The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #11105   Message #2872628
Posted By: Joe Offer
26-Mar-10 - 02:05 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: The Seven Virgins / The Leaves of Life
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Seven Virgins / The Leaves of Life
Hi, Georgina-
I've looked and looked, but didn't find anything specifically on this subject. This Folk Music Journal article (which is only partly available) gives a list of songs that are based on apocryphal stories of Jesus. I've researched a number of these songs and haven't found any direct reference in the so-called "Apocryphal Gospels." Mind you, there are many "apocryphal tales" about Jesus that have been handed down over the years - many seem to be medieval in origin, rather than from the first and second century "Apocryphal Gospels." I like to call them "old nuns' tales." I heard some from old nuns in Catholic grade school - we never quite believed them, but they were very colorful and often a bit strange.

John 19:25-26 has four women at the cross [his mother and her sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene], along with the "disciple whom Jesus loved." This disciple is not identified by name, but has been thought to be John the Evangelist/John the Revelator. Progressive scripture scholars aren't so certain of the identity of this disciple - some have even said the beloved disciple was Mary Magdalene.

-Joe-