Today, approaching the "liturgical privileged celebrations" (seven days before Christmas), continuing a beautiful and consolidated tradition, in many families the crib begins to be prepared, as if to relive with Mary these days full of trepidation that preceded Jesus' birth. To set up the crib at home can be a simple but effective way of presenting the faith and transmitting it to one’s children.

The manger helps us to contemplate the mystery of God’s love who revealed Himself in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem cave. St. Francis of Assisi was so overwhelmed by the mystery of the Incarnation that he wanted to present it with the living manger. Thus becoming the initiator of a long popular tradition which still keeps its value for evangelizing today.

—Jesus, in the manger I can see Your humility and Your merciful goodness because even though "You were rich" yet, for our sake, You became poor. And this will be a sign for you: "an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger". There is no other Christmas!