Why the Robin's Breast is Red

The following tale was copied from Sunday Morning Storyland: Sunday Sermons for Children by Fr. Wilifrid J. Diamond, which has no copyright. The story of the robin reappears occasionally in our curriculum this time of year. 

There is a lovely little legend told about the Passion of Christ. It explains why the robin's breast is red. In those days, the robin was a proud little fellow and the envy of all the birds because God had created him with a silver vest. As the robin flew through the air and hopped around, his silver vest would gleam in the sun.

On Good Friday morning, a robin was hopping around on Mount Calvary. He watched the crowds force Our Lord up the hill under the cruel weight of the cross. He watched them throw Him down and nail Him to to it in a cruel manner. He watched Our Lord with pity in his eyes, wondering how men could be so cruel to the God Who had given the robin his silver vest. He wanted to do something to help. The nails were too big for him to draw out with his little beak. He thought, "Perhaps I can draw out one of those cruel thorns that are piercing Our Lord's brow." He flew over to the cross and tried to pull one of them out. While he was tugging away the thorn pierced his breast and the robin's beautiful silver vest was covered with blood.

This little poem tells the story:

"A little bird that warbled round that memorable day

Flitted around and strove to wrench a single thorn away;

The cruel spike impaled his breast and thus 'tis sweetly said:

The robin has a silver vest incarnadined with red."

~James Ryder Randall

This is only a legend, but we can learn a lesson from it. By our sins we nailed Christ to the cross. We were there on Calvary just as much as the Romans and the executioners. If we were there by our sins it is also true that we can be there by our good works and relieve Our Lord's pain. Spend some time with Our Lord today. Do something good. Perhaps you can reach back and remove a single thorn from Christ's brow. That is the spirit of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary who would not wear her crown on Good Friday saying, "I cannot wear jewels when my Lord wore thorns."

This will be my last post for the next few days. I will continue virtual silence to respect the Paschal Triduum, which includes postponing my regular Scale Saturday post. Have a blessed Holy Weekend!