Christmas tale

Our Lady's juggler

A medieval legend tells us that in the country we know today as Austria the Burkhard family – a man, a woman and a child – used to amuse people at Christmas parties by reciting poetry, singing ancient troubadour ballads, and juggling. Of course, there was never any money left over to buy presents, but the man always told his son:

"Do you know why Santa Claus's bag never gets empty, although there are so many children in the world? Because it may be full of toys, but sometimes there are more important things to be delivered, what we call "invisible gifts". In a broken home, he tries to bring harmony and peace on the holiest night in Christianity. Where love is lacking, he deposits a seed of faith in children's hearts. Where the future seems black and uncertain, he brings hope. In our case, the day after Father Christmas comes to visit us, we are happy to be still alive and doing our work, which is to make people happy. Never forget that."

Time passed, the boy grew up, and one day the family passed in front of the impressive Melk Abbey, which had just been built.

"Father, do you remember many years ago you told me the story of Santa Claus and his invisible gifts? I think that I received one of those gifts once: the vocation to become a priest. Would you mind if now I took my first step towards what I have always dreamed of?"

Although they really needed their son's company, the family understood and respected the boy's wish. They knocked at the door of the monastery and were given a loving, generous welcome by the monks, who accepted the young Buckhard as a novice.

Christmas Eve came around. And precisely on that day, a special miracle happened in Melk: Our Lady, carrying the baby Jesus in her arms, decided to descend to Earth to visit the monastery.

All the priests lined up and each of them stood proudly before the Virgin trying to pay homage to the Madonna and her Son. One of them displayed the beautiful paintings that decorated the place, another showed a copy of a Bible that had taken a hundred years to be written and illustrated, while a third recited the names of all the saints.

At the very end of the line, young Buckhard anxiously waited his turn. His parents were simple people, and all that they had taught him was to toss balls up in the air and do some juggling.

When it came his turn, the other priests wanted to put an end to all the homage that had been paid, since the ex-juggler had nothing important to add and might even mar the image of the abbey.

Nevertheless, deep in his heart he also felt a great need to give something of himself to Jesus and the Virgin. Feeling very ashamed before the reproachful gaze of his brothers, he took some oranges from his pocket and began to toss them in the air and catch them in his hands, creating a beautiful circle in the air just as he used to do when he and his family traveled to all the fairs in the region.

At that instant, the baby Jesus, lying in Our Lady's lap, began to clap his hands with joy. And it was to young Buckhard that the Virgin held out her arms to let him hold the smiling child for a few moments.

The legend ends by saying that on account of this miracle, every two hundred years a new Buckhard knocks on the door of Melk Abbey, is welcomed in, and for the whole time he remains there he warms the hearts of all who meet him.

© Translated by James Mulholland. Copyright free – please be welcome to paste/copy and distribute to your friends.

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How to do what I want

When he died, Juan found himself in an exquisite place, surrounded by all the comfort and beauty he had always dreamed of. A man dressed in white spoke to him:

‘You can have anything you want, any food, any pleasure, any diversion,’ he said.

Delighted, Juan did everything he had dreamed of doing while alive. Then, after many years of pleasure, he again searched out the man in white.

‘I’ve done everything I wanted to do. Now I need a job, so that I can feel useful,’ he said.

‘I’m sorry,’ replied the man in white. ‘But that is the one thing I can’t give you; there is no work here.’

‘How awful!’ said Juan angrily. ‘That means I’ll spend all eternity bored to death! I wish I was in Hell!’

The man in white came over to him and said softly:

‘And where exactly do you think you are, sir?’ (c)


from Paulo Coelho's blog

Blaming others

It is one thing to live one’s life blaming ourselves for thoughtless actions that led us astray; guilt doesn’t get us anywhere and it can even remove any stimulus to improve. It is quite another thing, however, to forgive ourselves for everything; that way we will never be able to set ourselves on the right path again.

(c) Paulo Coelho

taken from blog.

Today's Answer by Paulo Coelho

Question: Your novels aren't tragedies, they principle end somehow happily, with self-understanding, recognition of main characters. Do you want to deliver some kind of positive thoughts?

Paulo Coelho : I wouldn't say "positive thoughts" but rather hope: against all the sarcasm, all the detachment our current society dwells on.

Through and beyond

A warrior of the light notices that certain moments repeat themselves.

He often finds himself faced with the same problems and situations as before.

He becomes depressed. He begins to think he is incapable of making progress in life, the difficult moments having returned.

I've already been through this, he complains to his heart.

It is true, you have been through it, replies the heart. But you never went beyond it.

The warrior then understands that the repetition of experiences have one single purpose: to teach him that he has not yet learned.

He begins to seek out a new solution for each repeated struggle - until he finds a way of conquering.



(c) Paulo Coelho


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The toad and the hot water

Sometimes we behave like the boiled toads. We do not notice changes. We think that everything is fine and that anything bad in our lives will simply go away - that it’s just a matter of time. We are close to death, but still we sit, unchanging and apathetic, while the water around us gets hotter by the minute. We end up dying, fat and happy, without having noticed the changes going on around us.

(c) Paulo Coelho

paulocoelhoblog

Convention of those wounded in love

"All lovers, of any sex, are alerted that love, besides being a blessing, is also something extremely dangerous, unpredictable and capable of causing serious damage. Consequently, anyone planning to love should be aware that they are exposing their body and soul to various types of wounds, and that they shall not be able to blame their partner at any moment, since the risk is the same for both."

(c) Paulo Coelho

www.warriorofthelight.com

Favorite quotes by Paulo Coelho

from http://paulocoelhoblog.com/quotes/

The crazy magician and the "camisa negra"

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The Alchemist and the Katalyst : on Innocence

Paulo Coelho is being interviewed by Kevin Carroll.

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The Alchemist and the Katalyst : on Innocence

Paulo Coelho is being interviewed by Kevin Carroll.

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