Celebrating 800 Years of the Crèche

Sister Christina shares reflections on the Christmas crèche, both its history and its place in our celebrations today.

As Christmas is only three days away, you probably have a stable and nativity scene set up somewhere in your home by now. Perhaps the manger or the figure of the Baby Jesus is still missing, waiting until the eve of the 24th to take its place.

Growing up, we used to reenact the story of Our Lord’s nativity as we moved the statues into their places in the straw-filled stable that my dad had made.

During those early days of Advent, as a small child, I could be found lying in front of the crèche, elbows on the floor and chin in hand, pondering the scene before me. One time, my mom was looking for me, not knowing where I had wandered, only to find me there.

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I guess it’s small wonder that now, decades later, I’m a Franciscan! In case you don’t know the connection, allow me to explain.

In 1223, 800 years ago this Christmas, St. Francis gave the world the gift of the crèche through his reenactment of the Lord’s nativity. Ever faithful to the Church and the Holy Father, he had obtained the pope’s permission for this portrayal which would take place with midnight Mass at the town of Greccio. He had also made arrangements to have a cave and hay ready for the occasion.

This was to be no ordinary representation of the events at Bethlehem on that holy night, however.

It is told by an eyewitness that a beautiful Infant appeared during that midnight Mass, whom St. Francis then picked up and held to his chest. What a beautiful confirmation of the saint’s devotion to our Lord’s nativity!

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Although we probably won’t experience an extraordinary miracle like St. Francis did at Greccio, we can still enter into this wondrous mystery in our own homes. #CatholicMom

Although we probably won’t experience an extraordinary miracle like St. Francis did at Greccio, we can still enter into this wondrous mystery in our own homes.

We can retell the story with our families, using the statues of the crèche. We can spend quiet moments of prayer before it, quietly pondering the gift of Christmas. We can strive to see Christ’s presence in those around us and appreciate each person as a gift as well.

During this time of Eucharistic revival, we can devote a little extra time to visiting Jesus, eucharistically present in our churches, thanking Him, there truly present, for His coming and staying among us.

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