Over 800 years ago St. Francis of Assisi in his prayerful worship of Jesus gave us the first nativity scene, or creche, in Grecio Italy at Midnight Mass. His first creation of the scene was living; that is, live life size ox and ass, real straw and a real manger. The Holy Gospel was chanted by St. Francis, he preached a tender homily, and an infant miraculously appeared in the manger.

Since that time, and all over the world, inside and outside of churches, public squares and piazzas, and at many homes inside and out are adorned with nativity scenes depicting the Holy Family’s first days after Jesus’ birth. Most scenes are of a quiet time; clear blue nighttime skies filled with stars and specially lumined with one bright star. A time of quiet family joy. Indeed, all was calm and bright on this special Silent night.

Several years ago, when our family was just beginning, I built a stable out of left-over wood in my shop, some small branches for walls, and sawdust and glue as straw for the floor and a very simple roof. We started to collect characters as we could afford; and after a few years we had our own nativity scene. Every year after Thanksgiving and well before Christmas my wife would lead us in putting it all in place, including blue and white lights under cotton cloth, and lighting the inside of the stable. The scene was built on a coffee table repurposed for this important event.

When our children were toddlers, we had the trepidation that they would treat the statues as some type of super-hero characters and unknowingly disrespect the focus of our attention and prayer. However, the holiness of a child and their individual love for another child, baby Jesus, shamed our adult notions. The creche being at their height was very approachable, and they gazed in wonder, imagination, and adoration. All the stories from Scripture told them of the Savior’s birth, and those first days. Now, it was much more real and present.

Many decades have passed, and we now have 13 grandchildren. Each child, in their turn, has approached the baby Jesus, His Holy Mother, and St. Joseph and along with the shepherds, Wise Men, angels and animals adore Him, and only as a child can.

Let us return as a child to the Divine Child. Let us stoop down from what we perceive is our better, busier adult place to the unburdened holiness of a toddler who is absorbed into the heart of the baby before their little eyes. Relieve yourself of the loud business of what we erroneously call the holidays, and return to the quietness of Christmas, the stable, and the most important gift ever given Jesus the Christ.