The Heavenly Wedding

by The Brothers Grimm

　　

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A poor peasant-boy one day heard the priest say in church that whosoeverdesired to enter into the kingdom of heaven must always go straightonward. So he set out, and walked continually straight onwards over hilland valley without ever turning aside. At length his way led him into agreat town, and into the midst of a church, where just at that time God'sservice was being performed. Now when he beheld all the magnificence ofthis, he thought he had reached heaven, sat down, and rejoiced with hiswhole heart. When the service was over, and the clerk bade him go out,he replied, "No, I will not go out again, I am glad to be in heaven atlast." So the clerk went to the priest, and told him that there was achild in the church who would not go out again, because he believed hewas in heaven. The priest said, "If he believes that, we will leavehim inside." So he went to him, and asked if he had any inclinationto work. "Yes," the little fellow replied, "I am accustomed to work,but I will not go out of heaven again." So he stayed in the church,and when he saw how the people came and knelt and prayed to Our Ladywith the blessed child Jesus which was carved in wood, he thought "thatis the good God," and said, "Dear God, how thin you are! The peoplemust certainly let you starve; but every day I will give you half mydinner." From this time forth, he every day took half his dinner tothe image, and the image began to enjoy the food. When a few weeks hadgone by, people remarked that the image was growing larger and stoutand strong, and wondered much. The priest also could not understand it,but stayed in the church, and followed the little boy about, and then hesaw how he shared his food with the Virgin Mary, and how she accepted it.

　　After some time the boy became ill, and for eight days could not leave hisbed; but as soon as he could get up again, the first thing he did was totake his food to Our Lady. The priest followed him, and heard him say,"Dear God, do not take it amiss that I have not brought you anythingfor such a long time, for I have been ill and could not get up." Thenthe image answered him and said, "I have seen thy good-will, and that isenough for me. Next Sunday thou shalt go with me to the wedding." The boyrejoiced at this, and repeated it to the priest, who begged him to go andask the image if he, too, might be permitted to go. "No," answered theimage, "thou alone." The priest wished to prepare him first, and give himthe holy communion and the child was willing, and next Sunday, when thehost came to him, he fell down and died, and was at the eternal wedding.

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