Next to the manger

Meditating on the profound meaning of the ten minutes next to the Manger

Estrellas en el pesebre en la Iglesia de la Adoración Stars are placed in the manger in the Adoration Church Sterne werden an die Krippe in der Anbetungskirche gelegt Fotos: Santos © 2006
Jesús nació para nosotros Jesus was born for us Für uns geboren, zu uns gekommen Foto: Barrientos © 2006
Pesebre en „Missionshaus“ Manger in the Mission House Krippe im Missionshaus
Pesebre en el Santuario en Monte Schoenstatt Manger in the Shrine at Mount Schoenstatt Krippe im Heiligtum auf Berg Schönstatt Fotos: Santos © 2006
Ven Come Komm
Juntos junto al pesebre Together by the crib Miteinander an der Krippe Fotos: POS Fischer © 2006

SCHOENSTATT, Antonella Cerini. As we have mentioned before in other articles, "The ten minutes next to the manger" has become one of the most important Christmas activities in Schoenstatt. The creation of this space is centered on the children (although during the first two years the attention was focused on the adults). Many things are organized: Christmas hymns, traditional Christmas carols, dances, guided readings…..among other things which help to create a family atmosphere. In addition, the "famous" Christmas cakes, tea, chocolate, and the warm welcome from the Sisters makes one feel at home. Now then: what is the profound meaning of this event?.....

What is truthfully expected from this encounter – personal and in community – with the Child Jesus and with the Family from Nazareth is that these brief moments of meditation on the simplicity of the stable where the Savior of the world was born, be the seed for a profound growth in attachment to God. Therefore, we believe that the attraction should not only be purely human and physical; that is, only staying with the exterior beauty which is offered to us by the artistic work of the manger; but to immerse us in the depth of the mystery of salvation history: Jesus, the Son of the living God, became man to save mankind through childlikeness. In other words, we believe that the center of attention should be on the "miracle of the Manger": Mary’s heart which gave life to the Baby Jesus should be the image of our meditation and devotion. To be left only with the circumstantial event which convenes adults and children to a Christmas festivity would be a lack of intimacy and integration with the organic love of the Lord.

Triumph of grace in the children of the Father

This is the spirit which is intended to be planted in the heart of each one of those who participate; that is, to be able to go beyond the marvel of the exterior work to penetrate – and radiate – the interior order of each son and daughter who comes to Schoenstatt to adore the holy manger. The greatness of the mystery of God lies in the simplicity of all of creation; in the humanness of the manifestation; in the poverty and hidden birth of his Son. This is, as a matter of fact, what we are called to and convened to as children of God: "to be children before God." This is the good news which Jesus brings to us, the grace we want to implore, the desire for life we wish to long for. To see to it that our small daily life is an extraordinary surrender in the light of the gospel.

The working of the Holy Spirit in the new man

As Schoenstatters, we are also called – through the originality of our spirituality – to ask for the grace of the "miracle of the Holy Night" experienced like children of the Father. If we are deeply recollected before the manger it is not only so that our heart may be on fire with love for the Lord and for similarity between Him and me (He, child; me, child), but so that we may open ourselves to the miracle of the Holy Night in us; that is, the transformation of our intelligence and the openness of our senses to the supernatural light. To recognize the miracle of the Holy Night worked in us is to recognize clearly one’s mission in life and to fulfill it.

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA