The Christmas Thorn Of Glastonbury
Children's Story
After baby Jesus grew up to be a man, he got into terrible trouble, and wicked people killed him. But a good man called Joseph of Arimathea laid Jesus's body gently in his own grave, which he'd made ready for when he should die. After that the wicked people searched for Joseph of Arimathea, and so he ran away from Jerusalem carrying with him a special cup like this one, which contained some of Jesus's holy blood.
The cup was called the Holy Grail and Joseph carried it hidden beneath a mystical, white cloth. For many moons he wandered, leaning on his staff cut from a white-thorn bush. He passed over raging seas and dreary deserts, he wandered through forests, climbed rugged mountains, and waded through many floods.
At last he came to France where the Apostle Philip was telling the people about Jesus. So Joseph stayed there for a little while. One night while Joseph lay asleep in his hut, he was wakened by a radiant light. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, and there was an angel standing by his bed. "Joseph of Arimathea," said the angel, "cross over into England and preach the glad tidings about Jesus to the people there. And there, when you see a special Christmas miracle, build the first Christian church in England." Joseph lay there puzzled and a bit frightened and wondering what he should do, for in those days it was a very dangerous sea voyage from France to England, and England itself was said to be a dangerous place.
So he left his hut and calling his friend the Apostle Philip, told Philip the angel's message. When morning came, Philip sent Joseph on his way, with eleven chosen men to help him. They went down to the water's side, and embarking in a little ship, they set out on the sea. After a long, long voyage, at last they came to the coast of England.
They were met there by the people, who knew nothing about Jesus. So Joseph of Arimathea told them all about Jesus, the tiny baby born in the manger, and about Jesus's life when he grew up, and about his death on a cross. The King of England liked what he heard, so he gave Joseph and his followers a place called Avalon, which means "the happy isle", and he told them to go there straightaway and to build there an altar to God.
Avalon was a wonderful place. It was beautiful and peaceful. It lay deep in the middle of a green valley. Trees of delicious fruit and gorgeous, scented flowers grew in the valley. Smooth waves gently lapped the shore, and water-lilies floated on the surface of the tide; while in the blue sky above sailed fleecy clouds.
Joseph and his companions reached the Isle of Avalon on Christmas Eve. With them they carried the Holy Grail hidden beneath its snow-white cloth. Heavily they toiled up the steep hill. When they reached the top, Joseph thrust his thorn-staff into the ground. And immediately a miracle happened! The thorn-staff instantly put down roots, sprouted and budded, and burst into a mass of white and fragrant flowers!
And on that very spot where the thorn had bloomed, just as he'd been told by the angel, Joseph built the first Christian church in England. And in the church they placed the Holy Grail. And ever since then, at Glastonbury Abbey -- the name by which Avalon is known to-day -- on Christmas Eve the white thorn buds and blooms.
The cup was called the Holy Grail and Joseph carried it hidden beneath a mystical, white cloth. For many moons he wandered, leaning on his staff cut from a white-thorn bush. He passed over raging seas and dreary deserts, he wandered through forests, climbed rugged mountains, and waded through many floods.
At last he came to France where the Apostle Philip was telling the people about Jesus. So Joseph stayed there for a little while. One night while Joseph lay asleep in his hut, he was wakened by a radiant light. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, and there was an angel standing by his bed. "Joseph of Arimathea," said the angel, "cross over into England and preach the glad tidings about Jesus to the people there. And there, when you see a special Christmas miracle, build the first Christian church in England." Joseph lay there puzzled and a bit frightened and wondering what he should do, for in those days it was a very dangerous sea voyage from France to England, and England itself was said to be a dangerous place.
So he left his hut and calling his friend the Apostle Philip, told Philip the angel's message. When morning came, Philip sent Joseph on his way, with eleven chosen men to help him. They went down to the water's side, and embarking in a little ship, they set out on the sea. After a long, long voyage, at last they came to the coast of England.
They were met there by the people, who knew nothing about Jesus. So Joseph of Arimathea told them all about Jesus, the tiny baby born in the manger, and about Jesus's life when he grew up, and about his death on a cross. The King of England liked what he heard, so he gave Joseph and his followers a place called Avalon, which means "the happy isle", and he told them to go there straightaway and to build there an altar to God.
Avalon was a wonderful place. It was beautiful and peaceful. It lay deep in the middle of a green valley. Trees of delicious fruit and gorgeous, scented flowers grew in the valley. Smooth waves gently lapped the shore, and water-lilies floated on the surface of the tide; while in the blue sky above sailed fleecy clouds.
Joseph and his companions reached the Isle of Avalon on Christmas Eve. With them they carried the Holy Grail hidden beneath its snow-white cloth. Heavily they toiled up the steep hill. When they reached the top, Joseph thrust his thorn-staff into the ground. And immediately a miracle happened! The thorn-staff instantly put down roots, sprouted and budded, and burst into a mass of white and fragrant flowers!
And on that very spot where the thorn had bloomed, just as he'd been told by the angel, Joseph built the first Christian church in England. And in the church they placed the Holy Grail. And ever since then, at Glastonbury Abbey -- the name by which Avalon is known to-day -- on Christmas Eve the white thorn buds and blooms.
