medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
From the Vatican's web pages for S. Maria Maggiore:
http://www.vatican.va/various/sm_maggiore/en/storia/interno.htm
The Holy Crib
In the crypt under the high altar lies the celebrated relic known as the
Holy Crib. A statue of Pope Pius IX kneeling before the ancient wooden
pieces of the manger serves as an example to the faithful who come to
see the first humble crib of the Savior. Pius IX s devotion to the Holy
Crib led him to commission the crypt chapel, and his coat-of arms is
visible above the altar. The precious crystal urn trimmed in silver,
through which the faithful can venerate the relic, was designed by
Giuseppe Valadier.
*Arnolfo di Cambio's "Crib"*
The spiritual and sentimental image of the reconstruction of a "Crib"
reminding a venerate occasion, has got its origins since 432 when Pope
Sisto the Third (432/40) created a "cave of the Nativity" similar to
Bethlehem in the primitive Basilica. The numerous pilgrimages coming
back to Rome from the Holy Land, brought as a gift precious fragments of
the Holy Cradle (cunambulum) which are nowadays kept in the golden
Confessional shrine.
During the following centuries several popes took care of Sisto the
Third's Holy Crave, until pope Nicoḷ the Fourth in 1288 ordered Arnolfo
di Cambio a sculpture representing the "Nativity".
Many changes and re-buildings took place in the basilica. When Pope
Sisto the Fifth (1585/90) wanted to build a big Chapel called the
Blessed Sacrament or Sistina in the right nave, ordered the architect
Domenico Fontana to transfer there the ancient " cave of the Nativity"
with the surviving Arnolfo di Cambio's sculptural elements without
dismantle it.
The three Magi, with dresses and shoes in elegant and rude gothic style,
and Saint Joseph, admire astonished and reverent the miracle of the Baby
in the Virgin Mary's arms (of P. Olivieri) warmed by the ox and the donkey.
Tom Izbicki
Marjorie Greene wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> "Has anyone ever seen the (reputed) tunic of the Christ-Child at Argenteuil ?"
>
> No, but I've seen his crib at Sta Maria Magg... with a huge statue of Pio Nono kneeling in front of it, unless I'm mixing up the emplacement of relics. Now that I think further, Pio is kneeling in front of something else... I think.
> How's that for precision?
> MG
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