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.
tags technorati : Technorati Paulo Coelho Paulo Coehlo Warrior of Light Warrior of the Light Newsletter
When I first read this story in the prologue to THE ALCHEMIST it was on Christmas Day, 2009, and I shared it with my family in our devotions on Christmas morning before we exchanged our simple gifts. What it says to me is that each of us has a gift and that the purpose of that gift is the glorification of God. If we can use that gift in such a way that others are reminded that there is a great and loving God who watches over us, who loves us, who keeps us and cares for us, then we are on the way to fulfilling our calling in life and this is the only place that true happiness and even holiness are found. There are forms of holiness that are acknowledged as religious, but I look for the deeper ones that are disguised, that are as fun as the true Jesus, the true God, not the one who is imprisoned in the places of worship and made to seem so very stern and legalistic. The letter of the law kills but the Spirit, the free Spirit of God that is compared to the wind, gives life. I dedicated my life to God many years ago and I have found how easy it is to take something that was built on a relationship, on a revelation and turn it into a religion, but now in my sixtieth year I am once again throwing off the shackles of law and rules and am finding that the wild, free wind of the Spirit is as exciting and joy-inspiring as ever. I believe, like this story suggests, that whenever we use our God-given gifs with the goal of pleasing God and Jesus, we succeed in not only pleasing Them but in finding our meaning, our calling, our joy.
Historically, December 25th was not Christ’s birthday. No-one quite knows exactly when Christ was born, and given the changes made to the calendar by Pope Gregory, which changed our lives from a correct lunar cycle to a disjointed solar cycle, the situation was complicated even further. However, this is the date on which we choose to celebrate Christ’s birthday because we have no other accurate information.When a person’s birthday is celebrated, we treat them well and we buy them presents. We try to make them happy and we have a feast in their honour so that they will be well pleased, but sadly, from my observations, far from honouring Christ we continue to crucify him.
In some senses he is still hanging on the cross suffering derision and insult.
Here was certainly the greatest man ever to walk this world, who made the blind see and the lame walk – who even raised the dead. So, what did they do to him then? They nailed him to a cross and watched him die.
The problem is that many many people are still doing just that, only in a slightly different form.
Amongst our many good priests we have corrupt and immoral priests who mock the very person they claim to represent and in the lay community, amongst many good and honest Christians, we have wicked and false Christians who bend and twist the words of Christ to suit themselves and enable them to do whatever they wish. People living outside of the United Kingdom I’m sure will be shocked to know that some of our local Councils here have banned Christmas and replaced it with ‘A Winter Festival’. Also in some areas of London, bibles, crosses and crucifixes have been banned from hospitals.
And people blaspheme the name of Christ and god with no thought whatsoever to what they are actually saying. The now slightly dated English expression ‘cor blimey’ actually means, ‘god blind me’. This is not a wise thing to request of someone who has the power to calm the very storms of the sea and who can transcend death itself.
This society has cancer. The cancer is deep-rooted and it has many many secondary tumours. Little by little the evil-doers in this society have undermined the church and the constitution. In the UK they prowl around the monarchy waiting for a suitable moment to abolish it, and they push ever forward using liberalism and the law to gain an ever more fatal grip on the vital organs of this country.Christ did not tell us to do things in order to boss us around, he did so to save us from self-inflicted misery, to avoid the ruthless laws of cause and effect, of karma.
And so his birthday comes again, and what will we give him? As we trudge around the shops putting ourselves into debt to buy the latest technological gadgets to give to those whom we love – what shall we give to Christ? I am not a Christian, because I struggle to forgive and forget, and if I can’t forgive then I cannot be a true Christian, but I am a huge fan of Christ and I do acknowledge him as the greatest man to ever set foot on this planet, the purest and the most evolved.
So, what present can we give Christ on his birthday? Maybe we could stop treating him like dirt and abusing his name with every second breath. Maybe we could stop thieving and hurting and hating and killing. Maybe we could be honourable again? But then, not doing something bad does not constitute doing something good, so all of those things I believe would not impress him, please him maybe, but not impress him because we should have ceased those actions thousands of years ago.Can we not give him sanctity and find a tiny portion of our hearts which remains pure in which he can feel at home, a place which is incorruptible, and when people pray, please stop asking for what you want, over and over again, ask him what he wants.
