The Little Jesus of Sicily

This work—in which the author describes the day when as a child he was chosen to be Jesus for the Feast of Saint Joseph—has been characterized as a poem in prose or as a basic canticle for celebrating life. The setting is pastoral Sicily shortly before World War II, and a child from a poor family has been entrusted to be the Messiah for one momentous day. A musical band and parade of dignitaries herald his arrival as he rides into the village on a she-ass. The priest presents him with the c...