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Stith Thompson Motif Index

About this index and how to read it

Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature classifies recurring narrative elements in folktales, myths, legends, ballads and related traditional narratives. Each entry below gives Thompson's motif reference and the description recorded in the index.

The index is large, so this browser displays 250 entries per page. You can search by motif reference or by words in the description, restrict the results to one of Thompson's main letter categories, and click motif references mentioned inside descriptions to follow cross-references. Individual motif pages also show any ATU tale types whose concordance explicitly cites that Thompson reference.

1,051 motifs

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Thompson reference ▲ Description
V254.6 Joseph and Mary threaten to leave heaven when the man who has always prayed to them is refused admittance. *Type 805*.
V254.7 Murdered boy still sings "Ave" after his death. (Chaucer's Prioress's Tale.) **Brown PMLA XXI 486ff.; Ward II 656, 697 and passim; Herbert III 528; Wells Catalogue of Romances 166 (Vernon Miracles).
V254.7.1 Criminal who said "Ave" beheaded. His head calls repeatedly, "Ave Maria". Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V254.8 Virgin Mary will not let devil (authorities) take robber noble who daily says "Ave". Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V254.9 Virgin forbids devil to take robber as long as he continues to say two "Aves" daily. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V255 Virgin Mary has dissolute monk buried in consecrated ground: his only mass is that of the Virgin. *Crane Miraculis Nos. 3, 9; Ward II 607 No. 15, 660 No. 29; Scala Celi 116a, 116b Nos. 644, 645; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V255.1 Devotee of Virgin not buried in consecrated ground has lily issue from mouth so that his grave is made known. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V255.2 Virgin gives private mass to devout lady unable to attend. Spanish Exempla: Keller
V256 Miraculous healing by Virgin Mary. (Cf. D2161.) Irish myth: Cross.
V256.1 Healing spittle of Virgin Mary. (Cf. D1500.1.7.2.) Irish myth: Cross.
V256.2 Miracles of healing performed before image of Virgin Mary. Irish myth: Cross.
V256.3 Virgin Mary restores severed hand to Saint John Damascene. He had cut it off to repress lust. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V256.4 Virgin Mary saves life of man who at devil's instigation has castrated himself. She will not, however, restore his severed members. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V256.5 Virgin Mary restores life to drowned man who always had saluted her. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V261 Virgin Mary designates favorite for election for office. *Crane Miraculis No. 13; Ward II 608 No. 19.
V261.1 Virgin restores office to an ignorant man because of his faith. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V261.2 Virgin pardons man who repented for cheating in election. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V262 Virgin Mary supplies mead for unprepared hostess of the king. Ward II 614 No. 35.
V263 Portrait of the Virgin appears to devotee. *Ward II 611 Nos. 26, 27; *Crane Miraculis Nos. 21, 44.
V264 Virgin Mary rescues man attacked by the devil. *Crane Miraculis No. 23; Ward II 612 No. 30; Spanish Exempla: Keller; West Indies: Flowers 580.
V264.1 Virgin Mary brings man a pact he signed with the devil and frees the man from devil's power. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V265 Virgin miraculously prevents nun (monk) from deserting cloister. Ward II 634 No. 34, 636 Nos. 7, 41, 667 No. 13, 721 No. 17; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V265.1 Image of Virgin tries in vain to keep nun from leaving convent. Crane Vitry 160 No. 60; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V266 Virgin Mary converts a Jew. (Cf. V330.) Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V267 Devotee of Virgin is comforted in the hour of death. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V268 Miracles performed under protection of Virgin Mary. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V268.1 Boy under protection of Virgin Mary pulled from well alive after a week. Irish myth: Cross.
V268.2 Virgin Mary saves devotee from death in waves. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V268.3 Virgin Mary destroys Moorish army besieging Constantinople. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V268.4 Virgin Mary saves devotee's son from shipwreck. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V268.5 Image of Virgin Mary works miracles. Irish myth: Cross.
V271 Virgin Mary as foster mother. Type 710; *BP I 13ff.
