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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture > 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. I'm have been becoming a bit more familiar recently with the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem -- which actually had a side grotto opening off it called the Grotto of the Manger -- but this is the first reference I've seen to Sixtus III creating a "cave of the Nativity" in S. Maria Maggiore. It seems rather a "Lourdes" sort of thing to do. Does anyone know anything about this? Also, the website of the basilica, although correctly naming Sixtus III as the founder, also recounts the legendary story of Mary making it snow in August on the precise area where the church was to go. Does anyone know when this legend began to circulate -- or at least, when it is first recorded? In a related vein, does anyone know when apparitions of the Virgin Mary began to appear? Or for that matter, apparitions of any saints. One of the earliest apparitions I have heard of are St Michael's apparitions to the bishop of Siponto at Monte Gargano, in Apulia, which apparently occurred in 493, but this seems remarkably early, in relation to apparitions of actual saints, rather than, say, archangels, whose business it is, really, to "appear" to people. Cheers, Jim Bugslag ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html