Plenary indulgence on the occasion of the eighth centenary of \”Christmas at Greccio\” as experienced by Saint Francis of Assisi
Did you know that this Christmas 2023, we commemorate the 800 years of the First Crib, made by St. Francis of Assisi, at Greccio in Italy? The Franciscan Family is therefore glad to announce the Grace of Plenary Indulgence on the occasion of 800th Anniversary of “Christmas at Greccio”
Greccio, a little town in Italy is a little nook of spirituality. Greccio is more popularly known as a “Franciscan Bethlehem”. It was at Greccio, St Francis of Assisi, prepared the first Crib in 1223. And today, the tradition of preparing a Christmas crib is a part and parcel of our Christmas celebration.
For St Francis of Assisi, Christmas, the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus was an astonishing act of God’s profound humility. One of the deep longings of Francis was to see the profound humility of God in his own physical eyes. In the year 1223, on the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ, with his creative imagination Francis reenacted the nativity scene in the context of the Eucharist to revere, adore, contemplate and to celebrate the mystery of Incarnation. In the first crib, a manger was prepared and there were no statues. There was only an ox, an ass and some hay. During the solemn night celebration, a virtuous man saw a wonderful vision. A little child was lying in the manger and the holy man of God St Francis held that Child in his arms and that child was the Child Jesus. Greccio was transformed into a new Bethlehem.
This year, we are celebrating the 8th centenary of the first living nativity scene. On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the “Christmas at Greccio,” as experienced by St Francis of Assisi, the Holy Father Pope Francis has granted that “the faithful receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions from 8 December 2023, the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to 2 February 2024, Feast of the Presentation in the Temple of Our Lord Jesus Christ, “by visiting the churches run by Franciscan families throughout the world and stopping in prayer in front of the nativity scenes set up there”.
As part of the celebration of this Franciscan Centenary of Greccio the Conference of the Franciscan Family requested Pope Francis for the approval of this plenary indulgence.
The Apostolic Penitentiary welcomed the request, allowing the faithful to receive this indulgence under the usual conditions. Here is the decree of the Plenary Indulgence:
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL
Fr. Steve Rodrigues, O.F.M.Cap.
Cuncolim.