V275 Virgin Mary comforts repentant criminals. Ward II 603 No. 6, 606 No. 12, 610 No. 25, 618 No. 39, 648 No. 44; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V276 Virgin Mary appears to erring man.
V276.1 Virgin Mary appears to erring monk and exalts him to prayer. His prayers weave her a garment. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V276.2 Virgin Mary appears and pardons monk who has been too overworked to pray to her. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V276.3 Virgin Mary aids repentant slayer of priest. Priest is resurrected in order to forgive murderer and then is returned to tomb. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V277 Virgin Mary appears to devotee.
V277.1 Virgin Mary appears to devout nun with infant Jesus. The nun devoutly prayed to see Him. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V281 Devotee of Virgin Mary given present by her. Ward II 660 No. 28.
V282 Stella Maris: Virgin Mary as protectress of sailors. Canney Revue de l'Histoire des Religions CXV (1937) 90ff.; Krappe Review of Religion (1948) 376ff.
V283 Testament of Virgin Mary. Irish myth: *Cross.
V284 During a flood the Virgin descends into the streets to save her image from the flood waters. U.S.: Baughman.
V290 Other sacred persons. Irish myth: Cross.
V291 Master poets (ollamhs) as sacred persons. Irish myth: *Cross.
V292 The Apostles of Christ.
V292.1 Appearance of the Apostles. Irish myth: Cross.
V292.2 The Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Irish myth: *Cross.
V293 Lepers as sacred persons. Irish myth: Cross.
V294 The Pope. Irish myth: Cross.
V300 Religious beliefs.
V310 Particular dogmas.
V311 Belief in the life to come. *Encyc. Rel. Ethics Index 272b; Irish myth: *Cross.
V311.0.1 Doctrine of immortality taught by druids. Irish myth: *Cross.
V311.1 Man converted to belief in future life on deathbed. Feels sure nevertheless that nothing will come of it. Wesselski Bebel I 182 No. 32.
V311.2 Dying man refuses to believe in life to come. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V311.3 Given choice between life and heaven, person chooses latter. Irish myth: *Cross.
V312 Belief in Immaculate Conception. (Cf. T510.) *Encyc. Rel. Ethics Index 272a; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V312.1 Proclamation of dogma of Immaculate Conception stops plague. Pauli (ed. Bolte) Nos. 552, 553.
V312.2 Man miraculously dies for opposing dogma of Immaculate Conception. Attempt to disprove the dogma by false miracle. Sham dead man is to rise if the dogma is not true. He is found to be actually dead. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 554.
V313 Last judgment. Jewish: Moreno Esdras, *Neuman.
V315 Belief in the Atonement. *Encyc. Rel. Ethics Index 48c; Jewish: *Neuman.
V315.1 Power of repentance. Jewish: *Neuman.
V316 Efficacy of prayer. Jewish: *Neuman.
V316.1 "He that asks shall receive." Hermit wants to prove truth of these words of the Gospel and asks for the hand of the princess. Performs the difficult task imposed upon him. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 779*; Russian: Andrejev No. 841I*.
V317 The chosen people. Jewish: *Neuman.
V317.1 Holy land. Jewish: *Neuman.
V320 Heretics. *Encyc. Rel. Ethics Index 251b; Irish myth: Cross.
V321 Insane man burns heretic in his bed: restored to his senses as reward. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 47.
V322 Heretical baptism. Heathen baptized into devil's possession. Irish myth: *Cross.
V323 Atheists.
V323.1 Epicureans regarded as atheists. Jewish: Neuman.
V325 Baptismal water vanishes before Aryan bishop. Alphabet No. 95.
V326 Hero renounces heaven because dead companions (heathen) are not there. Irish myth: *Cross.
V327 Author of book against heretic honored by Virgin Mary and angels. Scala Celi 117b No. 652.
V328 Man sets fire to his house and perishes in it rather than accept Christianity. Irish myth: *Cross.
V330 Conversion from one religion to another. *Encyc. Rel. Ethics X 400—403.
