November 10, 2023 – March 24, 2024
The St. Francis Nativity by Navidad Nativities is a unique and intimate grotto design, typical of the hillsides in Umbria, where St. Francis lived and preached. Nestled on a solid cherry base, the all wood, highly detailed custom nativity includes beautiful figures all carved from Mountain Maple, hand painted in rich oil colors, and part of the Comet Collection from the studios of ULPE Wood Art in Val Gardena in the Italian Alps. Directly behind the Christ Child you can see the figure of St. Francis. This two piece commemoration of that first nativity is currently on loan from Navidad to the Pilgrimage Center in New Haven.
The exhibit features crèches from the Knights of Columbus Museum Inc. Collection, this exhibition honors the rich history of the Nativity scene as seen across the world, from small hand-carved figures made of wood to large-scale representations featuring over 150 figures and elaborate settings. Included in the exhibition are passages describing the moment in Greccio from Chapter 30 of Thomas de Celano’s 1229 work The Life of Saint Francis, the very first biography of the saint, as well as Chapter 10 of St. Bonaventure’s 1263 work The Life of St. Francis of Assisi.
Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center
Formerly Knights of Columbus Museum
1 State Street, New Haven CT 06511
www.michaelmcgivneycenter.org
