Greccio and the O Antiphons
Creating Your Nativity Scene with Pope Francis is a free Franciscan resource*, available in fifteen languages, honoring the 800th anniversary of the Christmas at Greccio.
This easy-to-use meditation can be utilized:
- for a dramatic, large living nativity scene with hundreds of people,
- in a family home or within a religious community,
- in a school or parish,
- for one’s personal devotion.
Visit:
https://franciscanvoice.org/resources/ and https://vozfranciscana.org/recursos/
There are also flyers and posters available in English, Spanish, and Italian, as well as a QR Code to help people access the resource more easily.
Please share far and wide!
High resolution images of the art are available upon request at:
To inquire about the possibility of translation into other languages, email:
The Guardian of the friary at Greccio, Friar Giovanni LOCHE, OFM, says that this resource is:
- A journey, an adventure to discover the Wonderful Secret of God.
- An interweaving of history, prayer, and art to remind us of our sublime dignity as Children of God.
Channeling the spirit of St. Francis, Pope Francis says:
“The nativity scene is like a living Gospel rising up from the pages of sacred Scripture. As we contemplate the Christmas story, we are invited to set out on a spiritual journey, drawn by the humility of the God who became man in order to encounter every man and woman” (Admirabile Signum, 1).
Friar Michael LASKY, General Delegate for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
*This project is the contribution of Roman VI, the JPIC Representatives of the Franciscan Family, for the celebration of the 800th Anniversary of the Christmas at Greccio.
A Special Thanks is offered for the work of the artist, Friar Joseph DORNIAK, OFM Conv.; the managing editor of “Franciscan Voice,” Laura BAUER; as well as the countless translators, proofreaders, and layout designers.
St. Francis Magazine Editorial Staff
On Saturday, September 16, 2023, the Ministers General of the Franciscan First Order: Friars Massimo FUSARELLI, OFM; Roberto GENUIN, OFM Cap.; and Carlos A. TROVARELLI, OFM Conv; met in Assisi at the Cortile di Francesco [Courtyard of Francis - an annual cultural symposium] to conduct a historical discussion that will likely impact Franciscan debate for years to come. The Ministers General met to reflect upon the Later Rule of St. Francis of Assisi, eight hundred years after its approval.
Other speakers contributed to the reflection as well. One was Professor Maria Pia ALBERZONI who discussed the work of the friars and the normative nature of the Rule from a historical perspective. Another was the poet Davide RONDONI, gave a detailed, aesthetic perspective on the relationship between the masculine and the feminine, and on the mission of Franciscans living in fraternity in today’s world. The Custos of the Sacred Convent of Assisi, Friar Marco MORONI, moderated the discussion.
November 29, 2023 - Basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome
The Later Rule was approved by Pope Honorius III on November 29, 1223, with a Bull granted at the Basilica of St. John Lateran. November 29, 2023, marks the eighth centenary of that event. The Committee for the Centenary of the Franciscan Family invites everyone, in person or through the Centenary website www.centenarifrancescani.org, to participate in the celebration of this centenary, which will be held on November 29, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. (local time) inside the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.
The celebration will help us rediscover the value and meaning of the Later Rule for the entire Franciscan Family, through reflections and testimony that will reveal its relevance. This will be a multi-lingual celebration, which will alternate between different languages to facilitate online participation and express the internationality of the Franciscan Family. All six Ministers General, or their representatives, will be present.
We invite all those who are in Rome to attend in person. Moreover, we invite any who are unable to attend to participate online, during the live broadcast or at some other time (the celebration will remain on the Centenary website).
Speeches by the Ministers General on the Franciscan Centenaries
This year the YouFra International Meeting took place from 27th July to August 2nd, 2023, at the “Externato da Luz” Center in Lisbon. This meeting usually occurs the week before World Youth Day, allowing young people to share our charism during this significant event. (Se invierte el orden siguiente:) The theme of this year‘s International Youth Meeting was both suggestive and inspiring for young Franciscans on many aspects of their life, as it revolved around the motto "Hurry up, your brother is waiting for you", in perfect harmony with the motto of WYD which is taken from Lk 1,39.
