medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Teresa,
Your examples actually fit in very nicely with another project of mine!
Thank you! Where do those of us who do not read Spanish find the Cantigas
in a good translation?
Meg
-----Original Message-----
From: Theresa Gross-Diaz [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 10:05 AM
To: Cormack, Margaret Jean
Subject: Re: miracle motifs-spiders & steaks
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>>> [log in to unmask] 03/13/03 08:21AM >>>
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Perhaps these could be shared with the list? Best, John Dillon
Sure thing, John!
Both from Alfonso X "El Sabio", Cantigas de Santa Maria:
Cantiga # 201 Tells the story of a girl who promises Mary that she will remain a virgin; she breaks that promise (and how!), has three babies whom she kills one after another, and then suffering remorse she tries to kill herself by eating a poisonous spider. When that doesn't work she eats a larger one... Not yet dead but in agony (obviously) she prays to Mary to forgive her; Mary "restores her innocence" and heals her.
- - - This one is particularly interesting because of the restored [sexual] innocence motif which one finds elsewhere in Marian miracles (like the naughty abbess of Soissons), and the suicide (or here, attempted suicide) motif. Despite (or because of?) the horror in which suicide was held - (it is after all the worst of the deadly sins, that of Judas : despair) - suicides (prevented or restored to life) are not uncommon among miracle stories (there is a great one connected to pilgrimage to Santiago, in which James shares the stage with Mary).
Another Cantiga from Alfonso's collection - sorry I've misplaced the number, but it begins "non sofre Santa Maria":
It concerns pilgrims to Mary's shrine at Rocamadour; nine pilgrims check into their motel, order dinner, and go off to pray at the shrine before eating. When they return, someone has stolen one of their steaks! The bereft and hungry pilgrims ask Mary for aid, and they hear "something" thumping around inside a trunk... turns out to be their very rare steak. They don't eat it (well, would you!?) but rather return to the shrine and hang the steak up as an offering.
The Cantigas are a great teaching resource! There are several wonderful performances available: I like the Martin Best Ensemble, "Cantigas de Santa Maria" (Nimbus Records, 1987).
Cheers
Theresa
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