The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 77 -
The Reawakening Of The Seven Guides
THE THREE PRIESTS now asked no more, for they recognized in Joseph a man who seemed to be deeply initiated into the old mysteries of Egypt which otherwise were known only to the chief priests of this land.
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Cyrenius then turned to the three priests and asked them how many of their number had lost their lives here.
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And the three said, 'Most powerful governor, we cannot give the number exactly,
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but there certainly were more than seven hundred which were buried, without counting the novices of both sexes.'
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'Good,' observed Cyrenius, 'we shall soon inform ourselves more closely in the matter.'
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He thereupon asked Joseph if it were not advisable to dig out those buried in the rubble.
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Joseph answered, 'That is even a strict duty, for some novices could still be alive here and there in the catacombs, and to save these is a strict duty.'
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When Cyrenius heard this he immediately had two thousand laborers called, who promptly began removing the debris.
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In a few hours seven corpses were pulled out, which were none other than the guides to the catacombs.
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Thereupon Cyrenius said, 'Truly, I am sorry about these, for without their help we will not accomplish much in the subterranean labyrinth of countless passages upon passages.'
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Here the Baby said to Cyrenius, 'My Cyrenius, as concerns the catacombs, nothing of much use is to be found in them,
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for they lie unused for several hundred years and are filled with mud and all manner of vermin.
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These seven guides to the catacombs merely had the empty title as such, for not one of them ever set foot in a catacomb.
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And now, so you may believe what I am telling you, I will also tell you that these seven guides are not quite dead but lie there in a great stupor and can therefore be recalled to life.
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Have them massaged about their temples, chest, neck, hands and feet by robust women, and they will soon awaken from their stupor.'
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At this Cyrenius asked the Baby, 'O my Life! If You were to touch them, they surely would also awaken.'
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And the Baby answered, 'Do what I have advised you, for I must not do too much if I do not want to bring a judgment instead of a blessing to the world.'
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Cyrenius did not understand these words, but he nevertheless followed the advice of the Baby.
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After a few minutes the seven awoke and asked the bystanders what had happened to them and what was taking place.
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Hereupon Cyrenius promptly had them taken to a good inn, while the people were greatly surprised at this awakening and accorded the maidens great respect.