In the context of this international meeting, on July 31st, 2023, the Ministers Generals of the First Order (OFMConv, OFM, OFMCap) and Third Regular Order (se invierte el orden), along with the Minister General of the SFO and the President of the IFC-TOR, offered a reflection based on the typical themes of the Centenarians that the Franciscan Family is experiencing.The meeting with the Superiors Generals took place in an atmosphere of fraternity and sharing. Each of them presented the specifics of a centenary, offering indications on how the Franciscan family should [embrace] this time of grace. The meeting was truly enriching, as it allowed the young people to hear firsthand about the Franciscan Centenarians and learn how to make them visible in the various regions where the Franciscans fraternities is [are] present.
The meeting with the General Ministers concluded with a session where young people had the opportunity to inquire about the path that, as Franciscans, the Lord is calling us to follow as Franciscan in this moment in history. Following this session, there was a lunch with the young people participating in the YouFra International Meeting and their assistants.
On July 14, 2023, the Conventual Franciscans of Cracow launched an exhibition of Cracow’s world-famous nativity scenes. The event took place to mark the upcoming 800th anniversary of the first living nativity scene created by St. Francis of Assisi.
“We are showing forty works created by twenty significant artists from Cracow,” said the event organizer, Marek MARKOWSKI. Mr. MARKOWSKI creates nativity scenes himself and is a recipient of the Medal for Merit to the Culture of Poland. He explained further: “Almost all of the nativity scenes on display have won annual competitions. The works on exhibition range from miniature nativity scenes, measuring a few centimeters, to large nativity scenes, including the tallest ever—measuring five meters (sixteen feet) in height.”
The exhibition is complemented by a dozen groups of nativity figurines made in different countries. They show how the custom of building nativity scenes, popularized by Franciscans, has taken different forms around the world. It is hoped that by opening this exhibition during the height of the tourist season, more visitors will be able to see Cracow’s masterpieces. The goal of the exhibition is to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ creation of the nativity scene in Greccio, Italy, in 1223.
Five years ago, Cracow’s nativity scenes were inscribed on UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity as the first tradition from Poland and as the world’s first handcrafted nativity scenes.
In addition to their important representations of Christmas, the Cracow nativity scenes include architectural elements that show recognizable buildings in Cracow as well as historical and legendary characters related to the city itself. The nativity scenes often depict important events in the history of Poland.
This exhibition is part of the cycle of celebrations for the 2023-26 Franciscan Centenary. The Centenary was inaugurated in early 2023, in Greccio, by the Ministers General of the Franciscan Family. The celebrations commemorate some special events the last years of St. Francis’ life, namely, the approval of the Later Rule, the Christmas at Greccio, the Stigmata, the Canticle of the Creatures and the death of St. Francis in 1226.
The exhibition can be viewed until the end of August 2023, in the Blessed James Hall of the friary in Cracow, located at Franciszkańska Street 4 (entrance on the Planty Park side).
Friar Jan M. SZEWEK
Press Conference Marking the 800th Anniversary of St. Francis’ Creation of the First Nativity Scene
On July 12, 2023, a press conference entitled “Admirabile Signum” [enchanting image] took place to mark the 800th Anniversary of St. Francis’ creation of the first nativity scene. The conference was held at the headquarters of ENIT National Agency for Tourism in Rome.
