“(19:1) And behold, a woman came down from the hill-country and said to me, “Man, where are you going?” And I said, “I seek a Hebrew midwife.” and she answered me, “Are you from Isreal?” And I said to her, “Yes.” And she said, “And who is she who brings forth in the cave?” And I said, “My betrothed.” And she said to me, “Is she not your wife?” And I said to her, ” She is Mary, who was brought up in the temple of the Lord, and I received her by lot as my wife, and she is not yet my wife, but she has conceived by the Holy Spirit.” And the midwife said to him, “Is this true?” and Joseph said to her, “Come and see.” And she went with him.
(19:2) And they stopped at the entrance to the cave, and behold, a bright cloud overshadowed the cave. And the midwife said, “My soul is magnified today, for my eyes have seen wonderful things; for salvation is born of Isreal.” And immediately the cloud disappeared from the cave and a great light appeared, so that our eyes could not bear it. A short time afterwards that light withdrew until the baby appeared, and It came and took the breast of Its mother Mary. And the midwife cried. “this day is great for me because I have seen the new sight.”
(19:3) And the midwife came out of the cave, and Salome met her. And she said to her, “Salome, Salome, I have a new sight to tell you about; a virgin has brought forth, a thing which her condition does not allow.” And Salome said, “As the Lord my God lives unless I insert my finger and test her condition, I will not believe that a virgin has given birth.”
(20:1) And the midwife went in and said to Mary, “Make yourself ready, for there is no small contention concerning you” And Salome inserted her finger to test her condition. And she cried out, saying, ” Woe for my wickedness and unbelief; for I have tempted the living God, and behold, my hand falls away from me, consumed by fire!”
(20:2) And she bowed her knees before the Lord, saying, “O God of my fathers, remember me; for I am the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not make me pilloried for the children of Isreal, but restore me to the poor. For You know, Lord, that in Your Name I perform my duties and from You I have received my hire.”
(20:3) And behold, an angel of the Lord appeared and said to her, “Salome, Salome, the Lord God has heard your prayer. Bring your hand to the child and touch Him and salvation and joy will be yours.”The Protoevangelium of James, in Elliot, Apocryphal New Testament, pp. 64-65
(20:4) And Salome came near and touched Him, saying “I will worship Him, for a great king has been born to Isreal.” And Salome was healed as she had requested, and she went out of the cave. And behold, an angel of the Lord cried, “Salome, Salome, do not report what marvels you have seen until The Child has come to Jerusalem.”
Why Apocryphal writings are not all bad Ancient faith
Read The Protoevangelium of James
If you are interested in more quotes on Virgin Mary, you can find them in Mary and the Fathers of the Church on Amazon in both in Kindle and paperback formats.
References
Gambero, L., 1999. Mary and the Fathers of the Church. 1st ed. Translated by Buffer, T., San Francisco: Ignatius Press. p.41-42
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