St. Francis
of Assisi, The Christmas Crib
The Christmas Crib (crèche) dates back to St.
Francis of Assisi. It was in 1293 that the first crèche was
celebrated in the woods of Greccio near Assisi, on Christmas Eve.
Francis´
highest intention, his chief desire, his uppermost purpose was to
observe the holy Gospel in all things and through all things and,
with perfect vigilance, with all zeal, with all the longing of his
mind and all the fervor of his heart, "to follow the teaching and
the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ." He would recall Christ´s
word through persistent meditation and bring to mind his deeds
through the most penetrating consideration. The humility of the
incarnation and the charity of the passion occupied his memory
particularly, to the extent that he wanted to think of hardly
anything else. What he did on the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ
near the little town called Greccio in the third year before his
glorious death should especially be noted and recalled with reverent
memory. In that place there was a certain man by the name of John,
of good reputation and an even better life, whom blessed Francis
loved with a special love, for in the place where he lived he held a
noble and honorable position in as much as he had trampled upon the
nobility of his birth and pursued nobility of soul.
Blessed
Francis sent for this man, as he often did, about fifteen days
before the birth of the Lord, and he said to him: "If you want us to
celebrate the present feast of our Lord at Greccio, go with haste
and diligently prepare what I tell you. For I wish to do something
that will recall to memory the little Child who was born in
Bethlehem and set before our bodily eyes in some way the
inconveniences of His Infant needs, how He lay in a manager, how,
with an ox and an ass standing by, he lay upon the hay where He had
been placed. "When the good and faithful man heard these things, he
ran with haste and prepared in that place all the things the saint
had told him. But the day of joy drew near; the time of great
rejoicing came. The brothers were called from their various places.
Men and women of that neighborhood prepared with glad hearts,
according to their means, candles and torches to light up that night
that has lighted up all the days and years with its gleaming star.
At length the saint of God came, and finding all things prepared, he
saw it and was glad.
The manger was prepared, the hay had been brought, and the ox and
ass were led in. There simplicity was honored, poverty was exalted,
humility was commended, and Greccio was made, as it were, a new
Bethlehem. The night was lighted up like the day, and it delighted
men and beasts. The people came and were filled with new joy over
the new mystery. The woods rang with the voices of the crowd and the
rocks made answer to their jubilation. The brothers sang, paying
their debt of praise to the Lord, and the whole night resounded with
their rejoicing. The saint of God stood before the manger, uttering
sighs, overcome with love, and filled with a wonderful happiness.
The solemnities of the Mass were celebrated over the manger and the
priest experienced a new consolation.
The saint of God was clothed with the vestments of the deacon, for
he was a deacon, and he sang the holy Gospel in a sonorous voice.
And his voice was a strong voice, a sweet voice, a clear voice, a
sonorous voice, inviting all to the highest rewards. Then he
preached to the people standing about, and he spoke charming words
concerning the nativity of the poor king and the little town of
Bethlehem. Frequently too, when he wished to call Christ Jesus, he
would call him simply the Child of Bethlehem, aglow with overflowing
love for him; and speaking the word Bethlehem, his voice was more
like the bleating of a sheep, His mouth was filled more with sweet
affection than with words. Besides, when he spoke the name Child of
Bethlehem or Jesus, his tongue licked his lips, as it were,
relishing and savoring with pleased palate the sweetness of the
word. The gifts of the Almighty were multiplied there, and a
wonderful vision was seen by a certain virtuous man. For he saw a
little child lying in the manger lifeless, and he saw the holy man
of God go up to it and rouse the child as from a deep sleep. This
vision was not unfitting, for the Child Jesus had been forgotten in
the hearts of many; but, by the working of his grace, he was brought
to life again through his servant St. Francis and stamped upon their
fervent memory. At length the solemn night celebration was brought
to a close, and each one returned to his home with holy joy.
Courtesy: (Here ends the first book about the life and acts of
Blessed FRANCIS." -Thomas of Celano)
