Baby Jesus in the Crèche

And More on Gospel Acclamations

ROME, DEC. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.

 

Q: In setting up the outdoor or indoor Nativity scene, I am under the impression that the statue of the Infant is to be placed there "ab initio," not placed there at midnight on Christmas Eve. Is there documentation which supports that view? -- M.H., Woodside, New York

A: Here we are in the region of custom, and customs can vary from place to place. The choice might also depend on circumstances.

There are very few mentions of this theme in official documents. No. 111 of the Directory of Popular Piety contains the following indication:

"At Midnight Mass, an event of major liturgical significance and of strong resonance in popular piety, the following could be given prominence: [...] at the end of Mass, the faithful could be invited to kiss the image of the Child Jesus, which is then placed in a crib erected in the church or somewhere nearby."

Although this is more of a pastoral suggestion rather than a strict law, it would indicate the preference that the Christmas crib in or near a church should not be formally unveiled until the Christmas Midnight Mass.

It is also technically possible to set up the crib on the evening of Dec. 24 if a parish celebrates the Christmas vigil Mass. This possibility, while liturgically correct, is probably less effective from the point of view of popular piety, which tends to associate Christ's birth with the midnight Mass.

In some places the custom exists of using a different (usually larger) statue than that used in the crib; and the faithful are invited to kiss the image of the Child Jesus at the end of all Masses on Christmas Day.

Outside of the liturgical ambience the practice of Catholic households and schools varies widely. One family I know has the charming custom of setting up the crib in the family room but placing the Holy Family, the shepherds and the three wise men in various corners. Each day the family members move the statues a few steps closer. They place the figures in the crèche on returning from midnight Mass (except for the wise men, who arrive on Jan. 6).

There may, however, be very valid reasons for setting up the full Nativity crib before Christmas Day. For example, a Catholic store owner, school, or even a parish located in a busy thoroughfare might desire to remind busy shoppers what Christmas is really all about.

The crib thus combines the representation of a historical event with a testimony of Christian conviction that this event is a central and defining moment in human and salvation history.

In such a case, having the image of the Infant Jesus from the beginning is almost certainly to be preferred. It makes little sense to have the images of Mary, Joseph, sundry shepherds, three wise men and the occasional choir of angels gazing adoringly upon an empty haystack.

While already committed Christians might perceive the empty crib as the expectation of Christmas, the symbolism could be lost on many for whom the familiar representation of the complete Nativity scene might ignite a spark of true light amid the flimsy tinsels proclaiming "Happy Winterval."

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Follow-up: Gospel Acclamation, Before and After

After our remarks on repeating the alleluia (Nov. 20), an Austin, Minnesota, reader inquired: "I have experienced the Alleluia being read by the lector and then spoken by the assembly regularly at weekday Masses where there is no choir or cantor, but where other communal singing does occur. It was my understanding that if the Alleluia is not sung it should be omitted. [See] 'Music in Catholic Worship' by the bishops' committee on the liturgy, 1982, No. 55."

The document mentioned by our reader is in the process of being updated and replaced by a far more authoritative one voted upon by the entire conference and not issued by just the liturgy committee. All the same, it presents an interesting case of liturgical interpretation.

In the footnote to No. 55 the committee document states: "The first edition of this document had the word 'may' instead of 'should.' This change has been made in the second edition in light of the norm found in LMI 23."

No. 23 of the LMI, or the Introduction to the Lectionary, says: "The Alleluia or, as the liturgical season requires, the verse before the Gospel is also a 'rite or act standing by itself.' It serves as the greeting of welcome of the assembled faithful to the Lord who is about to speak to them and as an expression of their faith through song. The Alleluia or the verse before the Gospel must be sung, and during it all stand. It is not to be sung only by the cantor who intones it or by the choir, but by the whole of the people together."

Strangely, though, an exact equivalent to the expression "The Alleluia ... must be sung" is not found in other translations of the same document and it seems to force the meaning of the official text a little.

The footnotes in the Introduction to the Lectionary refer to the earlier edition of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, which is the most authoritative document in this regard. Both the earlier edition and the present edition of the GIRM say basically the same thing; thus No. 63c says: "The Alleluia or verse before the Gospel may be omitted if they are not sung."

I think therefore that the committee document is incorrect in saying that the Alleluia "must" be sung or else omitted. I hold that the practice of merely reciting the acclamation is legitimate.

This does not, however, make it best liturgical practice. The very fact that it may be omitted if not sung is a strong enough indicator that the Church's intention is that whenever possible the Alleluia or other seasonal acclamation should always be sung.

This singing can be done even if the verse between the Alleluias is recited because the reader lacks the requisite musical ability to chant it.

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Readers may send questions to liturgy@zenit.org. Please put the word "Liturgy" in the subject field. The text should include your initials, your city and your state, province or country. Father McNamara can only answer a small selection of the great number of questions that arrive.