The Crèche

Every year, families all over the world take out their treasured Christmas decorations, including Nativity scenes, which include the infant Jesus, Mary, Joseph, three wise men, some shepherds, miscellaneous animals, and perhaps an angel. The crèche is a representation of the scene of Jesus Christ’s birth. Although a crèche is the same thing as a Nativity scene, the crèche refers specifically to the baby Jesus in the manger.

St. Francis of Assisi is credited with staging the first Nativity scene in 1223. He got permission from Pope Honorius to set up a manger scene with an ox and an ass in a cave in the small Italian village of Greccio, and then invited villagers to gaze on the scene while he preached about the Babe of Bethlehem.

Within a couple of centuries, Nativity scenes spread throughout Europe. According to the biography of St Bonaventure, a Franciscan monk, he claims that the hay used by St. Francis miraculously acquired the power to cure local cattle diseases and pestilence. Although this claim is not verified, the Nativity scenes were extremely popular. The plays were originally performed in churches and public squares and re-enacted Bible stories. At that time, church services were only in Latin, which most people did not understand, so this was the only way for people to learn scripture and engage in Christianity.

Eventually, Francis' idea of bringing Bethlehem into one's own town spread quickly, and when there was a Christmas crib in every church, families began to re-enact the birth of Christ in their homes as well. The tradition continues to this day, as families display their own crèche each year. Often, the youngest child places the baby Jesus in the manger on Christmas Day.

The crèche is much more than simply another Christmas decoration. It is an image of God who is Himself an image of love. As a Catholic family, keep your Nativity scene displayed throughout the entire Christmas season, using it as an opportunity for us to remember the mystery of the Incarnation and the love which God has for us all.


Deacon Michael & Cheryl Whalen
Parishioners