy man to his monastery. There, as a monk, he dedicated his life to the service, of God. As Qinstmas approached, the other monks began preparing gifts for the Blessed Virgin Mary. The abbot himself was wntmg abwk dealing wim the irtues of trie Nfother of God. Brother Ntaice copied the abbot's r t" ft rffTs -fT rfft, .fffc tl tt tfi 1 S writings in beautiful script on sheets of vellum, brother Alexander adorned the pages with delicate miniature paintings. Brother Marbode spent aU his days carving religious figures in stone. Some of the monks were also poets; they composed hymns in Latin. There was even a brother who sang in rhymed verse about the miracles attributed to the help of Our lady.. Barnaby admired the talents of his fellow monks and marveled at their devotion. His own ignorance and sirrf)lidtyisaddenedhim "Ah, me!" he sidied. 'Thavenogift to offer the Holy Mother of God. I'm uneducated and unskilled in the fine arts-I cannot write or illustrate books, or sculpture in stone, or compose music, or make rhymes to sing. I am only a miserable fool." . Day by day he was more downcast. Then a wonderful idea came to him reawakened filled with joy on the day fjefore (stmas and hurried to the chapel. He remained there alone for more than an hour. After the noon meal he went again to the chapel. By this time his sadness vanished completely. In fact, .his change in temperament was so remarkable it aroused .the curjosity of the other mgnks. The abbot decided to investigate. That night-it was Qinstmas Eve-the abbot and two older monks hid in the chapel to see whether Barnaby nigfit return. . He did. Head bowed, Barnaby walked up the aisle to the altar. Before the statue of Our Lady he carefully laid his juggler's cloth pn the stone floor. Silently he began to juggle-first with copper balls, then with spoons and knives. Trie old monks were dumbfounded. A sacrilege! The abbot, knowing Barnaby to be a devout man, thought the juggler had gone mad. He and the two older monks started toward the poor fellow to lead him away. Then a strange thing happened. The statue of the Blessed Virgin came to life. And stepping down from the altar, Our Lady wiped the perspiration from tne juggler's forehead with the hem of her blue robe. . ,,,., The abbot and the two older monks fell to their knees. "Truly, said the abbot, 4 'the gift of Barnaby the juggler is the greatest of all ! He has given himsett." Amtole France |