For the very first time, the Greccio Mass was celebrated at the Church of St Francis of Assisi on December 13. The event was organised by the OFS (Order of Franciscans Secular) in Cheras.
Dec 27, 2025

The people coming forward to venerate Baby Jesus.

By Mario Richard Peter
For the very first time, the Greccio Mass was celebrated at the Church of St Francis of Assisi on December 13. The event was organised by the OFS (Order of Franciscans Secular) in Cheras.

‘Greccio’ is the name of a town in Italy where St Francis created the first Christmas crib in 1223. All the cribs we have in our homes and churches trace their origin to this historic event. It was this event that inspired the Greccio Mass, which incorporates elements from St Francis’ first living Nativity scene in Greccio.

It is a storytelling Mass in which the person portraying St Francis of Assisi offers brief introductions to the various parts of the liturgy, helping the congregation understand the significance and meaning behind St Francis’ creation of the first crèche. Through these introductions, we learn that Francis sought to rekindle the real-life circumstances of what took place 2,000 years ago in the manger at Bethlehem. He longed to relive the actual moments of Jesus’ birth in the stable — to feel them deeply, and in doing so, the image of the Baby Jesus appeared during that celebration of the Christmas Midnight Mass in 1223.

In the ‘Introductions,’ the person portraying St Francis, explains how we will welcome Jesus’ coming during the Eucharistic Celebration. First, He is present among us in the Readings of the Mass — the Word of God. Next, He is present as the ‘Word made Flesh’. Finally, He becomes God with us, the Emmanuel, who, in His humility, became Man.

During our Greccio Mass, animals were present at the crib and were given food during one part of the celebration. Their presence helped to recreate and relive the actual moments of the original event at Greccio.

In the celebration, Mary praises God in Heaven through the Magnificat. Afterwards, Francis greets her with the beautiful ‘Salutations’ he composed in her honour. At the end of the Mass, the congregation comes forward to venerate the Baby Jesus in Mary’s arms, with both Mary and Joseph standing before the altar.

Celebrating the Greccio Mass for the first time brought this significant event in the life of St Francis of Assisi to life, allowing participants to experience it meaningfully. This marks the beginning of what promises to be many more Greccio Masses in the future.