V331 Conversion to Christianity. (Cf. M177.1.) Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 555; Dickson 199 n. 89; Malone PMLA XLIII 413. — Irish: *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 65, Beal XXI 325; Icelandic: *Boberg; English: Wells 88 (Roland and Vernagu); Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman; Tahiti: Henry Ancient Tahiti (Honolulu, 1928) 178.
V331.0.1 Druid converted to Christianity. Irish myth: *Cross.
V331.0.2 Three (two) Irishmen who believed in Christianity before the coming of St. Patrick. (Cf. A1546.3.1.) Irish myth: *Cross.
V331.1 Conversion to Christianity through miracle. Dickson 193—98 passim; Alphabet No. 558; Icelandic: *Boberg; Irish: *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 71, 74, Beal XXI 326; English: Wells 91 (Otuel), 119 (Octovian), *Hibbard 45ff.; Italian Novella: *Rotunda.
V331.1.1 Conversion to Christianity by miracle of seeing blood flow from Jesus' image. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V331.1.2 Conversion to Christianity through appearance of the cross and angels. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V331.1.3 Conversion to Christianity because the heathen gods prove to be less powerful. *Loomis White Magic 75.
V331.1.4 Conversion because saint's staff miraculously goes through neophytes' foot. Irish myth: *Cross.
V331.2 Conversion to Christianity on pain of death. *Dickson 188 n. 64, 224; Icelandic: *Boberg.
V331.3 Miraculous beautification upon conversion to Christianity. (Cf. D1860.) English: Wells 122 (The King of Tars).
V331.4 Conversion to Christianity through repentance. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V331.5 Conversion to Christianity through love. Italian Novella: *Rotunda.
V331.6 Conversion to Christianity out of gratitude. Ruler has captive baptize his sister and then marry her. Grateful for past kindnesses. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V331.7 Saladin asks to be made a Christian knight. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V331.8 Fairies converted to Christianity. Irish myth: *Cross.
V331.9 Swans (transformed children) do not suffer in harsh weather after conversion to Christianity. Irish myth: *Cross.
V331.10 Conversion to Christianity because of admiration for Christian virtue.
V331.10.1 Conversion to Christianity through show of forgiveness and gentleness. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V332 Baptism of heathen. *Thien Motive 40f.; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V336 Conversion to Judaism. Jewish: *Neuman.
V340 Miracle manifested to non-believers. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
V341 Pagan sybil draws picture of Madonna and Child in sand. Result of vision. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 560.
V342 Sign of cross intimidates Jews. Type 1709*.
V343 Jews protesting against marriage of Jewess and Christian are struck dumb. Wesselski Mönchslatein 52 No. 62.
V344 Temple about to be taken over by pagans saved by appearance of a Sign of the Cross (image of the Virgin). Alphabet No. 708; *Crane Miraculis No. 20.
V345 Dove flies out of man's mouth. Impious anchorite has agreed to forsake his religion in return for the possession of a maid. When he repents the dove reenters his mouth. Italian Novella: Rotunda; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V346 Skeptic kicked by sacrificial animal. India: Thompson-Balys.
V347 Idols found on their faces after saint's arrival. *Loomis White Magic 89; Irish myth: Cross.
V350 Conflicts between religions. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman.
V351 Duel (debate) to prove which religion is better. Dickson 187 nn. 61, 62; English: Wells 88 (Roland and Vernagu), 91 (Otuel); Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V351.1 Wise heretic is vanquished in debate with a Christian. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V351.1.1 Brahmin wins a discussion on religion. India: Thompson-Balys.
V351.2 Unbeliever loses argument with hermit. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V351.3 Magician overpowered in contest with a saint. *Loomis White Magic 75f.
V351.3.1 Contest of St. Peter with Simon Magus, a magician. *Loomis White Magic 120.
V351.4 Prayer-contest to prove which religion is better. Irish myth: *Cross.
V351.5 Contest of miraculous powers between a Yogi and a Musselman. India: Thompson-Balys.
V352 Pagan disputant with Christian stricken dumb. English: Wells 76 (Joseph of Aramathie); Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V352.1 Pagan disputant with Christian bested by the words put in his mouth by God. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V354 Life of heroic age preferable to Christian living. Irish myth: *Cross.
