...according to The Golden Legend:And Adam lived after he had begotten Seth eight hundred years, and engendered sons and daughters. Some hold opinion thirty sons and thirty daughters, and some fifty of that one and fifty of that other. We find no certainty of them in the Bible. But all the days of Adam living here in earth amount to the sum of nine hundred and thirty years. And in the end of his life when he should die, it is said, but of none authority, that he sent Seth his son into Paradise for to fetch the oil of mercy, where he received certain grains of the fruit of the tree of mercy by an angel.
And when he came again he found his father Adam yet alive and told him what he had done.
And then Adam laughed first and then died. And then he laid the grains or kernels under his father's tongue and buried him in the vale of Hebron; and out of his mouth grew three trees of the three grains, of which trees the cross that our Lord suffered his passion on was made, by virtue of which he gat very mercy, and was brought out of darkness into very light of heaven. To the which he bring us that liveth and reigneth God, world without end.
And when he came again he found his father Adam yet alive and told him what he had done.
And then Adam laughed first and then died. And then he laid the grains or kernels under his father's tongue and buried him in the vale of Hebron; and out of his mouth grew three trees of the three grains, of which trees the cross that our Lord suffered his passion on was made, by virtue of which he gat very mercy, and was brought out of darkness into very light of heaven. To the which he bring us that liveth and reigneth God, world without end.
4 comments:
Is this true? What is the golden legend?
The Golden Legend is a 13th century work by Blessed Jacobus de Varagine, and is a compilation of then-current popular devotional belief about the saints, relics, etc. Is it true? Certainly not in every detail, but as is the case with so many things, there is often a kernel of truth.
At the very least, The Golden Legend is a fascinating account of the depth of popular devotion, seeing an interrelatedness in all things, a providing an "explanation" which is often needed by the human mind and heart.
In the example I cited here, there is a wonderful relationship outlined between Adam and Christ, between the tree of life and the cross, and a marvelous point made between Adam eating the forbidden fruit and the idea of the seed of the tree taking root and growing out of that same mouth.
Did it literally happen this way? Probably not. But it does state a profound theological truth.
Father, can you tell us what church is pictured here? It is most beautiful. thank you
Sue Piner
It is in the Church of San Francesco in Arezzo, and was painted in the 13th century.
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