In a manger

Institution of the Crib at Greccio

Saint Francis of Assisi is given credit for creating the first live Nativity scene in Greccio, Italy 800 years ago this Christmas. St. Francis used live people and animals, I think, for the Bethlehem manger scene. This is how St. Bonaventure summarizes the event in his biography of Francis (Chapter X, paragraph 7):

7. Now three years before his death it befell that he was minded, at the town of Greccio, to celebrate the memory of the Birth of the Child Jesus, with all the added solemnity that he might, for the kindling of devotion. That this might not seem an innovation, he sought and obtained license from the Supreme Pontiff, and then made ready a manger, and bade hay, together with an ox and an ass, be brought unto the spot. The Brethren were called together, the folk assembled, the wood echoed with their voices, and that august night was made radiant and solemn with many bright lights, and with tuneful and sonorous praises. The man of God, filled with tender love, stood before the manger, bathed m tears, and overflowing with joy. Solemn Masses were celebrated over the manger, Francis, the Levite of Christ, chanting the Holy Gospel. Then he preached unto the folk standing round of the Birth of the King in poverty, calling Him, when he wished to name Him, the Child of Bethlehem, by reason of his tender love for Him. A certain knight, valorous and true, Messer John of Greccio, who for the love of Christ had left the secular army, and was bound by closest friendship unto the man of God, declared that he beheld a little Child right fair to see sleeping in that manger. Who seemed to be awakened from sleep when the blessed Father Francis embraced Him in both arms. This vision of the devout knight is rendered worthy of belief, not alone through the holiness of him that beheld it, but is also confirmed by the truth that it set forth, and withal proven by the miracles that followed it. For the ensample of Francis, if meditated upon by the world, must needs stir up sluggish hearts unto the faith of Christ, and the hay that was kept back from the manger by the folk proved a marvellous remedy for sick beasts, and a prophylactic against divers other plagues, God magnifying by all means His servant, and making manifest by clear and miraculous portents the efficacy of his holy prayers.

The Chapel of the First Live Nativity in Greccio

Francis of Assisi lived from 1181-1226. I read someplace that Saint Bonaventure’s (1221-1274) based his biography of Francis on an earlier work by Thomas of Celano (c1185-1260). You can read Thomas of Celano’s biography at Franciscan Seculars. Part I, chapter 30 describes the 1223 nativity scene.

This year’s nativity scene at the Vatican honors St. Francis’s 1223 creation in Greccio.

From Wikimedia Commons: Fiat 500e’s photograph of the Chapel of the First Live Nativity -“licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.” I didn’t make any changes; the fresco of St. Francis setting up the nativity scene at Greccio, part of the Saint Francis cycle in the Upper Church of San Francesco at Assisi – the cycle has traditionally been attributed to Giotto di Bondone, but the actual painter has been disputed by art historians since 1912; G.dallorto’s photo of the simple nativity scene from a 4th century sarcophagus

From the Library of Congress: Currier & Ives’ 1876 lithograph;

Infant Jesus with ox and ass from 4th century sarcophagus

to you and yours