A True Franciscan Celebration of the Very First Nativity

If you go into any Catholic church anywhere in the world, at Christmas time, you will see one of the most touching and lovely traditions of all the many beautiful ones used by the Church. No matter whether it is at the grand Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome, a cathedral, a poor little church in the most crowded part of a populous city, or maybe a church far from other ones in a little country town or village. But wherever the church may be, whether splendid and rich or small and poor; you will find people on their knees before the crib of the Infant Jesus in the Christmas Crèche. And in many, many protestant churches also, you will find this same tradition.

No devotion is more popular in the Christian world. Perhaps no other thing brings more people to churches at Christmas time. The tiny little precious figure in the crib, representing the new born Infant whose coming to this world was in the midst of a song sung by angels, is the very center and heart of this often repeated scene. The very center and point of light of our faith and of our world. Mary, His holy mother kneels close to Him by the side of the crib, or sits tenderly watching Him. Joseph, the father of the family, stands always a little in the background, the strong and faithful protector. Always standing near the Holy Infants crib are the donkey, ox and the lamb, and sometimes other animals too. Even in the largest, most stately and beautiful of cathedral churches, this scene shows us that our Saving Lord was born in poverty in a humble stable. The place in which He is seen is either in a dark cave or a lowly stable. Among the animals the poor and simple shepherds who heard the song of the angels that wonderful night in Bethlehem and came in their humble and silent way to adore the mighty and humble King.

Sometimes you see the figures of the Three Wise Men, who came out of the far places of the Eastern lands. And above all these figures shining in the night sky bright and clear, is the mystic star. That star that came to us that night to guide us to heaven. That star that is always there, and if we keep our eyes and hearts on that star it will show us who we are, and what purpose he has sent us here for, and that star will also lead us through our darkest hours. The star of Bethlehem is in our hearts and that star is there to reside in our hearts and to teach us to converse with Him in secret, who we know loves us.

It was Little Brother Francis of Assisi who gave this beautiful custom to the Christian world. All the things he loved so much are represented in this Christmas scene. There is our Lord, God Himself, yet human, and poor and weak and humble. But He is also the great and strong God who made all things and rules the world and all the universe! There is the Virgin Mary, His Mother, whom Saint Francis loved only second to the His Father. There is Joseph, the protector of the Holy Family, the example of all good fathers and of all strong and willing servants of God and mankind. And there are the three Wise Men, who, because they humbled themselves before God, held a high place in the respect of Francis. They were for him the models and examples for the many great writers and preachers who joined the Franciscan Brotherhood. And there are the poor shepherds, representing the humble people, for whose sake Francis so Faithfully followed the example set for him by his Lord Jesus.

Francis considered himself counted among the poor shepherds also. And then there were the creatures, whom most people call dumb, but who in real simplicity followed and praised our Lord with their very lives, all the creatures, the birds, the oxen, the donkeys, the lambs, all held a very special place in the life of Francis. Many people are not aware that it was Saint Francis of Assisi who set up the very first Christmas crib, and in the manner of Francis, it was with live animals.

As we traverse this Christmas season we learn about how St. Francis began the beautiful tradition of each week up until Christmas. But in the meantime we invited you to join us for our Christmas Canticle. In the Franciscan tradition, you are invited to join the sisters this Christmas time…Come listen once again to the most glorious story of all, told simply and reverently, in song, music and story. On a cold night, on a quiet farm, sitting on hay bales, with real animals all around, Come, make a manger of your heart, ready to receive the Christ child. Come see what it really might have been like that glorious and Holy night in Bethlehem, that night when God became flesh and dwelt among us, when love was born to us

This year the Christmas Canticle has been scehduled to

be presented nine times this holiday season 2010

December 17 thru 19 and 21 thru 23

And December 28 and 29th

7 pm to 8:30pm

Dates may change or be subject to cancellation due to severe weather or storms, so reserve your places so we can call you in case of these circumstances. Also dates may be added if needed.

You must call to reserve your hay bales as space it very limited. You may pick up flyers at various locations, or click back to visit our site at www.barefootsimplicity.blogspot.com for details and a google map for your convenience, (approx. 5 miles from Oxford toward Bainbridge). Please join us in this our twelfth year and over 64 presentations of the Christmas Canticle to over 3000 people. Neither the program or facility is recommended for children under 7 years of age, when you call for reservations, ask about special recommendations for children, or about bringing younger children.

Call The Little Shepherds at 607-843-5831

Barefoot Simplicity Column

November Thanksgiving and Black Friday

The Christmas season is officially entered into now, on the Friday after Thanksgiving, tenderly referred to as "black Friday" by the moguls of Wall Street and Madison Ave. This meaning that their books are "in the black." Now, starting off a season where we are supposed to be celebrating the coming of the light and love of the Savior of the world, with a name like "black Friday," should tell us something about our sad culture, that shamelessly uses almost everything to bolster the "bottom line." What other time of the year, than Christmas, are we inundated with the most garish and elaborate sights and sounds, trying to force the spirit of the holiday season into us and to pump a want and even a "need" to buy "happiness" by buying a lot of things that we don’t need, shouldn't buy, and to run our credit cards to the max! All in search of the elusive "spirit" of the holidays.

