Early Christian legends of divine power, miraculous events, fear and
admiration can inform your own spiritual journey.
The three principal infancy gospels--the Infancy Gospel of James, the
Gospel of the Infancy and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas--are accounts of
the births and early lives of Mary the Virgin Mother, and Jesus.
Originating in the second through fifth centuries, these apocryphal
stories are fictions but nevertheless of great historical interest in
terms of the beliefs and storytelling of early Christians, for they are
the sources of well-known Christian legends as well as of some of
Christianity's beloved heroes and heroines.
This fascinating and accessible exploration of formative influential
narratives takes you deep into the early Christian religious thinking
that provides the basis for Mary's biography, ideas about her purity, as
well as the prayers, feasts and iconic representations that celebrate
her life. These extraordinary folktales also provide some shocking
imagery of the young Jesus, the incarnation of God--equally human and
divine--as he learns to control his supernatural powers and apply them
for good.
Now you can experience the mystery and amusement of these charming
folktales without any previous knowledge of early Christian history or
thought. This SkyLight Illuminations edition offers insightful yet
unobtrusive commentary that explains references and philosophical terms,
shares inspiring interpretations and gives you a deeper understanding of
the sources of devotion Christians feel for Mary and the holy infant
Jesus.
