‘For younger readers: Balthasar’s Cloak’, by Geoffrey Weeden, from December 22, 1972

21 Dec 2023 | by Geoffrey Weeden

‘Balthasar’s pride had made him wear his best cloak.’

‘What a glorious night!’ Caspar exclaimed, ‘it’s as if the whole sky was singing!’ ‘I hear nothing,’ said Balthasar.

In a church in Ravenna in Italy there is a very old mosaic picture. It shows the three Wise Men, Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar, carrying their gifts to Bethlehem. Balthasar wears a rich purple cloak with a gold hem and a jewelled clasp. This story is about Balthasar’s cloak.

It was warm in the stable, warm with hay and the bodies of the cattle. Balthasar’s face shone in the lantern-light. He felt stifled in the close air, and loosened the clasp of his cloak.

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