If one does not respect Christ, then who can we respect? Who is greater and who is wiser and who is more loving?
Yes, perhaps we should ask Christ what he would like as a present on his birthday and then strive to find it for him. The answer may be hard, but not as hard as the cold bitterness of regret.Also, with respect, Christ comes in many many forms to test the true meaning of our hearts. If we have no love, then we are dead and death can come swiftly and stealthily to those whose hearts are hard and cruel, always when it is least expected, so while we have one more minute and one more tomorrow, let us cherish it and celebrate Christ re-born, sanctified, and most of all, respected.
Let us take Christ gently and reverently down from the cross of derision, nurture him and heal his wounds, maybe make him smile, and be eternally grateful that he ever bothered with us at all.
Well said, Caroline. As Jesus once said, You are not far from the Kingdom. As far as being a Christian, well, Jesus said in the book, THE SHACK, which you might really enjoy reading (it’s by William Young), that He was not a Christian and His followers are Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus. Those are labels when what God was after through Jesus was liberation from the oppressing laws so that we could be free to follow His leadings for our lives through many different means of communication. There’s the already-written scriptures but if we were bound only to following that, then what about the star the wise men followed, what about the dreams that led them and Joseph, what about the miraculous appearances of angels, what about the prophecies that foretold Jesus? Jesus came to bring love and peace and freedom, but He never forces it on anyone, so people are still free to hate Him, to curse Him, and He just keeps on loving them. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I appreciate what you wrote. God bless you.
Un hermoso mensaje de vida, y ahora de Navidad.
Nos demuestra magistralmente, como Paulo frecuentemente lo hace, de que independiente del estado socio -economico, intelectual y formativo, siempre está la oportunidad de dar.
Y ahí esta el secreto de la felicidad y de muchos aspectos que nos rodean en la vida, la belleza de dar, mas que de recibir.
En este caso, Buckhard dio un hermoso regalo visible pero muy simple al Niño Dios, y bastó eso para que él riera.
Que hermoso logro éste!!! con cosas simples , dar algo muy simple, y recibir la recompensa de la sonrisa del Niño Dios.
Creo que éste don esta presente en cada ser humano,sólo que muchos por llevar una vida muy apurada, o atormentada por otras causas, no se dan cuenta de su potencial.
GRACIAS PAULO POR ESTA NUEVA ENSEÑANZA
THIS STORY MAKES ME THINK THAT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN TO LAUGH IN GENERAL. THIS SPEED LIVING HAS TURNED US INTO A NON SMILING FACES AND JUST LOOKING FOR NEW TASKS AND WORK. WE FORGOT TO STOP AND RELAX AND HAVE FUN AND ENJOY LIFE IN ITS BEAUTY. AND SOMEONE ASKED IF JESUS LAUGH? IT WOULD BE SAD IF HE DID NOT. AND I WONDER WHY DO WE ASK SUCH QUESTIONS? MAYBE BECAUSE THEY NEVER TELL US ABOUT HUMAN SIDE OF JESUS? HE WAS ALSO A GREAT MEN AS HE WAS A SAINT. THANK YOU DEAR PAULO FOR YOUR LOVELY WORDS, YOU TOUCHED MY HEART ONCE AGAIN.
P.S. LIJEPO JE VIDJETI I HRVATSKE RIJEČI NA OVOM SITE-U. HVALA MARIJA
I believe in you JESUS CHRIST,even when my faith is weakened by time and fate.
I believe in you epecially when i panic and lose my beliefs in everything.
I believe in you,when you always sent me people to help me on my way,when i thought that hope has gone,you showed me hope in a hundred different ways and you still have thousands of them just ready to help
I believe in you when you embraced me with love and compassion though i was an athiest
I believe in you regardless of what will happen in my life because i’m sure you are holding my hand,walking with me and caressing me with love.MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.
AMEN…. sometimes i lose faith… but i still believe that HE is there …ALWAYS!!!… 9
Gracias por el cuento. ¡Feliz Navidad!
Paulo, I wish Santa can bring my mother just for a while to say how much I apologize not to gave her a happiness as I thought… I wish Santa could do that…..
Dear Theresa,
hellow! I read that you wish your mom could come back for awhile so you can give her some happiness?
