How The Nativity Scene Was Born

We have St. Francis to thank for the humble crèche:

The only historical account we have of Francis’ nativity scene comes from The Life of St. Francis of Assisi by St. Bonaventure, a Franciscan monk who was born five years before Francis’ death. According to Bonaventure’s biography, St. Francis got permission from Pope Honorious III to set up a manger with hay and two live animals – an ox and an ass – in a cave in the Italian village of Grecio. He then invited the villagers to come gaze upon the scene while he preached about “the babe of Bethlehem.”

Francis’ display came in the middle of a period when mystery or miracle plays were a popular form of entertainment and education for European laypeople. These plays, originally performed in churches and later performed in town squares, re-enacted Bible stories in vernacular languages. Since church services at the time were performed only in Latin, which virtually no one understood, miracle plays were the only way for laypeople to learn scripture. Francis’ nativity scene used the same method of visual display to help locals understand and emotionally engage with Christianity. Within a couple of centuries of Francis’ inaugural display [in 1223], nativity scenes had spread throughout Europe.

A reader sent the above photo:

Don’t know if this would qualify for a Face of the Day or not, but I figured you’d appreciate this one. This elderly beagle has the run of the neighborhood. I came upon him in this cozy spot in a neighbor’s yard.