From St. Francis’ First Crèche to West Virginia’s Nativities
A Treasured Story of Faith, Hope, and Humble BeginningsThe Nativity is among the most treasured sights in our parishes and homes at Advent and Christmas. More than a seasonal decoration, it stands as one of the sweetest and most honest tools of evangelization. In a single scene, it reveals history and our Christian beginnings, brings the prophetic words to life before our eyes, pointing us toward our hope of eternal life with God.
Even a young child, barely able to speak, can understand and share the simple truths of the Nativity: a baby welcomed by the whole world as the Prince of Peace with a blessed loving mother and a courageous father, and the reverent awe shown by animals, shepherds, and the wise and royal. The scene teaches without complexity, inviting hearts gently into the mystery of Christ.
As the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston honors its 175th Anniversary, look with gratitude at Nativity scenes from both present and past. In doing so, acknowledge not only their beauty, but also their history and profound purpose. These scenes unite generations of faithful across West Virginia with the universal Church and with a tradition that stretches back more than eight centuries.
Bishop John Swint, the fourth bishop of the diocese, reflected deeply on this mystery in his 1947 book of Christmas homilies, The Sweetest Story Ever Told. He wrote that the Nativity has always taught that Christ, born a helpless “Babe in Bethlehem” and adored by shepherds and Wise Men, “was true God and true man.” Though He assumed human nature, He never ceased to be God; the two natures were united in one divine Person. Bishop Swint reminded the faithful that our hearts should be filled with joy and gratitude at Christmas, echoing the Gospel of John: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth.” Those who receive Him are given the power to become children of God.
Our love for the Nativity scene traces back to its origins, when St. Francis of Assisi, who, over 800 years ago in 1223, created the first living Nativity in the small town of Greccio, Italy. Saint Francis’ intent was simple and profound: to evangelize through sight, to awaken wonder and awe at the humble Newborn King, and to connect Bethlehem directly to the celebration of the Eucharist.
Saint Bonaventure recounts that on Christmas Eve of 1223, St. Francis preached about “the Babe of Bethlehem” from beside the scene itself. Thomas of Celano, St. Francis’ first biographer, explained that Francis wanted all to see with their own eyes the poverty and vulnerability Christ embraced—lying in a manger between the ox and the ass. The Church records a miracle from that night: Giovanni Veleti reported seeing a real infant appear in the empty manger, whom St. Francis tenderly held. Other miracles followed, including healings connected to the straw of the manger. From its very beginning, the Nativity was marked by grace, humility, and living faith.
That same spirit continues to move the Church today. Earlier this week, Pope Leo XIV spoke to the faithful portraying the Holy Family in Vatican City’s living Nativity, calling them a joyful sign of discipleship and “pilgrims of hope,” bearers of consolation and inspiration in daily life. Pope Francis, in his 2019 Apostolic Letter on the Nativity scene, reflected on St. Francis’ first crèche, where the Eucharist was celebrated over the manger. In doing so, the priest emphasized the inseparable bond between Bethlehem and the altar. The Nativity, Pope Francis wrote, still reveals God’s tender love and nearness, teaching every generation to believe that God is with us and that we are with Him.
In West Virginia, this centuries-old tradition is deeply cherished during Advent and Christmas. In many parishes, a family or child is blessed each year with the honor of placing the Christ Child in the manger at Christmas Mass, a quiet yet powerful act of faith passed from one generation to the next.
While detailed records of Nativity scenes in the Diocese since its founding in 1850 are limited, the influence of immigrant cultures is clear. Polish Szopki (Nativities) featured elaborately painted backdrops and figures reflecting Polish heritage. Saint Ladislaus, the first Polish Catholic Church in the diocese was founded in 1903. The Poles who settled in WV were from sections of Poland with customs also influenced by Austria and Russia, therefore the Nativity and decorations reflected their rich expansive heritage. Italian Presepi (Nativities) were often ornate, adorned with fine fabrics and gold accents. German parishes typically displayed a humbler Krippe (Nativity), crafted of wood and set within a stable or grotto. At St. Alphonsus in Wheeling, founded in 1856, parishioners obtained a magnificent “Crib” scene with molded figures and a painted Bethlehem backdrop, complete with palm trees and a starry, illuminated sky. Lovingly preserved, the figures and stable remain in use today.
German families historically were among the first to place Nativity scenes in their homes beneath Christmas trees, sometimes with snowcapped stables. Irish and Appalachian Nativities reflected simplicity and resourcefulness, fashioned from hand-carved wood or humble materials, reverent and warmly heartfelt. Irish parish, St. Patrick’s of Coalton, WV, displayed a Nativity with figures quite small, but the scale of the locally crafted stable and cut evergreen trees draped in tinsel surrounding the Nativity made it grand.
Across cultures and centuries, the Nativity endures. In West Virginia and throughout the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, it remains a living witness to the humble birth of our Lord Jesus Christ—first shown to the world by St. Francis of Assisi, and still teaching, evangelizing, and drawing hearts to Bethlehem, where God chose to dwell among us.
