A Child’s Christmas

Shelter Seeking and Living Nativity at the Shrine in Belgrano R, Buenos Aires

Misa de Nochebuena en el Santuario de Belgrano, Buenos Aires Christmas at the Shrine in Belgrano, Buenos Aires Christmette beim Heiligtum von Belgrano, Buenos Aires
María y José Mary and Joseph Maria und Josef
Angelitos y pastores Angels and shepherds Angel und Hirten
18 de diciembre, busqueda de albergue December 18, Shelter Seeking 18. Dezember: Herbergsuche
Búsqueda de albergue Shelter seeking Herbergssuche Fotos: Hermanas de María Echeverria © 2008

ARGENTINA, Sr. María Ester. A different kind of Christmas was celebrated on Christmas Eve at the Shrine in Belgrano R, Buenos Aires. It was a child’s Christmas, experienced through the eyes of the children. After the Shelter Seeking celebration, held on 18 December, a "multitude of the heavenly host," including a little six-month old angel lying in his grandmother’s arms, arrived on Christmas Eve to greet the Baby Jesus.

On 18 December during the Covenant Day Mass at 20:00, the children who visit the Shrine daily enacted the Shelter Seeking story.

A different Christmas experience

In the days leading up to the Shelter Seeking celebration, the children had prepared themselves by singing songs and carrying out age-appropriate spiritual deeds in their Advent calendars. For example, one day the task was: "Today I will say ‘please’ whenever I ask for something, like Jesus would have done," or "today I will help set the table." These practical deeds of love prepare our hearts for the coming of the Baby Jesus.

Saint Joseph and Mary set out from the Sister’s house, next to the Shrine – where Fr. Kentenich stayed in 1950 and 1951 – accompanied by many little angels. One girl carried the children’s Advent Pilgrim Mother.

Knocking on several doors, the innkeepers called out their excuses as to why they could not open the door to Jesus and Mary: they were very busy with their Christmas shopping and preparing Christmas dinner and did not have time for God and spiritual things. The innkeepers also told the couple that they were afraid to invite them into their homes because they were strangers and there was danger lurking in the streets.

Finally, the couple arrived at the Shrine. There, the Archangel Gabriel let them in and told them that if they came on Christmas Eve, they would definitely find a whole community of people more than willing to offer them shelter. The little angels then handed out stars to the people present, asking all those who were willing to experience a different Christmas to write their names on the stars and these would be put on the tree on Christmas Eve.

This simple activity drew families closer to the Shrine and it was also a way of presenting a different view of Christmas.

This is the Word made flesh that came into the world to save us

24 December: Christmas Eve Mass began at 20:30. The spacious patio in front of the Shrine was so crowded that there wasn’t an empty space to be found. A musical family, (grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren), replete with guitars, violin and drum made up the choir. At the Gloria, "a multitude of the celestial army" rung bells and joyfully gathered around the crib, but the Baby Jesus had not yet arrived.

There were many children. The smaller ones (of which there were many) were the little angels. When the congregation saw this, they sent their own children forward so that they could also be angels. The Sister in charge rushed around placing a golden band, made of the tinsel, around their heads.

At the Alleluia, Mary and Joseph arrived solemnly, walking slowly. Mary carried a life-like baby wrapped in a blanket. Fr. Javier Arteaga proclaimed the Gospel and after he said "The Gospel of the Lord," Joseph removed the blanket and Mary handed the baby to the priest who raised him high, saying "this is the Word made flesh that came into the world to save us." He then placed the baby in the crib. At that moment, Joseph pulled a flute from his belt, knelt down and, looking at the child, softly played Silent Night. It was a heavenly moment because the angels, some twenty little children aged from five months to eight years, were gathered around, contemplating the new-born Child.

A Light for Many

During the offertory, the shepherds appeared carrying bread, so that poor children will never have to go without, a basket filled with fruit, symbolising all the offerings to the Capital of Grace during the year, milk symbolising the hope that our country will reflect the heavenly kingdom, and the children’s contributions to the capital of grace, the Advent calendars containing their faithful strivings. Then, the shepherds collected the stars they had handed out on 18 December so that each person could put their name on the Christmas tree and in this way, become a light for many.

After the celebration and after having had a chance to kiss the Baby Jesus, the families said that the whole Family had experienced a different kind of Christmas.