This Nativity has been created in the long tradition of story telling and special symbols that started with St Francis when he made the first Nativity scenes hundreds of years ago.
The traditional grouping of Wise Men and Farm Folk is symbolic of the universal nature of Chritianity and emphasising the democratic reaching out to all people without prejudices.
The shepherds carry the richness of the Earth's harvest, and the first to arrive carries a dove, the symbol for peace. The angel in bringing the message of the birth to the shepherds is symbolic of the way God is reaching out to all mankind with a message of peace. The wise men are traditionally Kings who symbolise how wealth and wisdom with gifts of riches come to kneel before a greater King. Baby Jesus in a humble crib is at the very centre, as He is at the centre of life today.
The background paintings represent the birth with the symbol of a new dawn. It is both the birth of Christ as a man, and the birth of Christianity. As the sun rises over Bethlehem in the centre, there are two scenes on either side.
To the left are symbols of the birth of Jesus and his life on Earth to come. The Inn has closed doors. At the back of the Manger are 3 water containers. They represent the first miracle which was water to wine. The hill behind the Inn represents the sermon on the Mount.
The painting on the right represents the birth of the Christianity. There is a steeple on the wall, but
no cross yet, as Jesus is only just born, however in contrast to the Inn, the door is open. This painting is based on the real Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and that Church has a very small door so that it is not possible to enter that hallowed place without ones head bowed. In the foreground is a thorn bush, symbolic of the crucifiction that lays in the future. The hill could be representative then of Calvary, but that is for the future.
Incidentally, The Inn is also based on a real building, the remains of an actual Roman period Inn, complete with wall for the olive trees. The Inn that Mary and Joseph sought shelter in may well have looked much like this.
. The Nativity scene in Cathedral Square was instigated by Cardinal Pell who has been concerned over the gradual removal of Christ as the central message of Christmas. Cardinal Pell says "I would invite all people of good will to come and spend some time reflecting on the central role of Jesus in Christmas, to take time out from Christmas parties, end of school activities and present buying to prepare their hearts for Christmas and the coming again of the Son of God as man."
Hi there,
Not enought information
Thank you
Charlie
Posted by: Charlie | February 05, 2009 at 03:02 AM