Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Adamnan's De Locis Sanctis (Author: Adamnan of Iona)
Chapter/toc 3
CONCERNING THE ROCK SITUATED OUTSIDE THE
WALL, OVER WHICH (WAS POURED) THE WATER OF HIS
FIRST WASHING (AFTER THE NATIVITY)
I think that brief mention should be made of the rock situated outside
the wall, over which the water of the first ablution of the Lord's little
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body after the nativity was poured from the vessel in which it was, which
was tilted over from the top of the wall. This water of the sacred washing,
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when poured from the wall, found a sort of channel hollowed out by
nature in the rock lying beneath; which channel, filled by that flow on
the first birthday of the Lord, from that very day up to our time through
the cycles of many centuries one sees to be full without any failing or
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diminution of the purest water, our Saviour from the day of his nativity
performing this miracle, of which the prophet sings: Who brought forth
water from the rock and the apostle Paul: Now the rock was Christ?
he who, contrary to nature, brought forth a consoling flow for the thirsting
people from the hardest rock in the desert. It is the same power and
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wisdom of God which brought forth water from the rock of Bethlem
too, and always keeps its channel filled with water. Our friend Arculf
saw it with his own eyes and washed his face in it.