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What exactly do the expressions of alarm and stress on all the faces have to do with "works/acts of mercy?"

So, I was wrong.  Not only does the "pope" not condemn it, but he falsely gives it legitimacy.
 

Given I am relatively new to the tradition of leaving the baby Jesus out of the manger until Christmas, could someone tell me if it is also tradition to have the Three Wise Men literally at the manger before Christmas?  Why would they be there at all?  I could see them on the road to get there, but to actually be there?

I think the fact that they are already there with an empty manger implies something very different than...."oh, it's tradition to leave the manger empty until Christmas".

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I don't claim to be an "expert" on this but in my experience, it is common practice among Catholics to keep the baby Jesus out of the manger scene until Christmas Day. Some like to keep the 3 Kings out as well, and even others don't bring the 3 Kings into the scene until January 6, Epiphany. I know of a monastery where the brothers set up the 3 Kings along the side of the road leading to their chapel, and each day they move the 3 Kings closer so that by Epiphany they are finally at the manger scene. Children are fascinated by seeing how the 3 Kings move every day.
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When I was a child my mother set up a manger scene in our home and she never had the 3 Kings until Epiphany and always had only Mary, Joseph, and a donkey and ox before Christmas, adding figures at the appropriate time. The manger scene was an historical commemoration.
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It seems Francis is trying to make the manger scene into a political statement or some kind of social justice display. The longstanding tradition of having the manger empty before Christmas might be just another play toy for Francis, who likes to make everything into a game or a stage prop for entertainment.
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I recall seeing a manger scene at a Lutheran church where they had the baby Jesus in the crib before Christmas and that seemed very strange, but then Protestants like to have Christmas all during December so that by the time the 25th comes, they're tired of it, and on the 26th they're pulling down the decorations, and the tree goes in the trash.
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