The event began with an introduction from Ivana JELINIC, the CEO of ENIT. The panel of speakers included: the Most Reverend Vito PICCINONNA, Bishop of Rieti, Italy; the Most Reverend Domenico POMPILI, Bishop of Verona, Italy, President of the Episcopal Commission for Culture and Social Communication and the contact person of the Italian Episcopal Conference for the 2023-26 Franciscan Centenary events; Friar Simone CASTALDI, OFM, a Delegate of the Italian Friars Minor Province of San Bonaventura; Simona Renata BALDASSARRE, Councilor for Culture, Equal Opportunity, Youth and Family Policies of the Civil Service of the Italian Region of Lazio; Manuela RINALDI Councilor for Public Works and Reconstruction, Roads and Infrastructure Policies of the Italian Region of Lazio; Giampaolo LETTA, President of the Technical Group for Cultural Tourism and Major Events of the Union of Industrialists and Businesses of Rome (et al); Cristina PRIARONE, General Director of the Lazio Film Commission; and Giuseppe GIANNOTTI, Director of RAI Broadcasting’s Department of Culture and Education, History and Anniversaries Division. The meeting was coordinated by Enrico BRESSAN of the cultural consulting firm Fondaco Italia.
To read more, go to: https://bit.ly/43sO8tX [Italian language only]
“During Christmas, St. Peter’s Square and the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican will feature nativity scenes recalling that night in Greccio in 1223, and the message of St. Francis, which today is concretely and continuously attested to at the Shrine of the Nativity Scene in Greccio…”
“There will be many initiatives making up the program of the exhibition itinerary and the events of the ‘Valley of the First Nativity.’ This project was conceived by the Diocese of Rieti, Italy, and promoted, since 2017, with the Italian Friars Minor Province of San Bonaventura, the municipalities of Rieti and Greccio, and the Friends of the Nativity Association in Italy. All news and updates on the project and its program of events can be found at: www.valledelprimopresepe.it [Italian language only] and on dedicated social media...”
2023 CIOFS Formation Guide
CIOFS (International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order)
We have begun the journey of celebrations and family gatherings. Each year, we are going to share simple materials for all OFS and YouFra fraternities, so that together with the rest of the Franciscan Family around the world, they can share the great joy of celebrating together these centenaries during which we will commemorate: the 800th anniversary of the Later Rule (Regula Bullata); Christmas in Greccio (2023); the Stigmata (2024); the Canticle of the Creatures (2025) and, as a culmination, the Easter of Francis (2026).
Last year we received material from the Conference of the Franciscan Family to guide us in celebration. Below, we share a few paragraphs.
… The celebration of the centenaries has the basic aim and purpose of fixing our gaze toward the future and charismatically strengthening our Franciscan identity…
.... The gift that St. Francis received from the Divine Giver is most fully realized in its complementarity and lively reciprocal communion. This is a motivating force in the lives of “all those who love the Lord with their whole heart” (First Version of the Letter to the Faithful 1, FF 178/1). Therefore, as a Franciscan Family, we invite everyone who is attracted to the evangelical beauty of the Poverello (cf. Laudato si’ 10) to join us in celebrating these centenaries. The centenaries offer us a valuable opportunity to invigorate the richness of our charism with a prophetic vision toward the future....
… The celebration of the centenaries is undoubtedly a good occasion to make the Franciscan Family visible in its entirety. Therefore, it would be very fitting for all activities and initiatives, at the national and/or regional level, to be coordinated by a commission representing the entire Franciscan Family. Ad intra and Ad extra: The centenaries are not intended to have a positive impact only within the Franciscan Family. Imagination and creativity must be brought to bear so that the centenaries impact out wardly upon non-ecclesial social and cultural… (Conference of the Franciscan Family 2022).
We would appreciate it if each national fraternity would encourage the work and proposals put forth in these materials for this year 2023, two formation and meeting topics on the Crib and the Rule, which we, your brothers and sisters, have prepared with dedication and effort. The material is available in four languages:
Secretariat of the Valley of the First Nativity Scene
One of the most awaited events during the Giugno Antoniano Reatino Festival [Antonian June of Rieti, (Italy)] was the artistic “Churches in Bloom” biennial flower decoration event (June 24-25, 2023) organized in collaboration with the Porta d’Arce and Infioritalia Associations as part of the 7thannual Valley of the First Nativity Scene Project. During this event, important places in historic downtown Rieti exhibited colorful carpet-like displays created entirely from flowers, using skill, color selection, patience and technique.
