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"The Sweet Little Boy"
As first told in a Catholic story book for children compiled by Father Winfred Herbst
It happened in the rich chapel of an ancestral castle in Germany many years ago. It was the Feast of Corpus Christi. The Most Blessed Sacrament was exposed when hostile soldiers suddenly burst in through the door, for a war was raging in the land. The venerable old chaplain begged them, in God’s Holy Name, to spare the holy house of God. But one of the ruffians straightaway stretched him on the floor with a murderous blow.
The holy priest died a martyr in defense of the Most Blessed Sacrament exposed upon the altar, in a monstrance of purest gold beset with rubies of priceless worth. The ruthless soldiers, it was thought, must have carried the monstrance with them, as well as the diamond-set ciborium in the tabernacle, the costly sanctuary lamp of heavy silver, and the six tall candlesticks, for those things were never seen there afterwards.
Then “The Sweet Little Boy” began to appear in the castle halls - a lively boy with long golden hair and beautiful blue eyes, dressed in a long white linen robe that was like the alb of a priest. His face was sweetly kind and gentle, but he never spoke. No one who lived in the castle was afraid of “The Sweet Little Boy,” though for years he appeared from time to time in the corridors. Then he would mysteriously vanish. No one knew who he was, why he came, or what he wanted.
One of the boys of that noble family, when he met “The Sweet Little Boy” for the first time, asked him bluntly, “Where are you from? What do you want? What is your name?“ But no answer came from the ruby lips. The strangely dressed boy merely raised both his hands and pointed with his right in the direction of the gallery in the hallway that led to the chapel. That was all. “You either talk to me or I’ll make you talk!” And the hot-headed lad put the wooden toy he was holding on the window sill and rolled up his sleeves. Then he turned around and around, looking foolish, because “The Sweet Little Boy” had vanished, simply melting into the air.
The years passed on. Everybody in the castle and beyond knew about “The Sweet Little Boy” and yet, really knew nothing about him. Relatives of the family even amused themselves by using him as a target practice for their pistols. The only result was that the walls were splintered here and there. When “The Sweet Little Boy” did not simply fade away before the trigger was pulled, the bullet merely passed right through him. At such times, a shade of sadness would pass over his lovely face, but that was all. The years continued on with no one ever being able to solve the mystery of “The Sweet Little Boy.”
Then one night, on a Christmas Eve at ten o’clock, he suddenly appeared to a small group of young men gathered together in the dining room of the castle. One of the young men speaking slowly and kindly asked, “Please tell us the object of your visits. Tell us why you appear in this house. We are willing to help you with whatever it is that you desire.” Did he answer? A gentle smile illuminated the lovely face of “The Sweet Little Boy.” Then his lips formed the one word: “Come!” He raised his arms and his right hand pointed to where from the gallery the corridor turned to the chapel.
“The Sweet Little Boy” then led them on through mysterious windings that only an old castle can have. In the darkness his beautiful form was surrounded by a halo of light. They eventually came to a confessional built into the wall. On the inside, halfway up from where the penitent kneels, was an ornamentation carved into the wood. It was a fruit garland supported by two beautiful angels, in the midst of which was suspended a bunch of grapes.
Then “The Sweet Little Boy” placed his hand upon the bunch of grapes and straightaway disappeared. There, after much pressing, they found a secret door! When the lock snapped back it opened up, revealing a stone stairway that disappeared into utter darkness below. Down the steps the small group of young men went, lighting the way with only a candle, until they came to another door.
A strange feeling of reverence and awe came over each of them. It was as though they were on holy ground. “In God’s Holy Name!” one of them cried. They slowly pushed open the heavy door and found themselves standing in a six-corner room. There a wondrous sight was revealed to their astonished eyes. For in the center, emitting a thousand brilliant rays in the light of their flickering candle, stood a large jeweled golden monstrance! And through its crystal center gleamed the pure white roundness of a sacred Host! Near the monstrance stood a large ciborium. It was enveloped in a mantel of silk, the cover sparkling with a diamond cross.
But what was this? A never-to-be-forgotten sight! For kneeling before the monstrance and the ciborium, his head resting upon the shelf whereon the sacred objects stood, was the mummified form of a boy. He had long golden hair and was dressed in a long white, though now somewhat spotted, linen robe, that was fastened at the waist by a girdle.
"The Sweet Little Boy!”
As the young men stood in speechless awe, one of them cried, “Look! Something is written here!” This is what they read:
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