A Faith Companion From Our Evangelization Committee

TRADITIONS OF THE CHURCH

The Manger — Everywhere in this world where people celebrate the coming to life of Jesus Christ, we find the tradition to put up the Manger in churches and at home. Manger scenes are figures representing the birth of Jesus in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. Gathered around the manger are the Holy Family and the shepherds, and in the background are the ox and the donkey. The arrival of the wise men (the Magi) is embedded in the scenery on the Feast of the Epiphany.

The first-known written testimonies about the coming to life of Jesus Christ are the evangelists Luke and Matthew. Very famous is St Luke’s Christmas Gospel, which dates back to the 2nd century AD and was then slowly spread in the first settlements of Christians. Sometimes, St. Francis of Assisi is called the “father of the manger” because in the year 1223, he built the first manger similar to the one we know today. The Holy Family, however, wasn’t there then. Afterwards, he held his famous Christmas speech in front of a crowd and thus made the Christmas story accessible to those who couldn’t read. (Adapted from www.krippenmuseum.com.)

OUTDOOR MANGER PICTURE DISPLAY

We invite you to show your faith in your neighborhood by displaying an outdoor manger! If you are participating in the Traveling Manger activity or if you have a manger of your own, please take a picture and send it to evangelization@stscholasticaerie.org or text it to 720-545-5894. We will have a display, both virtually and physically, this year for the Holy Family Feast Day.

STORIES OF FAITH

Last year, during our Manger Pictures Display, we received the picture and story of Deacon Rodger and Dena Creel with the following story at the bottom: “On November 27th of 1983 our son Steve was killed. He was 18 years old. He loved to draw. I love raccoons and one day he drew a cartoon picture of a raccoon looking guilty holding a chicken he caught. We used this drawing on the front of the program for his funeral Mass.

“We always pray for Steve and when he had recently died, we were praying for a sign that he was okay. In November 1984, I was shopping and found a nativity set that contains a shepherd holding a raccoon. We had never seen a raccoon in a nativity set! We have displayed this nativity set every year since. We consider this a sign that God is taking care of Steve.”

You can also share with us your story of faith! Send it to evangelization@stscholasticaerie.org or drop it off at the parish office. We would love to publish it in the next issue.

GO DEEPER!

This season, go to FORMED.org and watch Mary of Nazareth. For kids — audiobooks The Strangers at the Manger and Christmas with Bernadette.