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The original Christmas crib was built at Bethlehem.
Centuries later, St. Francis of Assisi built another Christmas crib and made it popular.
According to The Life of St. Francis of Assisi by St. Bonaventure, in 1223, St. Francis received permission from Pope Honorius III to set up a manger with hay and two live animals — an ox and a donkey — in a cave in the Italian village of Grecio.
He then invited the villagers to visit the scene while he preached about “the babe of Bethlehem.” (Francis was supposedly so overcome by emotion that he couldn’t say “Jesus.”)
A gift of peace
The Christmas crib inspired a group of German POWs in Algona, Iowa, to build a Christmas crib.
In 1944, German Sergeant Eduard Kaib was captured and shipped to Camp Algona, Iowa, prison which housed 3,200 German prisoners of war.
Injured and suffering from ulcers, Kaib was deeply depressed. He missed his homeland, family, and German religious traditions.
One day, this radio operator had a heavenly idea.
Surely, he was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
He asked Camp Commander Arthur T. Lobdell if he could build a Christmas crib.
Permission was granted, and Kaib and several other POWs began work on the 60-statue Nativity. The half-sized figures were crafted of concrete on wire frames, covered with plaster, and then sculpted and painted.
Though tools were crude, this Nativity is an artistic marvel. Its details are incredibly realistic.
The 30-odd sheep look wooly enough to be sheared. “The sheep’s wool actually resembles wool,” exclaimed Wes H. Bartlett, compiler of A Collection of Memories of the Algona Prisoner of War Camp.
At the stable, Joseph held a red lantern over the Christ child.
Mother Mary had blond hair and blue eyes which adds a Germanic touch.
The concrete angels kept watch, while the Magi and camels looked on exuberantly. Overhead, stars illumined the holy night.
In December 1945, after Hitler’s surrender, Kaib assembled the Nativity. For many area residents, a trip to “Bethlehem” was their first glimpse into the prison compound . . . and POWs hearts.
But it was a child who saw the radiant beams from Jesus’ holy face.
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” recalled Jan Leaneagh Fausnaugh. “The two hands of baby Jesus reached up and out, as though the creators of the figures reached out to us.”
Before returning home to Germany, Kaib made permanent arrangements for his “Gift of Peace.” Marshall Fields Department Store in Chicago reportedly offered $5,000 for the scene (lots of money in those days), but Kaib wouldn’t sell it.
The Nativity would remain in Algona, the source of its inspiration. Thousands of pilgrims flock to Algona every December to see and hear the message of Christmas. “Peace on earth, good will to men,” the statues seem to ring out. “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” the Iowa plains echo in joyous reply.
Closer to the first Christmas
The manger scene helps to bring us closer to the first Christmas.
The shepherds show that Christ came for the poor, represented by Jewish shepherds.
The Magi, if included, show us how Christ came for us Gentiles or non-Jews.
The animals show how nature rejoiced over the “Jesus birth”.
The angels worship Jesus and sing “Glory to God in the highest!” The angels show how Heaven joins earth in rejoicing at the savior’s birth.
Joseph, foster father of Jesus, shows us the importance of fathers. Joseph protected Mary and Jesus and provided for them.
Holding the Christ child with tender love is Mary, Jesus’ mother, and his first and greatest disciple. Through the Holy Spirit, God chose Mary who was full of grace to be Jesus’ mother.
Sr. Madeline of Jesus summed up the graced beauty of the Christ child when she declared, “Like all babies of the world, Christ the workman, Christ of the Passion, Christ glorious in his Resurrection, needed the tender watchfulness of the Virgin Mary by his cradle.
“He needed the fatherly care of St. Joseph who guided his first steps, and most of all he needed the love of his Father in Heaven to whom he was obedient from his birth in the crib to his death on the cross.”
St. Thérèse of Lisieux exclaimed, “I cannot fear a God who made himself small for me.”
Christmas is when families come together and when the Holy Family was born.
Since parents are the primary teachers of their children, they often have a crib in the house where they can show the baby Jesus to their children.
They can try to understand the true meaning of Christmas.
Let’s not leave Jesus at the crib. Jesus became like us as a tiny helpless baby so that we could become more like him. Jesus showed us what true love is.
He died on the cross to redeem us from sin which keeps us from loving. Jesus sent the Spirit so we could call him Lord. Jesus wants to gift us with Heaven’s indescribable happiness if we let him. Let us let him.
Fr. Donald Lange is a pastor emeritus in the Diocese of Madison.