Hello, John! Francis of Assisi is credited with popularizing the nativity scene with a live reenactment at Greccio 800 years ago. In his 2019 Apostolic Letter Admirabile signum, Pope Francis reflects on Greccio in 1223, while considering the meaning and importance of the nativity scene. Channeling the spirit of St. Francis, the pope reminds us, “The nativity scene is like a living Gospel rising up from the pages of sacred Scripture. As we contemplate the Christmas story, we are invited to set out on a spiritual journey, drawn by the humility of the God who became human in order to encounter every man and woman." This act of putting together the Nativity scene is designed to help us make this spiritual journey of Advent and Christmas by bringing together both the inspiration of Greccio and the O Antiphons. In turn, these can help to assist us in our coming to a deeper consideration of how better to live the social teaching of the Church in our world today. In short, it is Franciscan “prayer in action” that strengthens our relationship with God and others, through moments of silence, movement, song, and reflection. Seeing through the eyes of his heart, Pope Francis tells us, “With the simplicity of that sign, Saint Francis carried out a great work of evangelization. His teaching touched the hearts of Christians and continues today to offer a simple yet authentic means of portraying the beauty of our faith. Indeed, the place where this first nativity scene was enacted expresses and evokes these sentiments. Greccio has become a refuge for the soul, a mountain fastness wrapped in silence.” The setting up of the nativity scene can be done, for example, on the traditional “O Antiphon” days of 17-23 December, or it can also be done on any seven days during the Advent season. Let the Spirit lead you, and remember the advice of Pope Francis who says, “Standing before the Christmas crèche, we are reminded of the time when we were children, eagerly waiting to set it up. These memories make us all the more conscious of the precious gift received from those who passed on the faith to us. At the same time, they remind us of our duty to share this same experience with our children and our grandchildren. It does not matter how the nativity scene is arranged: it can always be the same or it can change from year to year. What matters is that it speaks to our lives. Wherever it is, and whatever form it takes, the Christmas crèche speaks to us of the love of God, the God who became a child in order to make us know how close he is to every man, woman and child, regardless of their condition.” Each prayer begins with the O Antiphon of the day followed by the insights of Pope Francis on the meaning and importance of the nativity scene, as inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi at Greccio. Participants are then invited to arrange certain parts of the nativity scene, which can happen quickly or may take some time depending on the size of the nativity scene and one’s imagination. This is followed by the recommendation of the lighting of candles, progressing from one on the first day to seven on the final day. The lighting of the candle(s) might lead you to rest in a moment of silent gratitude to God. Then, you may choose to sing, once more, the verse of the song for each of the previous days, as candles are relit. Again, let the Spirit inspire your creativity. Finally, a passage from the social teaching of the Church is offered as a reflection that aims to bring the mysteries of the Christmas story into our world today and lead hopefully to some discussion. There is no formal ending offered. You could choose to offer spontaneous prayers of intercession or perhaps pray the Magnificat together (found in the Preface). The Spirit may lead you simply to transition to a cup of coffee or tea or hot chocolate and to a further conversation about the presence of Christ in your lives. Sign up to receive seven days of daily prayers and reflections. |
The Grace of Greccio: 800 Years of Tradition Central to Franciscan spirituality is the Incarnation—the union of divinity and humanity in the person of Jesus. In his lifetime, Francis of Assisi wanted nothing more than to emulate the life of Christ and celebrate his momentous birth. So, in 1223, he and the townspeople of Greccio, a commune in central Italy, got to work in creating the first live nativity. When it was ready, Thomas of Celano, Francis’ first biographer, wrote, “There simplicity was honored, poverty was exalted, humility was commended, and Greccio was made, as it were, a new Bethlehem.” 800 years later, Franciscan Media, in collaboration with the Franciscan School of Theology and the Franciscan Federation, celebrate this occasion. You can still experience the celebration of the 800th Anniversary during this Advent season! Greccio 800th Anniversary Recorded Event |
Christ Amongst Us
By Susan Hines-Brigger Every year when I unpack our Christmas decorations, I always look forward to unwrapping the Nativity set that I inherited from my parents. The plaster figures are chipped and worn from years of my sisters and me playing with them. Small pieces of Jesus’ nose are missing from all the kisses he received from Joseph and Mary. The paint on the back of the donkey shows the many rides we had Mary take on its back. In short, it was well loved and brought us all closer to the story of Jesus’ birth—even in our own unique ways. Those memories would not be possible, though, without St. Francis, who is credited with creating the first Nativity scene in 1223 in Greccio, Italy. Now, nearly 800 years later, his fellow Franciscan Brother Tim Sucher carries on that connection with the crèche. For Brother Tim, it started at the age of 3 and has continued to grow over the years. During that time, he has collected Nativity scenes from around the world, and every year he sets them up for people to see at St. Francis Seraph Parish and Friary in Cincinnati, Ohio. There is even a live Nativity outside in the church’s courtyard. You can see some of his collection of Nativity sets and read his story here. For St. Francis, the Nativity scene represented a human connection with Christ. May it serve as a reminder to us today to be witnesses to the miracle of Christmas and what that means in our lives. |
Now that Advent season is upon us, it is not too late to join our daily series to continue your journey with Saint Clare. Our mission is to share God's love through thoughtful communications in the spirit of Saint Frances and these daily reflections with Saint Clare fulfill that mission. Click here to see how you can join in and receive daily reflections for the rest of Advent: |
Looking for wonderful gifts to give Christmas? Here are some great ideas that provide reflection, inspiration, and direction for every day for 2024! |
Padre Pio's Spiritual Direction for Every Day Padre Pio was celebrated for his understanding of the spiritual life and the struggles we all face. The letters he wrote to his spiritual directors and to the many people who sought his advice are a profound source of direction and encouragement. This collection of 365 reflections drawn from those letters offers inspiration for every day of the year. |
Reflect. Pray. Act. These simple directions make up the core of the Pause and Pray experience. Each of the dozens of prayers in this book includes a brief reflection and a simple action to make your everyday life more prayerful. |
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