December 24 Today in Franciscan History: December 24 Today in Franciscan History: SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI SETS UP THE FIRST KNOWN CHRISTMAS NATIVITY SCENE IN GRECCIO, ITALY St. Bonaventure (1221 - 1274), a follower and contemporary of St. Francis, has given us a complete account of the night of the first live nativity scene: It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite..