Send CathInfo's owner Matthew a gift from his Amazon wish list:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/25M2B8RERL1UO

Author Topic: The Christmas Crib, St. Francis and antinatalism?  (Read 508 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline poenitens

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 254
  • Reputation: +138/-14
  • Gender: Male
The Christmas Crib, St. Francis and antinatalism?
« on: December 23, 2023, 05:41:37 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
  • Ave María Purísima:

    In this clip Dr. John Rao claims that one of the reasons St. Francis invented the Christmas crib was to fight anti-natalist heresies.

    While it makes sense because of the circuмstances around St. Francis' life and the preaching charism of his order, it sounds as a little bit of a stretch. I tend to think that St. Francis did it just out of devotion for the Nativity of Our Lord, as it is related by St. Bonaventure.

    Is there any evidence to support this link between the invention of the Creche and the fight against those heresies? I ask out of general interest for this topic, so I'll appreciate any related reading that you may suggest.

    Here's the full episode where the clip was taken from: (should be around time mark 32:00).
    ¡Viva Jesús!

    Please, disregard any opinions and references that I have posted that may seem favorable to any traditionalist group, especially those that pertinaciously deny EENS (CMRI, Sanborn, Dolan and associates, for example).

    Offline Soubirous

    • Sr. Member
    • ****
    • Posts: 2109
    • Reputation: +1663/-44
    • Gender: Female
    Re: The Christmas Crib, St. Francis and antinatalism?
    « Reply #1 on: December 23, 2023, 06:21:28 PM »
  • Thanks!1
  • No Thanks!0
  • Is there any evidence to support this link between the invention of the Creche and the fight against those heresies?

    Haven't yet watched the 1 hour+ video, but here's a possibility:

    The Cathar/Albigensian heresies included antinatalism, and the timing is right. It was Saint Dominic (1170-1221) who actively confronted the Cathars, yet he and Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) did know each other, and this could very well have been something they discussed. It would be fitting that Saint Francis took this on, with his own affinity for the happy critters around the manger welcoming the Holy Infant.

    However, the creche initiative probably was less about human antinatalism per se and more about combating the Cathars' Christological heresies that doubted the Incarnation. Remember that in those times, visual instruction (for example, stained glass windows) was still an important means of catechesis. The tradition of the Christmas creche at its start may have had the same intent in teaching common folk about how The Word was made flesh.

    Good thing the creche tradition has survived and thrived to this day; it's probably what most strongly has helped to instill this understanding for many small children!

    PS - There's another thread today about this same topic. Matthew, does a merge work? Thanks!
    Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things pass away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things. He who has God finds he lacks nothing; God alone suffices. - St. Teresa of Jesus