Blessing of the Christmas Crèche

– Br. Michael, ofm

 

Blessing of the Christmas Crèche

800 years ago in December of 1223, St. Francis of Assisi had an idea he wanted to share with the people of Greccio. He desired the people of his time to remember the birth of Christ, “to enact the memory of the babe who was born in Bethlehem where simplicity is given a place of honour, poverty is exalted, humility is commended, and out of Greccio is made a new Bethlehem.” This idea of his has unfolded into the Christmas tradition of Nativity Scenes (crèche) being created and displayed in our homes and churches. Each year when we set up our crèche, we make of our homes a new Bethlehem.
To honor this 800th Anniversary the Franciscans and Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre is hosting a Blessing of Creches on Sunday, December 3 at 2:30 pm. Bring your family nativity set to be blessed. Please register before December 1. mtfrancis@shaw.ca 403-932-2021 Limited space.