| Poems | MSS / layout | Miracles | Keywords | Poncelet | Bibliography | Search |
For the purposes of the new edition, every poem has been assigned a unique short title. The original short titles, taken eclectically from a number of sources, are retained as alternative short titles.
Links to the miniatures of the Códice Rico are now live on the Miniature section of this page, as well as on the MSS pages for that manuscript. Links to the miniatures of the Florence MS are currently being added.
Links to Ms T display individual pages; links to Ms F open the document viewer which displays double page spreads (users have the option to select single pages in the viewer).
For new critical texts of the poems, return to the listing page and click on the poem number, or go to the archive of texts .
For epigraphs and layout information click on the appropriate manuscript location.
For information on Latin and vernacular sources of miracle stories follow the links to Miracles and collections.
Follow the links to the appropriate pages of Todd McComb and Pierre Roberge's online discography, to the BITAGAP archive, and to linked entries in the Bibliography.
Back to Home Page
| CSM Number : 306 | |||
| Short name: | The Heretic who Disparaged the Virgin Birth | Alternative: | Heretic at the Lateran |
| Incipit: | Por gran maravilla tenno | ||
| Refrain: | Por gran maravilla tenno/ de null’ ome s’ atrever/ a dizer que Deus non pode/ quanto xe quiser fazer. | ||
| Summary of narrative | |||
| Setting: | the Church of Lateran, Rome | Protagonist(s): | a heretic |
|
In Rome there is a church called Lateran. It was once the house of the Emperor Octavian. Later it became a noble church dedicated to St John the Apostle. On the wall of the Lateran there is a painting of the Annunciation. The skilled artist who painted it depicted Mary with a swollen abdomen to show that she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit as soon as the angel greeted her. In the image, the Virgin’s belt is fastened above her belly, as is the custom for pregnant women. One day a heretic saw this picture. He told the Christians that they were foolish to believe that Mary was a virgin since she was obviously pregnant as the image showed. As soon as he had said this, the belt slipped down around the Virgin’s waist and her abdomen shrank. Seeing this, the heretic repented, wept and asked the Virgin’s pardon. God did this to show that his mother was a virgin when he was born and remained one afterwards. |
|||
| Metrical data | |||
| Stanza: | 15 15 15 15 | Refrain: | 15 15 |
| No. of Stanzas: | 10 | ||
| Rhyme scheme: | AA | bbba | Zejel: | Yes |
| MS locations: | |||
| F20, E306 | |||
| Poncelet reference | |||
| None | |||
| Keywords | |||
| belt (of Virgin Mary), blasphemy, emperor, heretic, image (of Virgin Mary), incarnation, pregnancy, repentance (see also confession), Saint John, virginity | |||
| Discography | |||
| Click HERE for a list of recordings of this poem | |||
| BITAGAP ID | |||
| 4061 | |||
| Bibliography | |||
| Dos preconceitos de Afonso X, o Sábio Bagby Jr., Alberto I. | |||
| Heretics and Infidels: the Cantigas de Santa María as Ideological Instrument of Cultural Codfication Bollo Panadero, María Dolores | |||
| Resumen de ’¿Cuáles son los orígenes musicales de las Cantigas?’ García Moreno, María Teresa | |||
| Aberturas e finais: rubricas, refrães, estrofes iniciais e estrofes terminais nas Cantigas de Santa Maria Parkinson, Stephen | |||
| Tres ensayos sobre el arte en las Cantigas de Santa Maria de Alfonso el Sabio Sánchez Cantón, Francisco Javier | |||