Many flower decorators, young and old, accepted the invitation to decorate the route of the Procession of the Candles with logos and symbols representing this cultural event. The event is intended to promote the history of the Sacred Valley of Rieti. This year, it is also dedicated to the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the Christmas at Greccio and the Later Rule of St. Francis.
A vast number of spectators came to admire these works, which were created by master flower decorators from the “Infiorata” Associations of the Cities of Cervaro, Castelraimondo, and Alatri and from the Infiorata Associations of the Bona Morte Infioratori and the Carmelite Monastery in Artena.
Last year, a series of flower decoration events in Rieti was jointly organized by various local groups. The most prominent of these was an exhibition in the foyer of the Flavio Vespasiano Theater. The displays served as a preview for this year’s events. There will be additional flower decoration exhibitions launched this year, starting on November 29, 2023, the Feast of All Franciscan Saints, and the day on which the Later Rule of St. Francis was approved. That exhibition, inspired by the Later Rule, will remain on display throughout the Christmas season. It will be curated by the Pious Union of St. Anthony of Padua in Rieti in collaboration with the Porta d’Arce and Infioritalia Associations.
These collaborative events will continue with new “colorful” initiatives throughout the year. According to the Most Reverend Vito PICCINONNA, Bishop of Rieti, they symbolize the deep and timeless friendship that bound Saints Francis and Anthony together and represent the spirit that made Francis “an exemplary witness for Anthony and so many others.”
On Saturday, March 4, 2023, the tenth annual School of Franciscanism course concluded in Florence, Italy. The course was organized by the Franciscan Movement Organization or “MoFra” of Tuscany.
Classes for the course were conducted face to face from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. every Saturday afternoon between February 4 and March 4, 2023. They were held at the San Francesco Church located in Piazza Savoranola in Florence. Between ninety and one hundred and twenty attendees were present at each class. Another thirty participants attended online using the Zoom Internet platform. Thus, anyone living outside of Florence, or anyone unable to attend in person, had a chance to participate. The theme of this year’s course was: “The 800th Anniversary of the Rule and the Christmas at Greccio.”
The School of Franciscanism was co-founded in 2013, by Friar Paolo FANTACCINI (then the OFM Minister Provincial of Tuscany) and the late Stefano MINIATI (OFS Regional Minister of Tuscany), Between 2013 and 2014, Friar Paolo served as the President of MoFra with Stefano MINIATI as Vice-President. Their goal was to offer Franciscan formation to anyone who wanted to share in the cultural, spiritual and historical heritage created by Franciscanism, or who felt attracted to St. Francis, for whatever reason, and wanted to learn more about the Franciscan charism. The first annual course was launched in January of 2014, in an atmosphere of great optimism and enthusiasm.
To ensure the seriousness of the course, it has since been conducted under the patronage of the Pontifical Antonianum University in collaboration with the Ministry of Education through the Directorate of the Regional School Office of Tuscany.
What, then, is the Franciscan Movement Organization or “MoFra”? The Movement brings together all the religious and lay Franciscan groups who share the charism of St. Francis and St. Clare. Founded in the 1990s, MoFra has since achieved official recognition. It adopted a statute in the early 2000s, from which regional MoFra Organizations gradually derived.
In Tuscany, MoFra is made up of friars from the First Order (OFM, OFM Cap., and OFM Conv.), the Poor Clares, religious from women’s institutes that are members of the Franciscan Religious Movement (MoReFra), members of the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS), Franciscan Youth (YouFra), and members of other Franciscan-inspired Institutes and societies.
MoFra promotes learning, fraternal communion and collaboration among all its members. It bears witness to the Lord through the Franciscan charism. It spreads the Franciscan message through press and multimedia tools and promotes initiatives along the lines of the “Feast in the Square,” an event that allows people to go out into the streets, among the people, open to dialogue, in the style of St. Francis of Assisi.
