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.



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marihalojen
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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.


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MaryM
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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.

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cathhomeschool
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Posted: Jan 28 2008 at 8:33pm | IP Logged Quote cathhomeschool

And my library has it.   

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JennGM
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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.

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CatholicMommy
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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!

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Erin
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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.

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Carole N.
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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!

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SeaStar
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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)

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