The Christmas Crib of Greccio – YouTube.

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Pope Francis chooses a very Francisan image for his Christmas card showing the Immaculate Virgin Mary with the Holy Child wrapped in swadling clothes as depicted by Giotto in the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. The article from the Register mentions how St. Francis was instrumental in making the nativity set a common Christmas devotion, starting with a live nativity scene in the cave at Greccio. Certainly, for us Franciscans of the Immaculate, this is very endearing. I like the donkey the best. He looks so happy to be there. This is especially interesting given that St. Francis called himself Brother Ass and the holy, firey joy with which the saint filled the cave at Greccio at this first Nativity set.

Holy Father chooses 14th century fresco by Giotto, located in the lower basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.

Edward Pentin

Pope Francis has chosen Giotto’s 14th century fresco of the Nativity in Assisi for his Christmas card this year, accompanied by a verse from Isaiah on its reverse.

The 1313 masterpiece, located in the lower basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, is the only one of its kind in the world where a nativity scene has two baby Jesuses to express the human and divine nature of Christ.

Giotto interprets the divine aspect through the blue that shines in the night of Bethlehem, and the painting itself “broadens and expands” his narration of the scene “to tell a true story, not a fairy tale,” according to Enzo Fortunato, press officer of the Sacred Convent of Assisi.

He added that the use of blue “moves and captures everyone, pilgrim or tourist. Those who enter the basilica remain fascinated. A deep, luminous color, above all royal and real.”

More from the Source: Pope Francis’ 2016 Christmas Card | ncregister.com

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Ave Maria!

Fr. Josemaria Barbin gives a conference for the MIM monthly meeting on the Beauty & Joy of Christmas and how Franciscan Spirituality brings out the important role of Mary by placing Christ’s Incarnation at the center of God’s decision to create the world. He discusses Franciscan Christocentrism and the Marian Mode of the Incarnation. The MIM is the Mission of the Immaculate Mediatrix a lay movement directed by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.

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– CONF 398

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Fr Ignatius gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Dec 05, 2020, on how Jesus taught through His words and deeds, shining a light on the way to salvation, starting in a stable in Bethlehem.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Saturday in the 1st Week in Advent – Wkdy
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120520.cfm
1st: isa 30:19-21, 23-26
Resp: psa 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 0
Gsp: mat 9:35, 10:1, 6-8

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1252

Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/299302188067073
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/RNkcZQqYEIc

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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 17, 2023, on how the Church’s liturgy was a source of strength and inspiration for the spirituality of St Francis. This is a continuation of his series of homilies on Franciscan Spirituality. – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom

Notes:

0:00 Intro – Liturgy, Francis’s strength and inspiration

Liturgy is a source of Francis’s strength and inspiration, a place to find God who acts.

0:55 – What is Liturgy

Liturgia originally meant a public work of civil or religious duty

In the Christian Church, it is public worship, expressing our relationship with Christ, which is not just private  CCC 1069 – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2.htm#1069

Participating in the liturgy is participating in the priestly minister and in Christ’s works

We do it, but it is Christ working

Not just sterile remembrance of past events but makes Christ present and sanctifies and renews the Church, the body of Christ

2:46 – St Francis’s view of the liturgy

St Francis’s view of the liturgy is based on the concreteness of his spirituality, to live what he loves,

This is the basis of his Christocentric objectiveness

Worship of the trinity to continually adore Christ in the cycles of the Liturgical seasons

Admonition to continually worship Christ

In the first rule in all times and seasons, have a true and humble faith, love , adore … supreme god trinity

Friars should always take care of the abode of Christ in the tabernacles of the world.

4:55 – St Francis contributions

The Grotto in Greccio was the first nativity scene. – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euGVYbwK93A

Lent – Office of the Passion – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Office_of_the_Passion

Reinvigorated eucharist by Restoring three churches and

Did not want to be a priest because he did not feel worthy

Devotion to the bible was part of his liturgical practice

Received Eucharist as often as he could with great devotion.

6:37 – Breviary, Divine office

Breviary and other liturgical books were very diverse between friaries as things were in the whole Church. He standardized on the version used in the Papal chapel and, 70 years later, the Pope took his queue and standardized this breviary throughout the Church.

Francis would recite the breviary every day, even when traveling or sick.

8:07 – St. Bonaventure 5 Reasons to recite the Breviary

1 Imitates the angels in praises for God
2 Thank God day and night, recalls the life, passion, and death of Christ
3 rekindles the heart with love for God
4 Encourage the Faithful to pray by example
5 For the beauty and decorum of the Christian world.

9:22 Conclusion – Participation in the mysteries of the Chruch

Francis’s spirit of the Liturgy was lively, and an intimate participation in the mysteries of the Chruch, especially the yearly cycle, receiving the graces offered, Making Christ present, here and now, and for the entire world.

Ave Maria!

This is a continuation of his series of homilies on Franciscan Spirituality – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom

The material for this series comes primarily from Ciccarelli, Marciano M., “I capisaldi della spiritualità francescana” in Italian, which translates as “The Cornerstones of Franciscan Spirituality”. No English translations exist at the time of this recording.

Mass: St. Patrick – Opt Mem
Readings: Friday 3rd Week of Lent – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/031723.cfm
1st: hos 14:2-10
Resp: psa 81:6-11, 14, 17
Gsp: mar 12:28-34

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1045&r=1669

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