News - December 2023 RSS Feed

All that is needed is to pray before a Nativity scene in a Franciscan church. The indulgence is available from Dec. 8, which marks the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to Feb. 2, 2024, the feast of the Presentation in the Temple of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Conference of the Franciscan Family requested the indulgence of Pope Francis. This commemorates the 800th anniversary of the Rule of St. Francis’ approval in 1223. It also marks the 800th anniversary of the first Nativity to celebrate Christ's birth and recognize the humble conditions under which He entered this world. St. Francis created the first Nativity for the Midnight Mass in Italy, complete with live animals, in a cave near the town of Greccio.