The Childhood and Youth of Jesus · Part 2 · Chapter 186

The boy Sixtus' 'return present' to his father Cyrenius: a lecture on the nature and the shape of the earth. The corroboration by the Child Jesus. 17 April 1844

01] Hereupon the eldest of Cyrenius' three sons went up to his father and said to him:

02] "Father Quirinus Cyrenius! As you have now questioned us on a few things and we have been able to answer everything, which gave you pleasure, –

03] would you like to receive a small present in return from me for your love and care for us?"

04] Cyrenius smiled at this question and spoke to the boy:

05] "Your request, my dear Sixtus, is most gratifying and affectionate; but you must give me a better description of your intended present,

06] and I will immediately tell you all of you if I can accept it or not!"

07] Hereupon the boy replied: "O father Quirinus Cyrenius! It is not an object which we want or can give you as a present,

08] but a new science, about which you surely have no clue as yet!"

09] When Cyrenius heard this from his Sixtus, he said to him:

10] "Listen, my dear Sixtus, if that is the case, then you can give me as many presents as you want, and I shall willingly accept it all!"

11] After this statement by Cyrenius, the boy said:

12] "Well then, as all this is agreeable to you, o father Quirinus Cyrenius, then listen to me!

13] Until now, you have surely not heard the truth about how the earth looks like, and what shape it has!

14] What do you think is the shape of this great earth, which carries us all and feeds us through the grace of God inside her?"

15] And Cyrenius was taken aback by this question and did not know how to respond to it.

16] Only after a while, he said to the boy: "Listen, your question puts me on the spot; for I cannot give you a definite answer on it!

17] We all have all sorts of conjectures here regarding the nature of the earth; but there is no room for conjectures when dealing with a definite truth!

18] Therefore speak on your own now, and I will listen and then judge your presentation."

19] At Joseph's suggestion, the boy ran into the house and most carefully brought the globe that the Infant had created from a bitter orange the night before, on account of the lunar eclipse.

20] When Cyrenius saw this object, he was surprised and said: "Yes, – what is this? Is that perhaps the supposed present?

21] You previously said that the present was not an object, but rather a scientific discussion!?

22] This, however, is an object and not a scientific discussion!"

23] The boy said: "Dear father Quirinus Cyrenius, that is certainly true, but I cannot give

you this object, because it does not belong to me;

24] however, it is necessary here if you are to understand what I say!"

25] Here the boy began to talk like a professor about the nature of the earth with the help of the globe, and with a thoroughness that greatly amazed Cyrenius.

26] And when the boy finished, the Infant said to Cyrenius: "It is so! – As a souvenir, you shall keep this small earth until one day, when a greater one will come over you in My kingdom!"