The Tradition of the Christmas Crib

Following a beautiful and firmly-rooted tradition, many families set up their crib immediately after the feast of the Immaculate Conception, as if to relive with Mary those days full of trepidation that preceded the birth of Jesus. Putting up the crib at home can be a simple but effective way of present­ing faith, to pass it on to one’s children. The crib helps us contemplate the mystery of God’s love that was revealed in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem Grotto. Saint Francis of Assisi was so taken by the mystery of the Incarnation that he wanted to present it anew at Greccio in the living nativity scene, thus beginning an old, popular tra­dition that still retains its value for evangelization today. Indeed, the crib can help us understand the secret of the true Christmas because it speaks of the humility and merciful goodness of Christ, who “though he was rich he made himself poor” for us (2 Cor 8: 9). His poverty enriches those who embrace it and Christmas brings joy and peace to those who, like the shepherds in Bethlehem, accept the Angel’s words: “Let this be a sign to you: in a manger you will find an infant wrapped in swad­dling clothes” (Lk 2: 12). This is still the sign for us too, men and women of the third millennium. There is no other Christmas.

Pope Benedict XVI

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The Tradition of the Christmas Crib: 

Following a beautiful and firmly-rooted tradition, many families set up their crib immediately after the feast of the Immaculate Conception, as if to relive with Mary those days full of trepidation that preceded the birth of Jesus. Putting up the crib at home can be a simple but effective way of present­ing faith, to pass it on to one’s children. The crib helps us contemplate the mystery of God’s love that was revealed in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem Grotto. Saint Francis of Assisi was so taken by the mystery of the Incarnation that he wanted to present it anew at Greccio in the living nativity scene, thus beginning an old, popular tra­dition that still retains its value for evangelization today. Indeed, the crib can help us understand the secret of the true Christmas because it speaks of the humility and merciful goodness of Christ, who “though he was rich he made himself poor” for us (2 Cor 8: 9). His poverty enriches those who embrace it and Christmas brings joy and peace to those who, like the shepherds in Bethlehem, accept the Angel’s words: “Let this be a sign to you: in a manger you will find an infant wrapped in swad­dling clothes” (Lk 2: 12). This is still the sign for us too, men and women of the third millennium. There is no other Christmas.

Pope Benedict XVI

In the year 1223, St. Francis, a deacon, was visiting the town of Grecio to celebrate Christmas. Grecio was a small town built on a mountainside overlooking a beautiful valley. The people had cultivated the fertile area with vineyards. St. Francis realized that the chapel of the Franciscan hermitage would be too small to hold the congregation for Midnight Mass. So he found a niche in the rock near the town square and set up the altar. However, this Midnight Mass would be very special, unlike any other Midnight Mass.

St. Bonaventure (d. 1274) tells the story the best: 

It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Grecio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, [St. Francis] determined to keep it with all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the sovereign Pontiff. Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. 

The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise. The man of God [St. Francis] stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he preached to the people around the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, He called Him the Babe of Bethlehem.

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Homily #101231 ( 07min) Play – Fr. Angelo preaches on the Gospel today from Luke where Our Lady ponders the events of Christmas in her heart and the first reading from Titus where Paul speaks about how Christ poured himself out for us. We still see this principle somewhat alive in today’s society when we say it is better to give than to receive. This is the true Spirit of Christmas and central to Christianity where we become poor in earthly goods and rich in heavenly ones. This was central to St. Francis’ spirituality.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Seventh Day Octave of Christmas: St. Sylvester I, Pope and Confessor – Commemoration – Form: EF, Puer Natus Est
Readings:
1st: tit 3:4-7
Gsp: luk 2:15-20

Audio (MP3)

+++

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Ave Maria!

T’is the Season … ! This is a re-post of the very first FiNews when AirMaria was Just getting started.

The keystone friars set-up the creche at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in this time-lapse video set to “O Little Town of Bethlehem” sung by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate. Merry Christmas!

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The Christmas Crib of Greccio – YouTube.

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Luke 2:11: For Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord

As I was putting up my nativity set these three words sprung out at me “For unto you”. Yes, Lord, how I need Your holy Nativity. Look how low the Son of God stoops to make our salvation possible. A cave and a manger for the Lord of glory to visit this sin-cursed world. A cave that only allows me to bow before His presence to enter in. I held the twig-twisted manger that was to be the Lord’s bed. Even for me, divested of all this world holds dear, is welcome to kneel and adore Jesus.

The two little lambs pointed their faces at the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Our Jesus offers us the sacrifice of the Mass so that we will never forget the high cost of our redemption. The donkey in the corner of the manger gladly bore the weight of the Blessed Mother to carry her to Bethlehem that means “House of bread”. Yes, Jesus is our living Bread that came down from Heaven to heal our sinful souls and prepare us to enter heaven.

There is Joseph who suffered much to see God’s holy will fulfilled in the birth of God’s Son. Our life, like Joseph, is mixed with buffeting and blessings. God gave Joseph great graces to carry life’s challenges and that grace and mercy is renewed to us each day. There is the Blessed Mother dressed in blue; God graced her to be the door that will open God’s Heaven to those that love her Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray the joyful mysteries before the manger and I felt my sorrows fly away like little birds.

There was a little boy kneeling before the baby Jesus and the wonder of the angel song still fills the air. The angel announces, “Glory to God in the highest” and indeed the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father shines brightly in the dark of night.

There is the cow providing much-needed heat for the newborn Christ Child. To the left are three camels and the three wise kings with their gifts, kneeling and worshiping before the Savior. To the right are the shepherds, the common working men who labor to provide for their family’s needs. They saw the heavens light up with the angels from the throne room of God’s Heaven and heard the gospel proclaimed. God’s love was wrapped in the Babe of Bethlehem for people of every kindred, tongue and nation of the world.

Glory to God in the highest!

+Fr. Joseph B.

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