V355 Buddhists become slaves of Taoists because they cannot produce rain. Chinese: Werner 353.
V356 Christian hero (saint) overthrows heathen idols. *Boje 82; *Toldo V 339; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg.
V356.1 Saint dispels pagan devils from ancient shrines. *Loomis White Magic 115.
V356.2 Pagan shrines and idols, or magic books destroyed by fire from heaven. *Loomis White Magic 35.
V356.2.1 Heathen idols sink into earth up to their necks through power of saint. Irish myth: Cross.
V356.3 Saint's bachall pointed at idol defaces it. (Cf. V347.) Irish myth: Cross.
V360 Christian and Jewish traditions about each other. *DeVooys Middelnederlandse Legenden en Exempelen (Den Haag, 1926) 199ff.
V361 Christian child killed to furnish blood for Jewish rite. (Hugh of Lincoln.) (Cf. V254.7.) **V. Manzini La superstizione omicida e i sacrifici umani, con particolare riguardo alle accuse contro gli Ebrei (2d ed., Padua, 1930); **Berger Mélusine VIII 169ff.; *Ward II 656 No. 3; *Brown PMLA XXI 486ff. — English: Child III 240ff., IV 497a.
V362 Plague from Jews' poisoning wells. German: H. Rauchfuss Alte Geschichte u. neue Sagen aus Thuringen 60.
V363 Jewish child thrown into oven by father for taking eucharist. Preserved by Virgin Mary. *Ward II 601; Irish myth: Cross (V35.1.0.1); Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V363.1 Jewish child resurrected (saved by power of Virgin Mary) after being burned to ashes for eating consecrated bread in Christian church. Irish myth: *Cross.
V364 A Christianized Jew becomes a priest. During Mass, he stabs the consecrated host, blood flows (cf. C55, J1261.2, V30). He kills the other priest who saw him commit the sacrilege, and before killing, forces him to renounce his faith. A miracle exposes the murderer. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3270, Legends Nos. 416ff.
V365 Jewish traditions concerning non-Jews. Jewish: *Neuman.
V380 Religious beliefs—miscellaneous.
V381 Heathen beats his god because of misfortune. (Cf. V123.) *Boje 101; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 238 No. 185.
V382 Doctor ridicules belief in Devil, Heaven, and Hell. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V383 Religious fanaticism. Irish myth: Cross.
V383.1 Prolonged prostration in worship causes death. Irish myth: Cross.
V383.2 Hindu drinks water by mistake from Mohammedan's vessel: his fortune turns to evil. India: Thompson-Balys.
V385 Romans won't include Jesus in their pantheon because of his poverty which they hate. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V400 Charity. *Encyc. Rel. Ethics Index 111c; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman.
V410 Charity rewarded. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 22, Beal XXI 307, 337; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 137, 200—204; Jewish: *Neuman.
V410.1 Charity rewarded above prayer or hearing of masses. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 131; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 87 No. 756E*.
V410.2 Prince's motto: charity conquers. India: *Thompson-Balys.
V411 Miraculous reward for charities. India: Thompson-Balys.
V411.1 Queen gives away a sleeve of her dress: miraculously restored. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 322.
V411.2 Saint exchanges coat with beggar: gold sleeves miraculously appear. Herbert III 6; Crane Vitry 173 No. 92.
V411.3 Man who has given all in charity has foot amputated: restored miraculously. Alphabet No. 81; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V411.4 Stones turn to gold for charitable money-lender. Hence money borrowed for wedding is never refused by lenders. India: Thompson-Balys.
V411.5 Treasure given away by saint miraculously restored. Irish myth: *Cross.
V411.5.1 Man earns as much as he gave away for charity in his former life. India: Thompson-Balys.
V411.6 Food given away by saint miraculously restored. Irish myth: *Cross.
V411.7 Charitable king blows nose after having given to beggar. Huge ruby appears in his kerchief. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V411.8 Jesus appears to St. Martin when he gives his cloak to beggar. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V411.9 Charity miraculously repaid: flame settles on forehead. India: Thompson-Balys.
