Boxing Day was yesterday and as I gathered up the wrapping paper and empty boxes from under the tree I also took time to leaf through one of my gifts tucked under there.
What a lovely book, by Matthew Powell, O.P.
It is entitled:
“The Christmas Creche: Treasure of Faith, Art and Theater.”
I found the variety of styles and materials that the Creche has been crafted out of quite fascinating. Consider this primitive, carved stone set above by Irish sculptor Kieran Ford, inspired by ancient Celtic statues and ruins.
Or….how about this one below, which I couldn’t help but think of as Extreme Creche! How amazing, right?!!!! This looks like a painting, but Click closer…..these are actually hundreds of small figurines in a 3-dimensional landscape. This is the “Cuciniello Creche” housed at the Museo di San Martino, Naples, Italy. According to my book: “this exemplifies the elaborate and extensive Nativities of eighteenth-century Naples.” I’m beginning to think I was born in the wrong century.
It takes time (and money) to create such wonderful works as these. I would like to challenge you to consider commissioning your own personal family creche.
Perhaps you might commission one piece of your creche each year to build something extraordinary to pass on to your children.
Just look at this beautiful Christ Child cast in wax and surrounded by a real crest of wheat. I love it! I could create a piece like this for you. Maybe it could bear the face of your very own child.
Don’t hesitate to call and just chat. I am always happy to answer questions and describe all the possibilities. As we approach yet another New Year, I am even more certain that dreams & faith are what life is made of!
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