What is a manger?
As Christians all over the world are unboxing their Nativity scenes to display for Christmas, now is as good a time as any to figuratively “unpack” one of the most important elements of the Nativity scene.
It’s common to hear the words “manger” and “stable” used interchangeably when referring to the Christmas story, but that is not quite accurate. I’m sure the word “stable” requires no explanation (though Jesus’ birthplace may have been more like a cave that housed livestock, rather than a true stable). But a manger is similar to a trough—it is a raised platform from which livestock can eat or drink. In your Nativity scene, it is the tiny box filled with hay where you eventually place the figure of baby Jesus after Christmas.
So Christ was born in a stable, but laid in a manger—as that was the closest thing to a crib to be found in a stable. Simple enough.
It is the symbology behind the manger that is a bit more complex. And I’m no theologian, so I’ll turn to some who are.
In his Sermon 189, Saint Augustine of Hippo said, “Placed in a manger, He became our food,” referencing how Jesus becomes our spiritual food in the Eucharist. Saint Anthony of Padua also recognizes the manger as a symbol of humility in a sermon on the Sunday before the start of Lent: “O Father, in your Truth (that is to say, in your Son, humbled, needy and homeless) you have humbled me. He was humbled in the womb of the Virgin, needy in the manger of the sheep, and homeless on the wood of the Cross. Nothing so humbles the proud sinner as the humility of Jesus Christ’s humanity.”
Maybe you’ve heard all these things before, but if not, that’s some food for thought (pun acknowledged, but not really intended) this Advent and Christmas.
This issue of The Catholic Echo covers the months of December and January and, as such, covers a wide variety of topics. Recognizing the Mexican holiday of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, we have a feature story in English and Spanish on Hispanic ministry across the diocese (page 17). Catholic Schools week will be January 26 to February 1 next year, so we’re celebrating with a story on the use of AI in our schools (page 13) and updated enrollment statistics (page 7). We also have information from Father John-Michael Lavelle on what the diocese has planned for the 2025 Jubilee of Hope (page 26) and a column from Monsignor Miller on the Feast of the Epiphany (page 28). Plus, much more!
A hearty “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” to you and yours!
Until next time,
Katie Wagner
