{"id":331911,"date":"2016-12-06T23:14:43","date_gmt":"2016-12-07T05:14:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/?p=331911"},"modified":"2016-12-13T22:33:24","modified_gmt":"2016-12-14T04:33:24","slug":"live-christmas-posada-community-first-village","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2016\/12\/live-christmas-posada-community-first-village\/","title":{"rendered":"“Live” Christmas Posada at Community First! Village"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Saturday, December 17, 2016 from 5:30 – 6:30 P.M. the Deacon Candidates of the Diocese of Austin, Mobile Loaves & Fishes<\/a> and Regina Mater Educational Community<\/a> will host a “live” Posada for the residents of Community First! Village located on 9301 Hog Eye Rd, Austin, TX 78724.\u00a0 Community First! Village is a community for the homeless and disabled with the purpose of restoring dignity to the human person, and it is a development of Mobile Loaves & Fishes.<\/p>\n

The Significance of a Posada <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Posadas at St Mary Cathedral<\/p><\/div>\n

The Spanish word \u201cPosada\u201d means \u201clodging.\u201d\u00a0 A Posada reenacts the journey Joseph and Mary took 2,000 year ago, \u201cJoseph went up from Nazareth, to the city of Bethlehem to be enrolled with Mary because he was of the house of David.\u201d (Lk. 2:4)<\/em>\u00a0 Incidentally, it was an arduous 80-mile journey for a 14-15 year old, nine month pregnant teenager.<\/p>\n

After the journey Joseph asks for \u201cposada\u201d<\/em> or \u201clodging\u201d since his spouse is about to give birth but finds none after searching all the inns, \u201cThey laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.\u201d <\/em>(Lk. 2:7) A manger is a feeding trough where animals eat; thus, fulfilling the prophet Isaiah\u2019s words, \u201cThe ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master\u2019s crib.\u201d<\/em> (1:3)<\/p>\n

The History of the Posada<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The origins of the Posada come through the nativity scene or cr\u00e8che which has been depicted in art since the fourth century. It was St. Francis of Assisi who made the scene famous when Pope Honorius III<\/a> gave permission to exhibit a \u201clive\u201d nativity. \u00a0St. Francis was a deacon, and he organized a simple nativity scene in 1223 in Greccio, Italy, in an attempt to encourage worship of Christ. \u00a0He filled a crib with hay, tied a live ox and ass near it and held Mass in front of the display where healing miracles occurred, and the infant Jesus was actually seen in the manger.<\/p>\n

The idea of commemorating the holy family’s journey to Bethlehem can be traced back to St. Ignatius Loyola and the Jesuits when they would do a Christmas nativity novena for nine successive days. \u00a0In 1580, the Spanish mystic, St. John of the Cross made a religious pageant out of the nativity proceedings, and seven years later the nine-day procession was introduced to the Aztecs in Mexico by Spanish missionaries.<\/p>\n

Celebrating the Posada<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the Posada at Community First! Village, the children will dress in costumes and act in various parts traveling from home to home as Mary rides upon a live pony while Joseph asks for “posada” (lodging).\u00a0 Joseph and Mary will travel around the property as everyone follows along praying, reading scripture, and singing Christmas carols.\u00a0 The journey will begin and end at the amphitheater with a \u201clive\u201d stable full of real animals including cows, goats, lambs, donkeys, etc. from a local petting zoo.\u00a0 A potluck celebration will occur after the Posada from 6:30 – 7:30 P.M.\u00a0 Everyone is invited to come and experience Christmas with Joseph and Mary who were the poorest of the poor (Matt.25:40)!<\/p>\n

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Community First Village<\/p><\/div>\n

Children and adults are encouraged to dress as shepherds, angels, and wise men.\u00a0 To RSVP that you are coming and sign up online<\/a> for the potluck. \u00a0See volunteers for where to park and be mindful of the young and old when doing so.\u00a0Email\u00a0rodreyna@att.net<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0snells64@hotmail.com<\/a>\u00a0with any questions.<\/p>\n