Did you know that most of the large stores, in the last few years, decided last are no longer using "Christmas" in their greetings or advertising? Many people boycotted them and they are now allowing it back. Isn’t that nice of them!?! But just look in the gift bag and paper area, you will not see paper or gift bags with any depiction of the true reason for Christmas whatsoever. You will see Santa's of all sorts, and Mickey Mouse, Lion King, and the gamut of Disney trademarks. But no nativity scene, not one, and no angels unless cartoon cute kiddy types. The REAL reason for the season, once again, is lost and ignored!

We are coerced to believe that Christmas gift giving is something akin to "love," that if you just find the perfect gift, that is what will make a magical holiday around the merry Christmas tree. On top of that with all the food and parties and we lose ourselves in kind of a dream world like Alice in Wonderland, and that at any time if we were to look at our own selves and how we were being led, we would think we and the world is a little insane. Insane in the way that something is seriously out of order.

But we ourselves are of true hearts, because of a deep longing in our hearts for real love, which ultimately is a longing for God’s love, we mistakenly seek in the secular culture, the love and closeness in a magical "Disneyland" kind of Christmas, and thus we fall prey to the advertisers who capitalize on this fact. It is also a shameful point how the commercial interests bait us because our hearts are so vulnerable at this time of year. This is a longing for home, really our heavenly home. The reason for the season is honoring Jesus Christ and that is a beautiful and legitimate, but the truth is, the reason for all of Madison avenue advertising being hyped to a fever pitch, is NOT to honor the birth of Jesus or to celebrate the love and light that entered the world through the virgin womb that most holy night. The reason, and we all know it, is commercial profit and nothing else. Most companies would do the same thing if the holidays were suddenly changed to a celebration of the devil, (which in a way they are), and most would not skip a beat! The advertising would, with a few simple changes, go out to make profit. A famous monk once said "We live, unfortunately in a society whose policy and aim is to excite every nerve in the human body and keep it at the highest fever pitch of artificial tension, to strain every human desire to the limit and to create as many new desires and synthetic passions as possible, in order to cater to them with the products of our factories, movie studios and all the rest."

What slaves most have become in this society! Very few people can see the way to break free from this intense cycle of money and things and hurry and worry and false fronts. It has been said before, that we as a culture look good on the outside but there is great emptiness inside us, and until we find the true fulfillment of that emptiness, we will be just empty, depressed shells of human beings and remain lost in our own personal darkness. What a sad commentary on our world that at this time of the year ,that there are typically more depression and more suicides than the rest of the year. This is a result of hopelessness, and seeing the hollowness of the world but not knowing what to do about it. Again the longing itself is good. There are many each year that discover the REAL Christmas because of a longing heart. These people can truly sing, "I'll be home for Christmas," this time for real!!

Think of the huge distance between the birth of a baby whose parents couldn't even get a room that night and the annual ritual of wild-eyed shopping, an empty exercise that has become an almost loathsome pursuit, rather than a joyous one. The United States has more malls than High Schools; American’s spend more time shopping than reading, and the thought of another frenzied holiday season makes some feel like a little child who eats the whole box of chocolates and washes it down with a root beer. Ugh. Nauseating. Uncontrollable consumerism has become the watchword of our culture despite regular and compelling calls for it’s end. For most it is more like an addiction than an indulgence.

But each one of us could decide that this year Christmas could be rich, not with material goods and goodies and stuffing ourselves with rich, empty foods until we are sick, but it could be rich in the real meaning of Christmas. This year make it your vow to focus on what is really important and making this year a time that you learn more about the real meaning of Christmas. Not things, but love. This year take this Advent season and intensify your meditation on what His Holy birth really meant to the world and to you personally. Think how God loved the world so very much and how He sent His only begotten Son to be clothed in the flesh of a human. God incarnate. He who humbled Himself to be born in a stable all forlorn, born among the only ones who would welcome the Holy Family that night in Bethlehem, the precious and innocent animals. Why would he choose to come in this way instead of any other way? After all He is God, He could do anything He wanted!!!

Make this your meditation this year, and instead of trying to outspend others, think about all those who will not be home for Christmas, and that maybe their loved ones will never see them again because of conflicts in foreign lands, accidents, disease or other reasons. Think about those who are being persecuted, enslaved, tortured and imprisoned. Like the recent masacre of 58 Catholic Christians attending mass in Irag.

Each one us needs to discern if you are a willing or forced prisoner of the craziness of the season. Think on these things and then write a long and loving letter to all your loved ones, let them know how much you love them and how precious they are to you. This would be a real heartfelt gift and would not be forgotten and discarded later like a sweater or a plastic toy. These are the REAL things that Christmas memories are made of, honoring our sweet Jesus, for loving us so much that He would come to show us the way, bringing us His Salvation and His Light into the world, and teaching us how to love.

Join us this year at the stable, with real live animals all around on a cold night in a quiet barn, come see what that night might really have been like, and make this Christmas perhaps your first Christmas home!
Copyright 2010 all rights reserved

Come to the Christmas Canticle at the stable. This is our twelfth year with over 65 presentations in three states to over over 3000 people.

This article written by Francis Gabriel, a Franciscan of the "The Little Shepherds of Saint Francis" Come join us, come to the nativity told in song and story, in a barn, sitting on hay bales, with live animals all around!-The Nativity this year will be held at our barn in Oxford/Bainbridge area! If you are in the area, the dates are

December 17 thru 19 and 21 thru 23 and 28 and 29

You can checkout our blog just one click back or at www.barefootsimplicity.blogspot.com OR call us at 607-843-5831. You can also make reservations for your hay bale seats at this number!!

See you at the Stable! Come let us really adore Him this Christmas!!