Gone Medieval St. Francis & the First Nativity Play
Dec 9, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Tim Larsen, McManus Professor of Christian Thought at Wheaton College, reveals how St. Francis of Assisi revolutionized Christmas by staging the first nativity play in 1223. Delve into the dramatic evolution of worship that fused spirituality with spectacle and public engagement. Learn how Francis's theatrical approach, including the use of vernacular songs and nature imagery, made religious narratives accessible to all. Explore the deeper themes within the nativity story, highlighting Francis's message of peace and compassion.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Theatrical Worship Made Theology Tangible
- St. Francis reinvented worship by staging a sensory, outdoor nativity that brought theology to ordinary people.
- He turned liturgy into theatre to make the Incarnation tangible and accessible to peasants and nobles alike.
The Greccio Live Nativity Event
- At Greccio Francis arranged hay, an ox and a donkey, and a rough manger to recreate Bethlehem for locals.
- Witnesses later claimed a sleeping child appeared and the hay was kept as a holy relic.
Friars: Poverty Lived In The World
- Francis and Dominic founded mendicant friars who lived poverty in the world rather than behind cloister walls.
- This redefined religious life as itinerant ministry, preaching and serving people directly in towns.
