Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Picture Book Discoveries
 4Real Forums : Picture Book Discoveries
Subject Topic: Spirit Child Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
marihalojen
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 12 2006
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1883
Posted: Jan 23 2008 at 9:20am | IP Logged Quote marihalojen

Spirit Child A Story of the Nativity

Translated from the Aztec by John Bierhorst
Illustrated by Barbara Cooney

Amazon Link

Key Words:
Aztec Nativity Jesus Mary Joseph Devil Gabriel Angels Franciscan Missionary Fray Bernardino de Sahagun Nahuatl Mexico Spanish Conquistadores Psalmodia Christiana



Composed in 1583 by the Franciscan Missionary Fray Bernardino de Sahagun, Spirit Child was written entirely in the Aztec language Nahuatl and was part of one of the first books published in the New World, the Psalmodia Christiana. It was originally chanted to the accompaniment of drums and that rhythm is still a driving force in this translation. John Bierhorst rediscovered it while writing an Aztec-English dictionary based on sources from the 1500s.

The book opens with a description of time before Jesus -
For five thousand years after the world began, the devil was king. He was proud and mean, and there was no one anywhere on earth who could save us from his hands.
Many people had been born who were strong and intelligent and who lived good lives, but they did not have the power to save either themselves or anyone else from the hands of the devil.
...But the name Jesus already existed before the world began...Oh child, remember how you were born long ago.

Barbara Cooney's painting for this section is a great Day of the Dead style illustration even including a border of the traditional marigolds.

Her illustrations for this book are vibrant and full of details - Quetzal plumed wings for Gabriel, Mary weaving on a backstrap loom and spinning with a drop spindle, and the Three Wise Men and Herod looking like they stepped right off the Florentine Codex.

The text combines stories from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke with traditional Aztec lore and medieval legends - like the night Jesus was born three suns appeared in the night sky and became one sun.

One of my favorite parts -
The lord God sent his messenger, the angel Gabriel. Down he came to the country of Galilee, to the city called Nazareth.
When he found the house where the young woman was living, he came in and stood beside her and spoke these holy words: "Hail Mary, full of grace, God is with you.
"O lady, you are blessed, you are worthy in God's eyes. You are the most fortunate of women. God has favored you. He has filled your soul with the power of life, and because of this you will be praised in all the world."
But when Mary heard these words she was troubled. She did not think she was worthy of the angel's greeting, because she was very meek. She began to reflect on it, thinking about the angel's message. Then she said, "Why should someone talk to me like this? Why should I be praised?"
The angel Gabriel's face came shining, the way the sun comes up making everything bright. His wings came gleaming, came glistening...


To read the story of the Nativity from the perspective of the Aztecs and the Missionaries at the time of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe is really neat. The Codex Escalada, a painting on deerskin which illustrates the apparition and discusses Juan Diego's death was signed by Bernardino de Sahagun, an awesome connection.


__________________
~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
Back to Top View marihalojen's Profile Search for other posts by marihalojen Visit marihalojen's Homepage
 
MaryM
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
Posted: Jan 23 2008 at 11:23am | IP Logged Quote MaryM

Oh, how cool this sounds. I love the Spanish and Native history of the New World. Thank you Jennifer for recommending this.

__________________
Mary M. in Denver

Our Domestic Church
Back to Top View MaryM's Profile Search for other posts by MaryM Visit MaryM's Homepage
 
cathhomeschool
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar
Texas Bluebonnets

Joined: Jan 26 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7303
Posted: Jan 28 2008 at 8:33pm | IP Logged Quote cathhomeschool

And my library has it.   

__________________
Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
Back to Top View cathhomeschool's Profile Search for other posts by cathhomeschool
 
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 3:38pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM

It's taken me two years to finally read Spirit Child, but it is a keeper! I'm adding this to our Guadalupe reading. The illustrations by Barbara Cooney are gorgeous.

The text was written by a Franciscan with an Aztec poet, and it's just so beautiful!

I gushed here. This is going to be one of my top books for Christmastime.

__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
Back to Top View JennGM's Profile Search for other posts by JennGM Visit JennGM's Homepage
 
CatholicMommy
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2007
Location: Indiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1254
Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 4:52pm | IP Logged Quote CatholicMommy

Oh! I missed this one the first time around - thank you both for posting it and for refreshing the thread!

Adding to my wishlist!

__________________
Garden of Francis
HS Elementary Montessori Training
Montessori Nuggets
Back to Top View CatholicMommy's Profile Search for other posts by CatholicMommy Visit CatholicMommy's Homepage
 
Erin
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator


Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5814
Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 6:46pm | IP Logged Quote Erin

Jenn

I had just read your gush and was most inspired. As I picked up book reserves at the library yesterday I gave thanks to all the ladies here for their wonderful suggestions over the years, the treasure we otherwise wouldn't have found.

__________________
Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
Back to Top View Erin's Profile Search for other posts by Erin Visit Erin's Homepage
 
Carole N.
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Oct 28 2006
Location: Wales
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4484
Posted: Dec 15 2010 at 6:01am | IP Logged Quote Carole N.

I read your gush as well, Jenn. And now I am trying to locate a copy. You know how special Our Lady of Guadalupe is to our family!

__________________
Carole ... in Wales
Back to Top View Carole N.'s Profile Search for other posts by Carole N.
 
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
Posted: Dec 15 2010 at 6:41am | IP Logged Quote SeaStar

Betterworld books had two copies last night for $3.48 each (with free shipping)

__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)


SQUILT Music Appreciation
Back to Top View SeaStar's Profile Search for other posts by SeaStar
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com