V412 Miraculous manifestations during act of charity. *Ward III 7; *Crane Vitry Nos. 92, 94, 95.
V412.1 Bread stolen by St. Nicholas for purpose of feeding poor is miraculously restored. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V412.2 The more bread (flour) the monks give to the poor the more God places in their bins. (Cf. D1652.1.1.) Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V413 Son's acts of charity save his father's soul. English: Wells 175 (The Child of Bristowe).
V414 Saint shares punishment of sinful man whose cloak he shared in life. Irish myth: Cross.
V415 Children envious of money given by deceased father to bishop. In vision they take their father's body up and find a quittance saying that he has received more than a hundredfold reward. Alphabet No. 302; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V416 Act of charity obliterates sin.
V416.1 Man convicted of cheating at his bookkeeping is excused when it is learned that he has given the money to the poor. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V420 Reward of the uncharitable.
V421 Shipman refuses alms: ship turned to stone. Alphabet No. 608.
V422 Uncharitable knight drives bargain even in giving alms: devoured by serpents. His alms of corn turn to serpents. *Herbert III 334 No. 7, 340.
V425 Uncharitable pope wanders after death. Alphabet No. 294.
V430 Charity—miscellaneous motifs.
V431 Charity of usurers ineffective. Alphabet Nos. 260, 754, 786, 789, 792; Irish: Beal XXI 337; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 213.
V432 Man beggars self by charity. India: *Thompson-Balys.
V433 Charity of saints. Irish myth: *Cross.
V434 Conqueror restores kingship to king for charity. Irish myth: Cross.
V435 Pious man charitable to man who has formerly refused him charity. India: Thompson-Balys.
V436 Mendicant refuses to accept alms from barren woman. India: Thompson-Balys.
V437 Saint repeatedly bestows father's goods upon the poor. Irish myth: Cross.
V438 Merit for charity lost by asking work in return. India: Thompson-Balys.
V440 Other religious virtues. Irish myth: Cross.
V441 Forgiveness. Irish myth: Cross.
V441.1 Saint heals enemy. Irish myth: *Cross.
V450 Religious orders. *Encyc. Rel. Ethics Index 384a, 389b; Irish myth: Cross.
V451 First-born son and one of every ten born thereafter given to Church. Irish myth: Cross.
V453 Levites as religious order. Jewish: *Neuman.
V460 Clerical virtues and vices.
V461 Clerical virtue. Irish myth: *Cross.
V461.1 Obedient and industrious nun the worthiest in the convent. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 690; Alphabet No. 322; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V461.2 Truthful monk refuses to cheat even for his order. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 111.
V461.3 Chastity as clerical virtue. Irish myth: *Cross.
V461.4 Submission as clerical virtue. Irish myth: Cross.
V461.4.1 Truthfulness as clerical virtue. Irish myth: Cross.
V461.5 Extended meditation as clerical virtue. Irish myth: Cross.
V461.6 Monk lives where people speak ill of him to avoid danger of flattery. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V461.7 Clerical virtue of absolute faith. Man captured by robbers is so confident that God will protect him that he is saved. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V461.8 Poverty as saintly virtue. Irish myth: Cross.
V462 Asceticism. *Loomis White Magic 111f.; *Encyc. Rel. Ethics Index 42b; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys.
V462.0.1 Kingship renounced to become an ascetic. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys.
V462.0.2 Since salvation is predestined, asceticism deemed useless. Irish myth: Cross.
V462.0.3 Husband abandons wife to become ascetic. India: Thompson-Balys.
V462.0.4 Murderer becomes ascetic. India: Thompson-Balys.
V462.1 Maintaining silence as ascetic practice. Alphabet Nos. 709, 711, 712, 725; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 310 No. 32; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V462.2 Ascetic fasting. Alphabet Nos. 24, 145; Wesselski Mönchslatein 170 No. 135; Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys.
V462.2.1 Ascetic faster increases his sufferings by placing food and drink before himself. Alphabet Nos. 22, 23; Scala Celi 4a No. 16; India: Thompson-Balys.
