All Things Christmas by E. G. Lewis

Author:E. G. Lewis [Lewis, E. G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Non-Fiction
ISBN: 2940012815675
Google: Z-e9lCZZ8gAC
Goodreads: 12321098
Publisher: Cape Arago Press
Published: 2010-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

The Two Men Who Shaped Christmas

Saint Francis of Assisi

The way in which the world celebrates Christmas can be traced back to the influence of two men…both of whom you know well. The first of the pair is the universal saint whose statue is so often seen in gardens because of his close association with animals. Yes, some of the most important religious traditions surrounding the Christmas season originated with St. Francis of Assisi. The traditions that Francis began have become so much a part of our celebrations of Christmas that it is now hard to imagine them ever not being there.

How Things Were Before Francis

Although Christmas was part of the liturgical calendar with an established day of remembrance it had no elaborate rituals associated with it, especially in the Early Church. It was the 4th Century before it appeared in the list of Feasts and Festivals with its own defined liturgy. In 425 a Codex banned circus games on December 25th, but it was only in 529 that the cessation of work was imposed. The Second Council of Tours in 566-7, proclaimed the sanctity of the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany and the duty of an Advent fast. Fasting was forbidden on Christmas Day and all of the faithful were required to receive communion. And so it remained for centuries. People typically celebrated Christmas by going to Mass at church, where they would here a sermon on the birth of the Christ Child. Churches occasionally had paintings of Jesus as an infant, but that was pretty much the extent of things.

St. Francis has an New Idea

Everything changed when, in 1223, St. Francis invented the nativity scene. From that comes all of the little crèches we have in our homes, the larger sets they have in most churches, the outdoor displays with live animals. It all began with St. Francis.

St. Bonaventure, who entered the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor around 1240, wrote a biography of St. Francis of Assisi. Here’s how he tells the story of the first Nativity Set: “It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Grecio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, Francis determined to keep it with all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the Pontiff.

Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. When the brethren were summoned, the people ran to join him. The forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise. The man of God stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he preached to the people around the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, he called Him the Babe of Bethlehem.

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