Our Lady's Little Juggler – Full Story

Summary

The story of Barnaby, a young juggler, follows his journey of loss and discovery. After the death of his father, Barnaby continues his craft, performing in the streets to earn a living. As winter sets in, he finds refuge in an abbey, where he feels inadequate compared to the monks. However, he finds a way to serve the Virgin Mary through his juggling. His secret performance is discovered, and on Christmas Eve, his dedication is rewarded with a miraculous visit from the Blessed Virgin. The abbott invites Barnaby to stay at the abbey and share his gifts openly.

Takeaways

• 😀 Barnaby is a young juggler who follows in his father's footsteps, continuing a family tradition of street performances.
• 😀 Barnaby's father teaches him various skills beyond juggling, including dancing, tumbling, and singing, all of which he cherishes.
• 😀 After Barnaby's father dies, he bravely sets out on his own to earn a living, using the tools his father left behind.
• 😀 Barnaby performs for people in various locations, but as winter sets in, his income decreases and he becomes lonely and cold.
• 😀 A kind monk finds Barnaby and invites him to stay at the abbey, where he is given warmth and food.
• 😀 As Christmas approaches, Barnaby feels inadequate compared to the monks who are creating gifts for the infant Jesus.
• 😀 Barnaby prays to the Blessed Virgin and decides to offer his talents in a new way—by juggling and tumbling for the Holy Family.
• 😀 Every day, Barnaby secretly performs for the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, using his juggling to serve them.
• 😀 Brother James discovers Barnaby's secret performances and reports it to the abbot, who decides to observe the boy for himself.
• 😀 On Christmas Eve, after performing for the Christ Child, Barnaby experiences a miraculous event when the statue of the Virgin Mary comes to life and blesses him.
• 😀 The abbot, after witnessing Barnaby's sincere gift, invites him to stay at the monastery and perform openly for the Virgin Mary and Christ Child, embracing his unique offering.

Q & A

Who was Barnaby and what was his profession?

Barnaby was a young juggler, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who had also been jugglers. He was skilled in juggling, dancing, tumbling, and singing.

How did Barnaby learn his trade?

Barnaby learned his trade from his father, who taught him how to juggle, dance, tumble, and sing, skills that had been passed down from generation to generation.

What tragic event happened in Barnaby's life, and how did he respond?

When Barnaby was about 10 years old, his father died. Despite the tragedy, Barnaby remained brave and continued to perform as he had been taught, using his father's belongings to earn a living.

How did Barnaby’s life change after his father’s death?

After his father's death, Barnaby had to earn his own living. He traveled alone, performing in marketplaces, fairs, and special events, but his fortunes became more difficult as winter set in.

What happened to Barnaby when he found himself cold and without money?

Barnaby, cold and hungry, was found by a monk who offered him shelter and warmth at the abbey, where he was taken in and cared for by the monks.

What role did Barnaby feel he could not fulfill at the abbey?

Barnaby felt worthless and out of place at the abbey because he didn’t have any talents that seemed useful for the monks’ tasks, such as prayer, singing, or creating beautiful works of art.

What did Barnaby do to serve the Virgin Mary, according to his own abilities?

Barnaby decided to juggle and perform tumbling for the statue of the Virgin Mary and the Christ child, as he felt it was the only way he could offer something to them.

How did the monks react when they discovered Barnaby's secret performances?

At first, Brother James was shocked and scandalized by Barnaby’s actions, but the abbot, being wise, decided to wait and observe before passing judgment.

What happened on Christmas Eve when Barnaby performed for the Virgin Mary?

On Christmas Eve, as Barnaby performed his tumbling and juggling, a miraculous event occurred: a beautiful lady descended from the statue of the Virgin Mary, wiped his brow, kissed his face, and returned to the statue, which amazed the monks who witnessed it.

What was the outcome of Barnaby's performance in front of the abbey’s monks?

The abbot, seeing Barnaby’s devotion and unique offering, decided to let him stay at the abbey. He encouraged Barnaby to continue performing for the Virgin Mary and Christ openly, instead of in secret, as he believed they appreciated his tumbling.