The great Franciscan monk and theologian St. Bonaventure wrote the official biography of the Life of St. Francis of Assisi. There we find a description of the first Christmas creche. It took place in 1223 in the town of Greccio, Italy. Francis, a deacon, had come to visit. He knew that the chapel was not large enough to hold the faithful for the celebration of the Midnight Mass. So, he held the service outside in a rock opening. Here’s how St. Bonaventure tells the story of the first Christmas creche, nativity scene (in Italian presepio or presepe):
It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Greccio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, [St. 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 sovereign Pontiff. Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, 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 [St. Francis] 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. A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of Grecio, who, for the love of Christ, had left the warfare of this world, and become a dear friend of this holy man, affirmed that he beheld an Infant marvellously beautiful, sleeping in the manger, Whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with both his arms, as if he would awake Him from sleep. This vision of the devout soldier is credible, not only by reason of the sanctity of him that saw it, but by reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its truth. For example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is doubtless sufficient to excite all hearts which are negligent in the faith of Christ; and the hay of that manger, being preserved by the people, miraculously cured all diseases of cattle, and many other pestilences; God thus in all things glorifying his servant, and witnessing to the great efficacy of his holy prayers by manifest prodigies and miracles.
Note, the very first Nativity creche had real people in it. This is how St. Francis and the people of Greccio celebrated the birth of Baby Jesus, the Redeemer of the world. May we too see the Child of Bethlehem like the faithful who saw Him at the first Christmas creche, when St. Francis held Him in his hands. The Child comes to bring love to humanity and save us from sin and evil. Miracles take place. May we too experience the faith of the devout soldier and the “efficacy of his holy prayers.”
We conclude with one of the oldest Christmas carols, the 13th century French carol, Entre le boeuf et l’agne gris (“Between the ox and the gray donkey.”) The carol’s refrain says it well: “A thousand divine angels, a thousand seraphim/ Fly around this great God of love.