Reflection from Fr. Tristianto: Placing Nativity Scenes in Church

St. Francis of Assisi established the first Nativity scene in 1223 in Grecio, a small town in Italy. As he was preparing for Christmas Eve Mass, St. Francis was trying to think of a way to remind people that Jesus came not as a wealthy king but as a poor child born among animals. So he wrote to Pope Honorius III and obtained permission to create a living Nativity scene.

In a cave near town, Francis set up an altar. He brought in a manger filled with hay as well as a live ox and a donkey. He invited the townspeople to come, and he preached about the humble beginnings of the Christ Child.

St. Francis of Assisi created the Nativity scene in an effort to promote the true meaning of Christmas and worship of Jesus Christ. With the simplicity of that sign, Saint Francis carried out a great work of evangelization. His teaching touched the hearts of Christians and continues today to offer a simple yet authentic means of portraying the beauty of our faith.

A Nativity scene is probably one of the most recognizable symbols of the Christmas season. The word "nativity" is taken from the Latin nativus, which means "innate" or "imparted from birth." Nativities are art, models, carvings or live demonstrations depicting the night of Jesus' birth. These scenes generally contain the same elements: the Christ child in a manger, his mother, Mary, his earthly father, Joseph, shepherds, angels, various barn animals, and sometimes, three wise men.

The nativity scene is like a living Gospel rising up from the pages of sacred Scripture. As we contemplate the Christmas story, we are invited to set out on a spiritual journey, drawn by the humility of the God who became man in order to encounter every man and woman. We come to realize that so great is his love for us that he became one of us, so that we in turn might become one with him. At the same time, its portrayal in Nativity scenes helps us to imagine the scene. It touches our hearts and makes us enter into salvation history as contemporaries of an event that is living and real in a broad gamut of historical and cultural contexts.

Many of us enter church on Christmas Eve and see, up near the sanctuary, a beautiful Nativity scene. There is not a specific place where a manger scene should be placed. The only guideline is that the manger scene should not be placed directly in front of the altar. (Off to either side of the altar would be fine.) However, if the church is exceptionally small and the manger can only fit in front of the altar, an exception can be made.

The Nativity scene is an object of devotion. Where you place the scene should foster intimate prayer. Ideally, the scene should be placed where people, especially families with children, can draw near. The Nativity scene is there to remind us that the child — who was born to Mary and laid in a manger — would one day grow up to die on a cross and rise again so each and every person who believes in him may receive eternal life. The nativity scene shows God as he came into our world, but it also makes us reflect on how our life is part of God's own life. It invites us to become his disciples if we want to attain ultimate meaning in life.

As we contemplate this aspect of the nativity scene, we are called to reflect on the responsibility of every Christian to spread the Gospel. Each of us is called to bear glad tidings to all, testifying by our practical works of mercy to the joy of knowing Jesus and his love.