V462.2.2 Person refuses to eat dainties. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.2.2.1 Saint refuses pearls as alms and asks for food. India: Thompson-Balys.
V462.2.3 Death from ascetic devotions. India: Thompson-Balys.
V462.3 Ascetic weeping. Irish myth: Cross.
V462.4 Asceticism: allowing self no repose. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.4.1 Asceticism: cleric practices continual genuflexion. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.4.2 Cross vigil. Cleric stands with hands extended in shape of cross. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.4.3 Saint always extends one hand toward heaven while performing such acts as eating or reaping. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.5 Ascetic cleric tortures his flesh. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.5.0.1 Ascetic cleric prays to become diseased. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.5.1 Ascetic cleric wears hair garment. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.5.1.1 Saint never wears woolen clothing, but skins of wolves and other beasts. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.5.1.2 Ascetic cleric sleeps (prays) with wet sheet (mantle) about him. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.5.2 Ascetic cleric sleeps on stone. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.5.2.1 Saint takes but little sleep. Irish myth: Cross.
V462.5.2.2 Saint stands for seven years without sleep. Irish myth: Cross.
V462.6 Ascetic cleric avoids listening to music. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.7 Ascetic cleric never smiles. Irish myth: Cross.
V462.8 Ascetic immersion. Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.8.1 Saint confines himself in narrow pen during Lent. Irish myth: Cross.
V462.8.2 Saint stands (asleep) while bird builds nest and hatches brood in his hand. Irish myth: Cross.
V462.9 Ascetic cleric leads mendicant life. Irish myth: Cross.
V462.10 Ascetic cleric lives for seven years on whale's back. Irish myth: Cross.
V462.11 Ascetic cleric renounces world (to become a herder). Irish myth: *Cross.
V462.12 Monk refuses chance of having temptation removed since he considers it strengthening to have it ever present to test him. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V462.13 Evil ascetic misuses magic powers obtained through religious meditation. India: Thompson-Balys.
V462.14 Boy takes twelve years to wash off ascetic's dirt. India: Thompson-Balys.
V463 Religious martyrdom. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman
V463.1 Cleric surrenders life that body may consecrate land. Irish myth: Cross.
V463.2 First martyr: John the Baptist. Irish myth: Cross.
V464 Self-torture to secure holiness. India: *Thompson-Balys:
V465 Clerical vices.
V465.1 Incontinence of clergy. *Encyc. Rel. Ethics Index 113b, 136c; West Indies: Flowers 580.
V465.1.1 Incontinent monk (priest). Irish myth: *Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda
V465.1.1.1 Monk seduces girl; then kills her; becomes infidel. *Chauvin VIII 128 No. 118; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V465.1.1.2 Marriage of clerics. Irish myth: *Cross.
V465.1.2 Incontinent nun. Irish myth: *Cross.
V465.1.2.1 Nun hidden by abbess from pursuing knight betrays her own hiding place to him. Is afterwards abandoned. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 13; Crane Vitry 159 No. 58.
V465.1.2.2 Nun tempted into sinning with man who tells her God can't see things that happen in the dark. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V466 Simony. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V466.1 Pope guilty of simony. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V467 Priest uses cook-book instead of breviary. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V468 Priest is bribed into betraying the confessional. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
V470 Clerical vows. *Encyc. Rel. Ethics Index 634a.
V471 Taking clerical vows heals disease. Alphabet No. 783.
V472 Clerical vows because of disappointment in love.
V472.1 Man becomes hermit when he realizes selfishness of his beloved's love. (Cf. T93.2.) Heptameron No. 24.
V473 Former monk refuses to take pay for his work, considering it as a religious act. India: Thompson-Balys.
V475 Renunciation of clerical vows. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
V475.1 Monk who has left order punished (dies in torment). Alphabet Nos. 73, 784.
V475.2 Monk who has left his order forgiven and miraculously reinstated. Alphabet No. 781.
V475.3 Man who is disappointed with his religious order renounces his vow. Italian Novella: Rotunda.