Historien om helige Franciskus framställning av den första julkrubban (av nuvarande slag) sammanfattas väl i Catholic Encyclopedia:
"Devotion to the crib is no doubt of very ancient origin; but it remained for St. Francis of Assisi to popularize it and to give to it the tangible form in which it is known at the present time. When St. Francis visited Rome in 1223, he made known to Pope Honorius III the plans he had conceived of making a scenic representation of the place of the Nativity. The pope listened gladly to the details of the project and gave it his sanction.
Leaving Rome, St. Francis arrived at Greccio on Christmas Eve, when, through the aid of his friend Giovanni Velita, he constructed a crib and grouped around it figures of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, the ass, the ox, and the shepherds who came to adore the new-born Saviour. He acted as deacon at the midnight Mass. The legend relates that having sung the words of the Gospel ´and they laid him in a manger´ he knelt down to meditate briefly on the sublime mystery of the Incarnation, and there appeared in his arms a child surrounded by a brilliant light."
Må Gud välsigna firandet av Kristi Födelses högtid! Må Guds moder Maria och helige Josef vaka med Kristus över alla familjer!
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar