[AnAmericanMother]

Our Lady's Juggler

They saw Barnabas before the image of the Holy Virgin, his head on the floor and his feet in the air, juggling with six copper balls and twelve knives. In honor of the Holy Virgin he was performing the tricks which had in former days brought him the greatest fame. Not understanding that he was thus putting his best talents at the service of the Holy Virgin, the aged brothers cried out against such sacrilege. The Prior knew that Barnabas had a simple soul, but he believed that the man had lost his wits. All three set about to removed Barnabas from the chapel, when the saw the Virgin slowly descend from the alter and, with a fold of her blue mantle, wipe the sweat that streamed over the juggler's forehead.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

"Amen," echoed the brothers, bowing down to the floor.

[sine_nomine]

altar - not alter.

I noticed that the original web page had it wrong, too.

An alter call might be an invitation to become a gelding.

[saradippity]

Thanks for that story.I have heard variations of it for years and for some reason it always brings tears to my eyes.

Bottom line,the message I took from the story was that no matter how meagre and insignificant our gifts or talents might be,we should offer God the best we have to give Him. Barnabas,or the unamed monk in other stories,could juggle.

Could be that these Polish dancers offered the best skills and talents they had.

[cyborg]

I am shocked at the posts regarding the young people breakdancing. Thanks for bringing something positive to this thread. I think it was St.John Boscoe who was a bit of a clown himself. Did people get up on the wrong side of the bed today or something?