The Belen in our Sto. Nino Chapel

Christmas celebration this year seems brighter than it was at the height of the pandemic last year. With the easing of pandemic restrictions by civil authorities, we can return to our traditional way of celebrating the Christmas Season.

We celebrate with joy that Holy Mass in our chapel will resume soon at the start of the Misa de Gallo on December 16. Let us praise the Lord for this Christmas blessing, even though we still need to observe certain guidelines on safety protocols mandated by IATF.

In our small community, Christmas season is welcome back with the display of the Belen in the altar of our Sto. Nino Chapel. Because the Belen symbolizes the family spirit in our community during the Christmas Season. It brightens our celebration of the early morning nine-day novena Masses or Misa de Gallo. The Belen was not seen last year as there was also no liturgical activities allowed in the chapel since the start of the pandemic. And Christmas without the Belen is bleak.

So what is the significance of the "Belen" on Christmas Season?

The Belen, or the Christmas Nativity scene, (sometimes also called the Manger) is probably one of the most recognizable symbols of the Christmas Season.

The word "nativity" is from the Latin word "nativus" which means "arisen by birth".

The Christmas Nativity Scene generally has same elements of the child Jesus in a manger; His mother, Mary; His earthly father, Joseph; shepherds; an angel; various barn animals; and sometimes the three wise men or Magi.

The Belen depicts the nativity scene, or birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. It reminds everyone, and especially the poor and the less fortunate, about God's begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who took on our human form to redeem humanity. The infant Jesus in the manger helps to contemplate the mystery of God's love who revealed Himself in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem cave.

The crib or the baby Jesus in a manger, can help us to understand the true meaning of Christmas as it speaks of humility and the merciful goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who "though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor."

We look forward with much joy the veneration of our Belen in the chapel as we begin our 9-day novena-Masses during the Misa de Gallo at 5:15 in the morning. Come, let us adore the Baby Jesus in the manger.

Biblical trivia:

It is said that St. Francis of Assisi created the very first nativity scene in 1223 in his effort to promote the true meaning of Christmas and worship of Jesus Christ. His idea caught on, and soon a new Christmas tradition was born.

In the Philippines, the Belen was introduced to Filipinos by the Spaniards in 1565.

A BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO US ALL!

Ad Jesum per Mariam!