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 wonderful happiness. The solemnities of the Mass were celebrated over the manger and the priest experienced a new consolation. Even more astonishing is that one person present that night saw a vision of a little child lying in the manger, lifeless. The person saw Francis go up to the infant and rouse the child, as if he was waking them from a deep sleep. Thomas of Celano believes that this vision was fitting, inasmuch as “the Child Jesus had been forgotten in the hearts of so 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.” When the solemn night celebration had come to a close, the people returned to their homes with holy joy. Even though the special celebration had ended, the Lord continued to work favors for the people in miraculous ways. Thomas of Celano records that the hay that was placed in the manger was kept and given to the beasts of burden and other animals. When these animals throughout the surrounding region ate some of the hay, the animals that were sick were freed from their illnesses. He also records that “indeed, even women laboring for a long time in a difficult birth were delivered safely when some of this hay was placed upon them; and a large number of persons of both sexes of that place, suffering from various illnesses, obtained the health they sought.” Gathered in joy This story has inevitably had a major impact on so many. It is from this story that the tradition of the Christmas crèche began. It is because of this story that thousands of Nativity sets are put up each year for Christmas, as Pope Francis acknowledged: “This is how our tradition began: with everyone gathered in joy around the cave, with no distance between the original event and those sharing in its mystery.” The story has helped me to encounter Christ, too. Growing up, I was privileged to live near a Franciscan friary that would reenact a live Nativity scene with real animals each year. It is the Nativity scene that evokes a number of mysteries in the life of Christ and makes them tangible in our daily lives. One crucial aspect of the celebration that took place in 1223 has to do with the Eucharist. Recall that Thomas of Celano said, “The solemnities of the Mass were celebrated over the manger and the priest experienced a new consolation.” In the full story, Thomas of Celano recounts that St. Francis of Assisi preached at the Mass and “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.” The Mass celebrated over the manger that night in Greccio showed the bond between God becoming Man and the Eucharist. Encountering Christ In imitation of that first Nativity scene, keep the Mass in Christmas! One terrific way to do this is to enroll the names of your loved ones to be remembered in the three Masses at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy this Christmas. If you have never done this before, you might even consider making it an annual Christmas tradition to honor your loved ones. It is with great joy that I encourage you to “encounter” Christ this Christmas. There is nothing stopping Christ from coming to you in the wondrous way He did in the little town of Greccio nearly 800 years ago. I also encourage you to be a beacon of light and joy to others this Christmas season. May we, too, follow in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi and enkindle a love for the Child Jesus in the hearts of those who may have forgotten Him. I pray that this Christmas is filled with divine “encounters” with the living Christ for both you and your loved ones! Marian Helper • Winter 2022-23 • Marian.org 19 We invite you to send us your intentions for the Three Christmas Masses on December 25 at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Visit Marian.org/b56 to have your intentions remembered.
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