[NYer]

AP - Sun Dec 11, 8:48 AM ET

A boy displays a Nativity figure of baby Jesus for Pope Benedict XVI to bless as he appears at his studio's window, top, overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for the traditional Sunday's Angelus prayer, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005. Pope Benedict XVI said that Christmas festivities have been polluted by consumerism and suggested that assembling the Nativity scene in the home is an effective way of teaching the faith to children. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)

[NYer]

AP - Sun Dec 11, 8:26 AM ET Pope Benedict XVI at his studio's window waves to pilgrims and faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for the traditional Sunday's Angelus prayer, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005. Pope Benedict XVI said that Christmas festivities have been polluted by consumerism and suggested that assembling the Nativity scene in the home is an effective way of teaching the faith to children. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)

[Piers-the-Ploughman]

a very gifted homilist, not that my judgment should be necessarily be taken seriously by anyone. I love reading what he writes.

thx for posting

[Gerish]

The Holy Father's message is so truthful and refreshing to read. He certainly does not beat around the bush.

[paw prints]

Viva Il Papa!!!! We cannot hear this message enough!

[Desdemona]

St. Francis of Assisi was so overwhelmed by the mystery of the Incarnation, that he wanted to present it again in Greccio with the living manger, thus becoming the initiator of a long popular tradition which still keeps its value for evangelization today.

We heard this story at the homily yesterday. I'll have to find an account of it. REALLY inspiring.

[Claud]

Continuing a beautiful and consolidated tradition, in many families the crib begins to be prepared, as if to relive with Mary these days full of trepidation that preceded Jesus' birth. To set up the crib at home can be a simple but effective way of presenting the faith and transmitting it to one's children. The manger helps us to contemplate the mystery of God's love who revealed himself in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem cave.

LOL...we just put our "presepio" this weekend. Took up most of a wall in our dining room with a bunch of modern pieces (Fontanini) and some old ones my mom had growing up from Italy. Me and my wife joked that no one better complain we didn't put lights or a tree up when we laid out a whole town in our dining room!