EN ESPANOL AQUI > Cuento de Navidad
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. The young Burkhard wanted to become a priest. The family understood and respected the boy’s wish. They knocked at the door of the monastery and were given 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.
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.
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.
(based on a medieval story)
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Wonderful story! Thank you, Paulo!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
With Love, Alena from Russia
I enjoyed this tale a lot,
Thank you Paulo,
Love
Breda
Dear Paulo, thanks for always filling our souls with joy, and for making us discover the sense of our existence. Your books have really changed my life.
25 de diciembre del 2011… “el sueño de las rosas” – Por Cris
Quisiera compartir este deseo con todos ustedes, lo he escrito la noche de Navidad. Este sueño se delineo en el espacio de mi alma. Nació ahí mismo, en ese lugar llamado corazón. Este sueño, mi sueño, podria ser el sueño de todos, por eso pienso que es sencillo. Pero tambien se podria definir “universal”, porque en mi sueño tendrian que participar un maximo de personas de diferentes culturas, religiones, origenes y color… así, como es el abanico de nuestro mundo. Nosotros vivimos en un planeta lleno de colores disitntos, de gente distinta, de seres distintos. Un planeta al que yo amo profundamente, un planeta que por desgracia para muchos ya no es ideal. Si unimos nuestras fuerzas aún podemos convertirlo en un jardín unico. Por ese gran amor que siento por nuestra tierra quisiera dedicarles atodos mi sueño, un sueño que he llamado “el sueño de las rosas”:
Seria el ver a la mayoria de las personas de las grandes capitales europeas bajar a la calle para ofrecerle una rosa a la Tierra, el dia del solsticio de primavera por ejemplo, cuando la naturaleza esta por nacer de nuevo. La gente tomaria parte de esta acción, sin que esta pueda ser una molestia en sus ocupaciones, pues la rosa se depositaria en la calle aquel dia y en cualquier momento. Cada caminante, cada trabajador , cada hombre, cada mujer o niño podria cumplir con facilidad con este gesto, porque ese dia, seria libre de hacerlo cuando quisiera. Con cada rosa vendida, se recabaría un fondo dedicado a organizaciones humanitarias o destinadas al desarollo de proyectos sostenibiles en el Tercer mundo. Si las personas no tuvieran dinero para comprar una rosa, podrian igualmente participar al acontecimiento, depositando a tierra otra flor, como una flor de su casa por ejemplo. Pero la idea de las rosas estaria colegada con la donacion a los paises pobres.
El gesto de ofrecer una rosa significaria decir gracias… “Gracias planeta Tierra substancia de mis pasos, aire que respiro, verduras y frutas que como, mar que disfruto y arboles que me ofrecen todo. GRACIAS TIERRA ! »
Muy a menudo me encontre con rosas en mi camino, y siempre me guiaron hacia donde tenia que ir. Pienso que las rosas son una manifestacion del amor de la Madre divina… pero esto es mi interpretacion personal. Quizas esto puede explicar porque eleji esta flor. Quiero dar las gracias a Ella. Lo que me empujo a escribir estas lineas… es el concurso de Planeta de libros, pero no cabia espacio para exprimir lo que deseaba exprimir… he tenido que reducir este testo a tres lineas. Y no ha sido aún tomado en consideración. Mi post no aparecio por ningun lado. Si aparecera o no, seguramente sera Dios quien lo decida. Yo no soy más que otra persona, pero ya que alguien me pidió generosamentede expresar un deseo, me tome la libertad de exprimirlo en su totalidad.
Un abrazo a todos. Pueda la Luz accompañar a todo aquel que lea estas breves lineas. Os deseo unas felices fiestas… ahora y siempre. Gracias Paulo Cris Diaz Abella.
Aaaaaw. So sweet.
Nice
thank you dear Paulo.I am from Ethiopia and really i read your books and most of them have got this kind of sweet tips for our mind.
Thanks for the story and wish you and everyone a blissful Christmas and happy 2012.
Thanks Paulo, very beautiful and true. Merry Christmas xo
Beautiful story… ❤ thnx!
Thanks a lot paulo and merry chrismas….:)
that’s an inspiring story….
Thank you, Paulo :)
dear sir, thanks a lot for your christmas gift.
i work in a radio station and once we used to broadcast such a stories.
if we still had that program obviously we share this story among our listners.
again thank a lot.
Gracias por el cuento de Navidad!!! me encanto por su enseñanza… Feliz Navidad Paulo Coelho !!! Que Dios le dé salud para que continue escribiendo.
Inspiring story sir… Thank u so much for sharing this one….
Yes, great surprises and miracles are those that happen when someone expects them the least. It is when you consider yourself the least, the greatest miracle happens in your life.
Thanks for the beautiful Christmas message….
Merry Christmas.
Love the idea of reading short stories, especially Christmas stories. I’ve just bought the book Aleph, and will be the first book I’ll read from Mr. Coelho.
Thank you Paolo, that’s a beautiful story.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!
Liz xo
Si en este momento fuera yo la virgen,,le habria dado a cargar a mi hijo a Paulo Coelho
Gracias
Thank you. You’ve just helped me to remember the true spirit of Christmas.
Thank you for sharing the story!
Happy holidays!
:)
Blessed is the one who has found his work.And work that is intended for goodness of the mankind,how small it may be,bestows you with a
good heart.And when a person with a good heart surrenders anything to god,it is accepted readily and grace is bestowed upon him.Merry Christmas to every one.
There is nothing important than one’s father and mother in this world or the world beyond if it exists.They are at par with god.The Burkhard boy never forgot his father’s teachings.His father gave him the attitude that made him god’s favorite.Every time i dive into the story,I get gems.Paulo you are awesome.
Love your work,its full of wisdom.
Une belle histoire! Joyeux Noel!
Thank you for nice story. I began to read your books in English… ( Before I’ve read in Lithuanian – my native) (:
hi sir u r like a teacher to us we bein in india love ur book learn a lot is source of inspiration …. I ve read all books which ican get n i ll love to ve ny book bought out by you in indian character u r best …. U r guru who teach us
even when we cant find book in cheap … we download them as pirated e books and read all day long . take it as a new year confession. we will one day pay it forward …
The story teaches us v all hv sme tal
nt in us ,n v MST nvr think dat its useless ..thanks for making us undrstnd Sir..
Thank you sir. Its a great story!!!!
BUON NATALE!Bellissimo raconto!ringrazio Dio per tutti “regali invisibili”che mi ha portato quando avevo più bisogno.
Thanks sir for the beautiful story.. Merry Christmas!