{"id":1674,"date":"2012-11-23T11:02:00","date_gmt":"2012-11-23T11:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/vatican-nativity-set-might-include-animals-not-at-jesus-birth\/"},"modified":"2012-11-23T11:02:00","modified_gmt":"2012-11-23T11:02:00","slug":"vatican-nativity-set-might-include-animals-not-at-jesus-birth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/11\/vatican-nativity-set-might-include-animals-not-at-jesus-birth\/","title":{"rendered":"Vatican nativity set might include animals not at Jesus’ birth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Vatican City, Nov 23, 2012 \/ 04:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- The Vatican has started construction on its annual nativity set in St. Peter's Square, and the display is expected to include a few animals that may not have been at Jesus' birth.<\/p>\n

\tThe Pope said in his third book on the life of Christ, \"Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives,\" released Nov. 21, that the ox and the donkey, regularly included in nativity scenes, are not mentioned in the gospels.<\/p>\n

\tBut they are included in other parts of the Bible, which could have inspired Christians to use them in representations of the birth of Jesus.<\/p>\n

\t\"No nativity scene will give up its ox and donkey,\" Pope Benedict says in his new book, which will eventually be translated into 20 languages.<\/p>\n

\tThe square was first decorated in 1986 under Pope John Paul II and the 19th-century images usually come from the parish of San Andr\u00e9s del Valle.<\/p>\n

\tThe construction of the nativity scene began on Nov. 19 and is expected to finish by Dec. 24, just in time for Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n

\tThe Governorate of Vatican City's technical services office designs a new nativity set every year, inspired by different scenes of the life of Jesus.<\/p>\n

\tAlthough the scenarios of where the statues are located vary each year, the essence is the same.<\/p>\n

\tIn 2010 the set included nine Filipino figures in honor of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Holy See. Last year\u2019s scene focused on biblical events where Mary was a key figure, including the Annunciation, the Visitation, the presentation in the temple and, of course, the birth of Jesus.<\/p>\n

\tAs of Nov. 21, the area where the display will be in St. Peter\u2019s Square sports the pillars that will partially support the nativity scene. Construction workers have also placed a metal frame next to the obelisk and a tent to protect their work, with scaffolding alongside it.<\/p>\n

\tThe nativity will likely include life-size figures of Jesus, Joseph, Mary, shepherds, the Magi and some animals.<\/p>\n

\tThe display will be placed next to a 78-foot white fir, which comes from the town of Pescopennataro, Italy and will be donated to the Pope by the southern region of Basilicata.<\/p>\n

\tIt will be lit during a ceremony on Dec. 14, although the manger will be inaugurated on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n

\tPope Benedict will celebrate a vigil Mass on Christmas Eve at 10:00 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vatican City, Nov 23, 2012 \/ 04:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- The Vatican has started construction on its annual nativity set in St. Peter's Square, and the display is expected to include a few animals that may not have been at Jesus' birth.<\/p>\n

\tThe Po…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vatican"],"yoast_head":"\nVatican nativity set might include animals not at Jesus' birth<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Vatican City, Nov 23, 2012 \/ 04:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- The Vatican has started construction on its annual nativity set in St. Peter's Square, and the display is expected to include a few animals that may not have been at Jesus' birth. 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