creche
herald
for all who love, own or collect a creche
Vol. 1, No. 4 Winter 1997 Merry Christmas to our readers, their families and friends, On this holiest of holidays, we wish you and yours the blessings of peace, joy and a renewed spirit. During the course of your travels driving in and out of shopping malls, dashing madly in and out of gift shops, looking for the perfect gift, we hope you will take a moment to pause in front of the crecheyouhave so lovingly displayed. There, in the person of the Holy Child, you will :find the grace and strength to approach the pleasures--and sometimes, disappointments-- of this sublime season with equanimity and serenity. Rita B. Bacher, Publisher A MAGNIFICENT NEW BOOK FOR ALL SEASONS Lavishly illustrated with glorious colorplates, A Christmas Creche: Treasure ofFaith, Art & Theater by Matthew Powell, O.P., offers a glittering historical feast for the eyes and mind. The last book on the creche with this breadth was Nesta de Robeck's well researched, oft quoted slim volume, The Christmas Crib (Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Co., 1956). However, in contrast to the earlier book's modest demeanor, Powell' s 160-page hardcover volume literally demands coffee table prominence. For example, commentary on the Magi and their gifts brings the ravishing colors of Peter Paul Rubens' baroque masterpiece, "Adoration of the Magi." A further discussion of the Nativity and its Biblical context is crowned by two lush reproductions of paintings by Jacopo Bassano. Powell explores the long history of the creche starting with the veneration in the second century of Christ's purported birthplace at Bethlehem. He tells us that originally Christmas was a local and moveable feast, happening anytime between May and December; it was set at December 25 only in the fourth century. Among the many fascinating subjects Powell covers is the creche in Medieval theater. He explains how religious drama was reborn after centuries of censure by early Christians. Starting with the use of musical passages in worship services in about the I 0th century, clerics eventually graduated to small interpretative dramas. From these dignified pieces, it was not far to the boisterous excesses of the Medieval liturgical dramas. One of St. Francis' great contributions, the author notes, was his restoration of the Nativity to a joyous religious devotion. In the beginning of the 14th century, creche building started evolving as a serious art in Europe. Among the many illustrations in this chapter are colorplates of incredible 18th century Italian presepii, teaming with all
manner of villages, social classes, achv1hes, Magi, shepherds, animals, angels, and, of course, a Holy Family. Powell brings the creche to modern times, showing the Nativity made by the House of Fontanini for Pope John Paul II's private apartment, as well as exotic and wonderful ethnic Nativities from around the world. The book includes Christmas creche prayers and a directory of locations where creches can be seen . Powell, a Pauline priest and assistant professor of theater arts at Providence College in Rhode Island, has produced a year-round show stopper. A Christmas Creche: Treasure of Faith, Art & Theater, published by the Pauline Press, Boston, MA., is available at local bookstores or by calling 1-800-876-4463. Cost is $39.95 (Canada: $59.95).