The Christmas Crèche
“The
enchanting image of the Christmas crèche, so dear to the Christian people,
never ceases to arouse amazement and wonder. The depiction of Jesus’ birth is
itself a simple and joyful proclamation of the mystery of the Incarnation of
the Son of God. 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 man in order to encounter every man and woman. We come to realize that
so great is his love for us that he became one of us, so that we in turn might
become one with him.”
So begins
Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter dated Dec. 1, 2019, Admirabile Signum, or “The
Meaning and Importance of the Nativity Scene.” In the letter he encourages not
only families to set up the nativity scenes, but also to have them set up “in
the workplace, in schools, hospitals, prisons and town squares.”
Traditionally
we leave the manger empty and only in the middle of the night of Christmas Eve do
we place the Baby Jesus there. Also, the three wise men typically are
positioned some distance from the manger and then on Epiphany the statutes or
figurines of the wise men are brought right up to the manger. (Epiphany this
year is celebrated Sunday, Jan. 5, but
originally it was always Jan. 6 – that is the meaning of the “Twelve
Days of Christmas.”) Traditionally, all Christmas decoration would not be taken
down until after Epiphany.
The Pope
writes further: “The origin of the Christmas crèche is found above all in
certain details of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, as related in the Gospels. The
evangelist Luke says simply that Mary “gave birth to her firstborn son and
wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no
place for them in the inn” (2:7).... Coming into this world, the Son of God was
laid in the place where animals feed. Hay became the first bed of the One who
would reveal himself as 'the bread come down from heaven' (Jn 6:41) [a
reference to the Holy Eucharist we receive in Holy Communion]. Saint Augustine
[354-430 AD], with other Church Fathers, was impressed by this symbolism: 'Laid
in a manger, he became our food' (Sermon 189, 4). Indeed, the nativity scene
evokes a number of the mysteries of Jesus’ life and brings them close to our
own daily lives.”
Pope
Francis then describes how St. Francis of Assisi (c. 1181-1226) set up the
first Christmas crèche in the town of Greccio, Italy, in 1223. All the figures
were town residents, and a live ox and donkey added to the scene.
“Why does
the Christmas crèche arouse such wonder and move us so deeply?” the Pope asks,
and then answers: “First, because it shows God’s tender love: the Creator of
the universe lowered himself to take up our littleness. The gift of life, in
all its mystery, becomes all the more wondrous as we realize that the Son of
Mary is the source and sustenance of all life. In Jesus, the Father has given
us a brother who comes to seek us out whenever we are confused or lost, a loyal
friend ever at our side. He gave us his Son who forgives us and frees us from
our sins.
“Setting up
the Christmas crèche in our homes helps us to relive the history of what took
place in Bethlehem. Naturally, the Gospels remain our source for understanding
and reflecting on that event. At the same time, its portrayal in the crèche
helps us to imagine the scene. It touches our hearts and makes us enter into
salvation history as contemporaries of an event that is living and real in a
broad gamut of historical and cultural contexts.
“In a particular way, from the time of its Franciscan
origins, the nativity scene has invited us to ‘feel’ and ‘touch’ the poverty
that God’s Son took upon himself in the Incarnation. Implicitly, it summons us
to follow him along the path of humility, poverty and self-denial that leads
from the manger of Bethlehem to the cross. It asks us to meet him and serve him
by showing mercy to those of our brothers and sisters in greatest need (cf. Mt
25:31-46).”
Dibby Green
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located in California City, CA. Visit our website at ollcalcity.org.