December 14 & 15 at all Masses
here will be a special blessing of the “Bambinelli” [Baby Jesus figurines]
All children and adults are invited to bring a figurine of the baby Jesus, particularly from their family Nativity Crèche, to be blessed at any Mass on the weekend of December 14/15.
The Blessing of the Bambinelli was first instituted by St. John Paul II. On the Third Sunday of Advent, the children of Rome were encouraged to bring the baby Jesus (Bambinelli) from their Nativity sets to St. Peter’s Square. Following the Sunday address, the Pope blessed the figurines. Pope Benedict continued this tradition and it is the prayer from Benedict’s 2008 blessing that we will use at our Mass.
Following the blessing, take your ‘bambinello’ home, put in a wrapped gift box, and place under the tree. Let this be the first gift your family opens on Christmas as together you place the blessed Christ-child figure in the manger and welcome Christmas into your homes.