This year sees the return of initiatives such as the School of Franciscanism, the “Feast in the Square” event, and various proclamation and evangelization days. They are being organized in collaboration with all of the Franciscan groups in Tuscany in order to promote the Franciscan values of fraternity, dialogue and peace.
On Tuesday afternoon, May 23, 2023, the eve of the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Francis, an exhibition opened entitled, “The Gospel and Nothing Else.” The exhibition was inaugurated on the upper floor of the Sixtus IV Cloister of the Basilica of St. Francis. More than a hundred people attended the opening, mainly Franciscan friars from the different Orders present in Assisi.
The event was part of the celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the approval of the Later Rule of St. Francis. Pope Honorius III approved the rule in 1223, through his papal bull, Solet annuere.
Friar Marco MORONI, the Custos of the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Italy (Assisi), explained that the exhibition was a group effort created by some friars of the Sacred Convent. It consists of about twenty panels with photographs and captions in Italian, English and Spanish. It traces some of the themes found in the Rule, and provides an opportunity to learn about the life of the Franciscan friars who have followed the same rule to the present day. It is the foundation of who they are and the choices they make. The themes of poverty, minority, work, mission, fraternity, etc., are laid out in such a way that they can be useful not only to the friars, but also to all those who wish to understand the spirituality of St. Francis and apply it to their lives.
The captions are intentionally brief so they can be more easily read by the many visitors who pass through the Basilica. This way, despite limited exposure to the material, visitors can still become acquainted with the important content of the Rule. The exhibition will remain on display until the end of the year and can be visited during the opening hours of the Basilica. Other friaries are allowed to reproduce the exhibition. They need only request the print files. Thus, the content can be more widely disseminated and known.
The centerpiece of the exhibition, found in the apse of the Upper Church of the Basilica, displays the original parchment stamped by Pope Honorius III. This is an object of fundamental historical importance. It is kept by the friars of the Sacred Convent as a precious relic that has passed through the hands of St. Francis. In it, Francis collected what he called the “marrow of the Gospel”. “The Gospel and Nothing Else” summarizes the Franciscan message.
On Friday, March 31, 2023, Friar Fortunato IOZZELLI, OFM, will give a lecture on St. Francis’ Christmas at Greccio. The lecture will take place at 9:00 p.m. [Central European Summer Time (CEST)], at the Church of San Bonaventura al Palatino in Rome.
The event is sponsored by the Araceli Cultural Center; the Italian OFM Province of San Bonaventura; and the Committee of the Franciscan Family for the Franciscan Centenary. This lecture is part of a series of celebrations commemorating the 800thanniversary of the Christmas at Greccio and the Later Rule of St. Francis of Assisi. Friar Fortunato’s lecture follows the one he gave on March 24, 2023, on the Rule of the Friars Minor. It was also conducted at the Church of San Bonaventura al Palatino in Rome.
You can watch Friar Fortunato’s latest lecture, delivered in Italian, on YouTube at:
Today we are pleased to give you the text which the working group of our brothers and sisters has prepared and we have adopted. This text lends itself to multifaceted use and will help us set out on this journey in communion. The text offers guidelines for organizing the various centenaries at the local level and provides a framework on which to base our formation programs. It is a flexible, worthwhile tool for working on themes of the various centenaries will form the single 2023-2026 Centenary, which will conclude with the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of our Seraphic Father.
In giving you this tool, we whish you pleasant reading, fruitful work and a happy Centenary.
All languages:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1c_LW81Q6h9LTSDb2TXkc1VBR_Q_XE9O-?usp=sharing
January 7th, 2023
Greccio (RI), January 7, 2023. In the presence of the 6 General Ministers of the Franciscan Family, the Franciscan Centenary was inaugurated today, beginning a series of events tracing the last stages of the life of St. Francis of Assisi, that will finally lead to the 800th anniversary of the Easter of our Seraphic Father.
Rome, August 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Franciscan Family,
May the Lord give you peace!
