Ave Maria Meditations
The Nativity Scene in Greccio is similar to the fresco that Giotto painted on the same subject in the Upper Basilica of Assisi; Francis, wearing the deacon’s white dalmatic at Mass, adores Jesus. All of the children and their parents saw that the Eucharist is really Jesus, and they gathered close to the Newborn King to offer Him their love and adoration just like the angels and shepherds did on that first Christmas night in Bethlehem.
Meditation of St. Francis of Assisi
Let everyone be struck with fear, the whole world tremble, and the heavens exult when Christ, the Son of the living God, is present on the altar in the hands of a priest! O wonderful loftiness and stupendous dignity! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! The Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that He hides Himself for our salvation under and ordinary piece of bread!
See the humility of God, brothers, and pour out your hearts before Him! Humble yourselves that you may be exalted by Him! Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves, that He Who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally!
