The Ox, the Donkey and the Child Jesus

All living creatures must celebrate the arrival of Jesus In a small town called Greccio there was a man named Juan, very devoted to Saint Francis. About two weeks before the Christmas feast, Saint Francis calls Juan and says: -My son, if you want us to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Greccio, prepare what I am going to tell you. I would like to represent the Child born in Bethlehem to see with my own eyes the discomfort in which he found himself that holy night. Our Lord was reclining in a manger between the ox and the donkey. So you prepare a grotto. Try to arrange everything as it should have been on the night the Child Jesus was born. Juan immediately goes to the established place to prepare what is necessary according to the San Francisco project. And Christmas Eve arrives. On this occasion, Saint Francis invites many friars to come to Greccio. Shortly before midnight men, women and children arrive jubilant from the hamlets of the region. They bring candles and torches to illuminate that holy night. It also reaches the San Francisco cave. You see that everything has been prepared according to your wish. He is beaming with joy. A farmer puts an arm of hay in the manger, and then an ox and a donkey are brought into the grotto. Greccio has become a new Bethlehem. The forest around the grotto resounds with voices and festive songs. Saint Francis, who has also invited a priest to celebrate Holy Mass in the grotto, helps the celebrant. After reading the Gospel, Saint Francis speaks to the people gathered before the grotto. With very tender words he remembers the birth of the Child Jesus. Even the ox and the burrito listen attentively. Saint Francis pronounces the word Bethlehem with a trembling voice. In his mouth, this word almost sounds like a lamb's bleat. At midnight on the dot, just after St. Francis has finished speaking, the grotto is miraculously illuminated. In the manger, between the ox and the donkey, appears the splendid figure of the Child Jesus. The farmers and shepherds closest to the entrance of the grotto clearly see how the Child lies smiling in the hay of the manger. The ox and the donkey warm little Niío with their breath, exactly as the ox and the donkey had done in Bethlehem. Saint Francis kneels in adoration before the manger. The shepherds and farmers sing a Christmas song. Someone plays flutes and panpipes. Children wave torches. After a few moments, the Child Jesus disappears and the light also goes out little by little in the grotto. After Holy Mass, people return home singing and waving candles and torches. In the sky many stars shine. Saint Francis remains a long time in the grotto, praying. He caresses the ox and the donkey and tells them: -Brother ox and brother donkey, you are lucky among all the animals because you have been able to see your Lord and Creator with your eyes. You have been able to warm him with your breath. The ox and the donkey look at the saint with their big sweet eyes, still full of that light that appeared in the grotto. Then Saint Francis sends his friars: -My brothers , out of love for Our Lord, I order you that in future years, on Christmas night, you feed all the animals. In particular, throw good hay for oxen and burritos. All living creatures must celebrate the Christmas of Jesus. Since then the friars, until the death of Saint Francis, every year go through the stables of Greccio to bring good hay to all the oxen and burritos, on Christmas night. You too, dear children, on Christmas Day remember to feed all the animals you have at home or that you find along the way good things to eat. ACI Press

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