“St. Francis and the Christmas Creche” celebrates the founding of the Christmas creche tradition by St. Francis who staged the first nativity scene on Christmas Eve in 1223: “I want to do something that will recall the memory of that child who was born in Bethlehem, to see with bodily eyes the inconveniences of his infancy, how he lay in the manger, and how the ox and ass stood by,” St. Francis reportedly said.
This 2025 performance, conducted by Steven Ottományi, took place at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Pasadena, California, where Ottományi serves as Music Director. It was presented at one of Benedict XVI Institute’s Very Marian Advent Prayer Services, a service of prayer and sacred music centered on a simple but powerful idea: waiting with Mary through the last difficult month of her pregnancy for the birth of her Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Please pray for the intentions of the patron of this work, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone J.C.D.
Frank La Rocca Ph.D. (Composer-in-Residence)
Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone J.C.D.
Frank La Rocca Ph.D. (Composer-in-Residence)
