This conversation explores the origins and significance of the nativity scene, initiated by St. Francis of Assisi in Greccio, Italy, over 800 years ago. It delves into St. Francis's spiritual vision, emphasizing humility and the tangible experience of faith. The preparation for the first living nativity is recounted, highlighting community involvement and the profound impact of this tradition on Christmas celebrations worldwide. The legacy of St. Francis's nativity scene continues to resonate, teaching timeless lessons about experiencing sacred love personally.
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The first nativity scene was created by St. Francis in 1223.
St. Francis's vision transformed how Christians celebrate Christmas.
The nativity scene embodies a profound understanding of love.
St. Francis connected poverty and humility as inseparable twins.
The first nativity scene was a community effort in Greccio.
St. Francis aimed to make faith tangible through physical experiences.
The tradition of the nativity scene spread rapidly across Europe.
Pope Nicholas IV established a permanent nativity scene in Rome.
St. Francis's legacy teaches the importance of simple expressions of faith.
The nativity scene remains relevant and meaningful today.
Paul R. Long OFS (00:01.378)
Hello, Merry Christmas and welcome to our walk together. As you may have already noticed, this episode is a little bit different than most of them. As it's a Christmas episode, I decided to dispense with the usual opening and closing. In this episode, I want to share with you an event that happened over 800 years ago. St. Francis and the Christmas at Greccio, a small town in Italy.
Paul R. Long OFS (00:33.39)
Nativity scenes grace our surroundings during Christmas. They appear in homes and churches, town squares and shopping malls. And this beloved tradition began with a remarkable event that St. Francis of Assisi arranged in a small Italian town over 800 years ago. The first nativity scene came to life on Christmas Eve of 1223 in Greccio, Italy.
St. Francis had just returned from the Holy Land when inspiration struck him and he created something unprecedented, a living recreation of Jesus' birth with real people and animals. His innovative way to share the Christmas story transformed how future generations would celebrate the season. The fascinating history behind St. Francis' first nativity scene reveals a profound spiritual vision.
A simple, creative expression in a small Italian town grew to a cherished worldwide Christmas tradition that continues to touch hearts today.
Taking a little bit of a closer look at St. Francis' spiritual vision, the vision behind the first nativity scene, we find a profound understanding of love that changed how Christians experience their faith. His inspiration emerged from deep contemplation of the incarnation, God becoming human in the form of Jesus. Francis felt deeply moved by God's profound humility
in choosing to become human. The incarnation wasn't just a theological concept, but represented a revolutionary act of divine love. The saint found himself struck by the thought that the creator would choose to become a creature. And he saw this as the ultimate expression of God's humility. Francis's vision
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connected poverty and humility as inseparable twins. His welcome of poverty wasn't merely idealistic. It grew from his recognition that Christ chose poverty from birth. Francis wanted everyone to experience God's love, his profound reality in a tangible way. His genius made complex theological truths available
through physical experiences. He believed in creating important opportunities for people to see, smell, and touch the amazing effects of God's incarnation in our lives instead of abstract sermons.
The first nativity scene helped Francis overcome his time's rampant materialism by presenting a vivid image of divine poverty and simplicity. His vision extended beyond creating a beautiful display. It helped people to understand that to be simple is to see things with the eyes of God.
Paul R. Long OFS (03:57.486)
St. Francis set an extraordinary plan in motion just 15 days before Christmas in 1223. He called upon his trusted friend Giovanni to help create something never before done, a living recreation of Christ's birth.
Paul R. Long OFS (04:20.088)
The preparation needed several important elements. A suitable cave near Gretcho. Hay and a manger. Local villagers participation. A midnight mass celebration. St. Francis and Giovanni worked together to recreate the Bethlehem scene with amazing attention to detail. Their teamwork proved vital since organizing this event needed strong leadership and community support.
Gathering the living elements, this scene took shape with authenticity in mind. St. Francis brought in live animals, an ox and a donkey to stand by the manger. The local villagers stepped forward to play different roles, which made this first nativity scene a true community effort.
Let's hear the rest of the story as recorded by Brother Thomas of Solano in his first biography of St. Francis.
Paul R. Long OFS (05:37.902)
Francis used to recall with regular meditation the words of Christ and recollect his deeds with most attentive perception. Indeed, so thoroughly did the humility of the incarnation and the charity of passion occupy his memory that he scarcely wanted to think of anything else.
