This photo of the Pope at the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square last year gives an idea of just how larger than life is the Vatican's creche. That's St. Joseph standing behind Benedict XVI!
Sotto Voce at Clerical Whispers directs our attention to piece in the UK's Telegraph with some news of an impending change at the Vatican, a place not often known for impending changes.
For 25 years, the Christmas Nativity scene in front of St Peter's Basilica has shown the infant Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem.
This year, however, the Vatican has decided to radically change the scene, shifting it to Nazareth, and placing Jesus in his father's carpentry shop.
When Pope Benedict XVI inaugurates the life-size Nativity scene on Christmas eve, the sheep and hay will be gone.
In their place will be a model of three rooms.
Jesus will lie in Joseph's shop, complete with "the typical work tools of a carpenter".
On one side, the shop will be flanked with a "covered patio", while on the other there will be the "inside of a pub, with its hearth". The news came in an official statement from the State Department of the Vatican, which organises and builds the giant presepe, or Nativity scene. The new setting was inspired by two verses in St Matthew's gospel, Chapter 1:24 and 1:25, the Vatican said, which state: "When Joseph woke up, he did as the Angel of God ordered and took Mary into his house. Without them knowing each other, a child was born and he called his name Jesus". The gospel goes on to mention Jesus' birthplace as Bethlehem, but a spokesman for the Vatican said a decision had been made to place the scene in Nazareth regardless."It was time for a change," said the spokesman "and a return to St Matthew's gospel".
The traditional depiction of Jesus in a manger comes from St Luke's gospel, which said there was "no room at the inn". But it is Matthew's gospel which forms the basis for the Angelus prayer, and the view of Jesus in a carpenter's workshop matches the Franciscan tradition. None of the three Vatican departments which organises the Nativity scene could comment on who had taken the decision to shift the location, or for what reason. However, sources close to the Vatican said there was a desire to crack down on the various "fanciful Nativity scenes" that have sprung up in recent years. In Naples, a number of Nativity scenes include notorious figures from today, such as Elvis Presley or Silvio Berlusconi, standing amongst the crowd adoring the infant Jesus. The Nativity scene at St Peter's was started by Pope John Paul II in 1982. In addition, a giant, fully-adorned Christmas tree has been erected in St Peter's Square...
Now one more unnecessary thing to upset people. Don't these folks get it? Ah yes, it does not matter where Jesus was born...but tell that to my 91 year old mother...this is a sleeping dog that would have been best to let lay...
ReplyDelete... on the other hand, instead of doing this they could be addressing the real things that need changing...like quoting the same gospel that says the apostles were married.... it is difficult not to be cynical.
Talk about changing a tradition! I would be interested to know what the thinking is behind the change. Boggles the mind of this Google Blogger!
ReplyDelete"Cracking down on the fanciful.." is understandable. Although I quietly chuckled envisioning Elvis among the shepherds- it is in poor taste.
ReplyDeleteHowever, to the point of redesigning the Vatican's Nativity scene..I say "right on!" I think studying and interpreting the various Gospels is an exciting development. Now, hopefully, the Church can be prodded into alternate interpretations of other key issues of faith...say the role of woman, etc.
I am, however, sympathetic to the above blog-poster's concern about this type of "change" and the impact on a 90+year old in light of recent years turmoil in other aspects of the church.
When all is said and done, it doesn't matter how Jesus is depicted ... in a stable or in a carpenter's workshop. What matters is who he was and is, his love, and what he did for all of us.
ReplyDeleteI doubt that many 90 year olds will pay much attention to the shape of the Nativity in St. Peter's Square. The other image is engraved on their hearts, in their imaginations and on their souls... such engravings are not erased or troubled easily...
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I know a few elderly folks who would love to sit and talk about the change, why it happened and what difference it makes!
Nicely put, Grace!
ReplyDelete