According to tradition the use of a crib in church at Christmass was instituted by S. Frances. What a wonderful devotional tool it is! Each year as I process the christ child to the manger- with a candle-holding congregation singing ‘O Come all ye faithful’, the hairs go up on my nape. As we sprinkle and cense the crib in perfect stilness, simple prayers are offered, before all fall to their knees singing ‘Yea, Lord we greet thee!’ This is THE MOMENT of Christmass for me.
From that moment until Candlemass the crib remains in Church, sheltered under the true presence of Christ in his tabernacle. How many prayers are left there I do not know, but it is a great many. Here people connect, in a powerful way, with the miracle of the incarnation. A miracle which lies at the very heart of the Christian faith. So here is to cribs in all places and at all times. Long may they guide people to reflect deeper on the Holy Mystery that is the ‘Word made Flesh’.
I don’t know if I have ever heard of doing that is quite that manner. I have done a Blessing of the Creche, but never a procession. As a practical question, when do you do that in the Mass? Is it at the beginning or after the sermon? That’s interesting. I might have to consider doing that.
S. Barnabas tradition is thus:
Midnight Mass begins and the bambino is carried to the high altar in the entrance procession. He is then placed on the High Altar and remains there during Mass.
After the Solemn Blessing- incense is blessed at the Altar and the congregational candles are lit during the first verse of ‘O come all ye’ – the lights are dimmed and the procession sets off. The serving team and priest lead choir and congregation around the church ending at the crib.
As the priest enters he places the bambino in the manger, prostrates himself and then the hymn pauses. The crib is then sprinkled and incensed and appropriate devotions offered. Then the carol strikes up again for the verse- ‘yeah Lord we greet thee’.. after which the priest and servers leave and Mass has ended.
It is wonderful in that it the crescendo builds and leaves people on their knees before the infant Christ.
Thanks for the run down. I really like that idea. I might use it next Christmas when I am at my own parish.
At the St. B’s across the pond we have the bambino resting in the lady chapel from before the Mass begins. After the post-communion prayers, the altar party forms a procession to the chapel. There incense is made and the bambino is carried to the creche. Upon arrival there (at the Lady Shrine where the creche is set up) the bambino is placed in the crib, there is a blessing of the creche (water and smoke) then the lights are dimmed and all kneel to sing, “Silent Night.” When the hymn is finished, the altar party return to the high altar to finish the Mass – blessing, dismissal and Last Gospel.
Thanks for the post Fr. Rob, it sounds equally wonderful. Keep them coming…I think the sharing of good practice is a real gift of the blogs. Without which the proclomation of the Nativity would not have occured this year!
Casting ones mind back many years, I well remember that at a the church that I attended in Essex. Midnight Mass began at 11-45pm with a procession
beginning at the main door and around the church to the carol ‘Once in Royal Davids City’. The bambino was carried on a satin cushion. It was the duty of the Master of Ceremonies, to time the procession to reach the crib just before midnight, when the bambino was placed in the crib and blessed ( water and incense). Precisely on the midnight hour the choir and congregation sang ‘Christians Awake Salute the Happy Morning’. The priest and servers then processed to the High Altar and the Mass of the Nativity began. That was in the days of the English Missal and Ritual Notes.