We should note then as a matter worthy of memory and something to be recalled with reverence, what he did three years prior to his death at the town of Greccio on the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. There was a certain man in that area named John Giovanni who had good reputation, but an even better manner of life. Blessed Francis
loved him with a special affection, despite being a noble in the land and very honored in human society, he had trampled the nobility of the flesh under his feet and pursued instead the nobility of spirit. As usual, Blessed Francis had John summoned to him some 15 days before the birthday of the Lord. If you desire to celebrate the coming feast,
of the Lord together at Crecio, he said to him, hurry before me and carefully make ready the things I tell you. For I wish to enact the memory of that babe who was born in Bethlehem, to see as much as possible with my own bodily eyes the discomfort his infant needs and how he lay in a manger and how with an ox and an ass standing by.
He rested on hay. Once this good and faithful man heard what St. Francis's words, he ran quickly and prepared in that place all the things that the man, the holy man wanted.
Paul R. Long OFS (07:43.704)
Finally, the day of joy drew near. The time of exultation has come. From many different places, the brethren gathered and they've been called together as they could. And also as they could men and women of that land with exultant hearts prepare candles and torches to light up that night. Those whose shining star has enlightened every day and year.
Finally, the holy man of God comes in finding all things prepared. He saw them and was glad. Indeed, the manger was prepared and the hay carried in and the ox and the ass were led to the spot. Their simplicity is given a place of honor. Poverty is exalted and Gretcho
has made a new Bethlehem. The night is lit up like day, delighting both man and beast. People arrive ecstatic at the new mystery and the new joy. The forest amplifies the cries and the boulders echo back the joyful crowd. The brothers sing, giving God due praise, and the whole night abounds with jubilation.
The holy man of God stands before the manger, filled with heartfelt sighs.
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tried in his piety and overcome with wondrous joy.
Over the manger, the solemnities of the mass are celebrated, and the priest enjoys a new consolation.
The holy man of God dressed in the vestments of a deacon, since he was a deacon, and with full voice sings the holy gospel.
Paul R. Long OFS (09:58.99)
Here is his voice, a powerful voice, a pleasant voice, a clear voice, a musical voice, inviting all to the highest gifts.
And then he preaches to the people standing around him and pours sweet honey about the birth of the poor king and the poor city of Bethlehem. Moreover, burning with excessive love, he often calls Christ the babe from Bethlehem. And whenever he means to call him Jesus, saying the word Bethlehem in a manner of a bleeding sheep, he fills his whole mouth with sound.
that uses expressions of Jesus or babe of Bethlehem, tasting the word and his happy palate and savoring the sweetness of the word. The gifts of the Almighty are multiplied there and the virtuous man sees a wondrous vision. For the man saw a little child lying lifeless.
in the manger.
when he saw the holy man, the holy man of God, approach the child and waken him from a deep sleep.
Paul R. Long OFS (11:29.89)
Nor is this vision unfitting, since the hearts of many
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child Jesus.
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Nor is this vision unfitting, since in the hearts of many the child Jesus had been given over to oblivion. Now he is awakened and impressed upon their loving memory, his own grace, through his holy servant Francis. At length the night's solemnity is due to a close, and everyone went home. Enjoy.
Paul R. Long OFS (12:19.736)
Giovanni or John as he's referred to in the reading there, it was believed to be that virtuous man that witnessed the celebration's most meaningful moment. A beautiful infant appeared in the manger and St. Francis held it with tender care.
This first living nativity started a tradition that spread throughout Europe and now exists worldwide. Legacy through the centuries of St. Francis' groundbreaking nativity scene in Greccio started a movement that would revolutionize Christmas celebrations worldwide. The tradition spread faster across Europe with decades after that first live nativity in 1223 spread
of the nativity across Europe. Pope Nicholas IV, who became the first Franciscan pope, played a vital role when he ordered a permanent nativity scene at Rome's Santa Maria Maggiori in 1291. Catholic Europe embraced this practice widely, especially in Mediterranean and Germanic regions thanks to the Jesuits' efforts.
Saint Francis's humility, his humble nativity scene in Greccio shows faith's enduring power through simple, meaningful expressions. His vision brought the Christmas story closer to people's hearts. This simple beginning has grown into countless traditions worldwide. Each tradition
as its unique cultural touch while keeping the original spirit of wonder and devotion.
Paul R. Long OFS (14:22.294)
Eight centuries have passed, and yet Francis's state-of-the-art approach continues to shape our celebrations. His goal to make faith tangible and available still strikes a chord within people of all cultures and generations. This extraordinary legacy teaches us a timeless lesson.
The most powerful traditions often begin with a simple wish to help others experience sacred love personally. Francis taught us that faith becomes meaningful when we can see, touch, and feel its presence in our lives. This truth makes the nativity scene as relevant today as it was in that small Italian town
in 1223.
Paul R. Long OFS (15:23.074)
I wish to you, to all your family members and friends, a very happy, a very merry, and a very spiritual Christmas this year.