Well, I want you to know that you must have given your mom lot’s of happiness, even when you did not kow that you did! Mothers always see the good in their children, and not the bad side. She must have loved you with all her heart, because you were her child, and that made her happy. Even now, she can see you from above, and smiles down at you…perhaps she even thinks..”silly child, how I love you…wish I could tell you not to think like that” ! You want to make her really happy? Close your eyes, and just tell her that you love her very much, and free yourself of this guilty feeling, and then, I am sure that she will smile once again, and think ..” \theresa, you make me so happy, when I see you happy…and one day we will meet again”…
It is God’s promise Theresa…remember that. Have a Blessed Christmas, and a prosperous New Year,
yours Sincerely,
Mary
Now a days during Christmas people value Santa than remembering that the reason we celebrate Christmas is because of Christ. My friend sent it to me just wanted to share it to you how people celebrated Christmas and what GOD might feel about it.
Remember My Birthday????!!!!!!
As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.
It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago.
At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don’t know the meaning of the celebration.
I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn’t invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn’t remember to send me an invitation.
The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face……… and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn’t surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me.
Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a great time.
To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying : “Santa Claus, Santa Claus”… as if the party were in his honor!
At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and …. do you know …. no one hugged me.
Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one ? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse.
People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life.
I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all you heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn’t invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party.
I’m still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest
list will be invited to the party. Those who don’t answer the invitation, will be left outside.
Do you know how you can answer this invitation? it is by extending it to others whom you care for. . .
I’ll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this year . . See you soon. I love you
– Jesus
“Whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do it well; whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself completely; in great aims and in small I have always thoroughly been in earnest.” — Charles Dickens
PREDIVNA PRICA, HVALA STO ME POSJETITE NA NEKE ZABORAVLJENE STVARI
S LJUBAVLJU, MARIJA
Your work is truly a gift from God. Great story…which is to be expected from you. :)
This is truely a great story…it reminds me of what is really important this time of year. Not in the giving of gifts bought in stores, but in the giving of our selves, of our love, our kindness, our understaning.
Also I meant to say I hope Santa brings some of those invisible presents to me this year! I need some hope and faith for the New Year…
Dearest Paulo, Kealan and All,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6hhEoqbODc
Merry, merry Christmas…never give up!!
Love, Love, LOVE, Jane : ) xo
This story is very interesting I think.I wonder who likes this story more children or old people?
That is a very nice story – glad to have had the privilege to read it. Thank you
merry christmas for everybody!! although i’m not christian (im muslim) ^^
Muchas veces me he sentido contigo como un Buckhard no porque la Virgen me hubiera elegido sino porque no tengo nada que ofrecer.
Un beso. Este cuento siempre me ha gustado porque la Virgen y el niño eligen al más humilde y lo sencillo es lo que le hace sonrreir.
In The New Testament, did Jesus ever laugh? I would love to make him laugh!
He did. Many times.
heartening to read of this aspect of Jesus ,I never once thought of him as laughing .I have a fragile relationship with Jesus , I am tentatively rebuilding a fragile relationship with him at present. I was psychogically damaged through my experienceof catholic education. A few years ago a Jesuit priest ran a retreat for parents of the children who were attending their Secondary school , I had 2 young adults in the ‘Jez’ I had one-one hourly meeting-once daily for a week .I worked on my relationship with Jesus , its still vague and inconsistent,I appreciate it exists a little : ) I am curious to know what painting you consider Paulo as the most real in its depection of Jesus ,the prophet.
( PS My youngest child was born on Christmas Day )Love Breda
It often says he rejoiced, and one of the greatest signs of rejoicing is laughter. I remember seeing a Playboy picture of Jesus, the Laughing Revolutionary, back in the 70’s in my hippie days and thinking I could follow that guy and soon after I began that journey that has never ended. So for sure He laughed and laughs and encourages us to laugh and enjoy life.
–Por mi culpa –era el viejo de la silla de ruedas el que hablaba–. Durante toda mi vida he intentado darle educación a mi hijo para que aprendiese caligrafía, para que fuese uno de los escribas del palacio. Sin embargo, los años pasaban y no volvieron a ofertarse nuevas plazas. Hasta que anoche tuve un sueño estúpido: un ángel aparecía y me pedía que comprara una copa de plata, ya que el rey iba a venir a visitarme, a beber un poco y a conseguir un empleo para mi hijo.
–Éste es el tema de la disertación –dijo–: ¿Por qué un anciano llora, una mujer calva baila y un muchacho triste canta?
Un murmullo de asombro recorrió la sala: ¡nadie sabía contar una historia como ésa! Nadie, salvo un joven con ropa humilde, sentado en un rincón de la sala, que sonrió y empezó a escribir.
OK ! thanks for elaborating !
well aditya,
We have all had experiences, were, things seem slightly beyond a 3 dimensional field, we even have saying for these occurences such as speak of the devil, when you are talking about someone and they just…turn up !
I have had many feeling like this, seen things in dreams that have happened a near in the future as the next day, said to myself, what the most unlikely thing to happen would be and then it happening.
When I read this, I feel that the story in not yet finished, something is missing and it will be fulfilled in the future but when is the question, its like a book without an ending, the last chapter shall be written, but when and were is unknown, to no one but the writer.
This story Paulo had shared earlier also on this website only I think… It is nicely summed up by Gauri.
U know what i like most about this site, why I visit it so often. I ‘meet’ people who have not yet given up, and that gives me strength to carry on. much like ‘however arduous may a task be, if a group of people do it out of choice, nicely, the atmosphere livens up’ I wonder if u have had any expereince of such group efforts, in such situations 1+1 adds up to 11. Yagna’s ‘everyday christmas’ becomes a reality.
Yagna, probably because u r an indian u know Aditya as a male name, for foreign names I too have difficulty decipehring the gender just by name. I am very happy that u love my name, U’r name means ….. oh I cannot tranlate into english what Yagna means, although i know it.
Tom !!
U have made me curious ! most of the ‘fables’ have many layers of meaning, this one too may mean ‘more than meets the eye’ if u may, give it a shot, what is it !!
aditya
PS : how do u like the new look blog.
beautiful…
there’s an urdu couplet which I love a lot..
It goes something like this:
‘The road to the masjid is too far,
Why not just attempt to bring a smile on a crying child’s face?’
Thats so nice : ) And it works the other way round also , a child can bring a smile to us-I saw a little girl on a pink bike the othe day,on a promenade by the sea ,she was about 5 yrs old,dressed in various pinks abd was wearing furry white and pink angel wings!!!!Have a good day : ) Breda
Hi Mr. Paulo Coelho, I have always love your books and insights about things. I am so glad to find your myspace account as well as your website. I wish to wish you a merry X’mas ( thou it is a bit late ) and a new year ahead. ;)
Becky.
For some reason I feel as if theres something more to this story than meets the eye…
Dearest Paulo and friends
Hmmm.. A Christmas tale :)
i love it :)
i wish you all have an amazing Christmas filled with love, laughter and joy. Today is a happy day. You know, actually i just got back from a really long evening, to cut a long story short, i was witness to some rather unpleasant, unforeseen circumstances.. But at the end of it all, no one was hurt, and i’m.. Happy.. I just happy :) i don’t know why i have such uplifting feeling.. I guess thats what i love most about Christmas.. Everyone knows its miracle time.. Its joyous time.. We should live like everyday is Christmas! I think everyone would be far more happier! :)
Aditya, i wonder why people think your female.. Lol.. I personally always knew your a male.. Just so you know ;) lol.. I love your name ;) i first heard it in an indian movie, kuch ka na ho, i think it was called.. With abishek and ashwariya :) her little son’s name was aditya in the movie :) his so cute.. If i remember correctly, your name is sanskit, meaning the sun… lord of the sun.. Or something like that :) Its really lovely :)
debs.. Have you been to the doctor? I think you should go and check your heart out as soon as possible- go to a cardiologist, because with technology today, you can prevent a heart attack and prolong your life for many years. After all, you only going to live once and might as well make the best of it. You may not be afraid of death and maybe even tired of life now, but your opinion of that may change after some time, and you may end up regrettin not having checked yourself out now. So do go visiting to a doc :)
i think honestly, that you’l never die if you were ment to do something, or do this or do that, i believe you will die when you are supposed to, with the perfect timing, like everything in life. So don’t worry that you’l die without completely what your supposed to.. I don’t think anyone can do that. Mwah.
On a more lighter note.. Happy holidays!
Thank you for being
Yajna
Good to read you are happy and that unforseen circumstances did not totally upset u. Breda : )