(Franciscan Media) What a better way to prepare for the arrival of the Christ Child then to take a brief journey to Greccio, the spot in Central Italy where St. Francis of Assisi created the first Christmas crib in 1223
Francis recalling a visit he had made years before to Bethlehem, resolved to create the manger that he had seen there. The ideal spot was a cave in nearby Greccio. One would find a baby (we’re unsure if it was a live infant or the carved image of a baby) hay upon which to lay him, an ox and a donkey to stand beside the manger. Word went out to the people of the town–at the appointed time, they arrived carrying torches and candles.
One of the Friars began celebrating Mass–Francis himself gave a sermon. His biographer Thomas of Celano recalls that Francis ‘stood before the manger…overcome with love and filled with a wonderful happiness.’
For Francis, the simple celebration was meant to recall the hardship Jesus suffered even as an infant, a Savior who chose to become poor for our sake, a truly human Jesus.
On Christmas Eve, as we pray around the Christmas cribs in our homes, we welcome into our hearts that same Savior.
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