Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy has her eye on the beauty and uniqueness of Christmas celebrations around her at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Greenwood, Mississippi. Find here convent chapel scenes that also inspire focused contemplation.
The glorious tree in St. Francis Church creates a beautiful backdrop for baby Jesus. Reminiscent of the story of Christmas in Greccio, St. Francis Church always features the image of Francis with the Baby Jesus near the tree.
St. Francis Church in its Christmas splendor includes the Eucharistic Presence adorned with magnolia leaves and poinsettias.
St. Francis saw the great love of God for us as exhibited in Jesus in the crib, Jesus on the Cross and Jesus in the ciborium. Christmas at St. Francis Church recalls all of these wondrous manifestations of God’s love.
At the convent the three-fold theme of St. Francis and his great love for Jesus is also displayed.
“Blessed Francis, however, was standing before the manger fully of sighs of joy and suffused by an indescribable sweetness…truly he was so overcomeby sweet devotion toward the infancy of that King, that whenever he had to speak the name of Jesus Christ, he would, as if stuttering, call him “the babe of Bethlehem,: out of excess of loving tenderness…” -The Life of Saint Francis by Julian of Speyer, Chapter 10, 54
