A relic of St. Francis of Assisi will be present at an outdoor live Nativity prayer service at the Shrine of St. Anthony Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order, wore a cord tied around his simple tunic as asymbol of humility. A piece of his cord – like those worn by Franciscans today – will be in Ellicott City for the shrine’s annual reenactment of the manger scene.

“We welcome all guests interested in venerating this amazing artifact of our Franciscan history,” said Friar Gary Johnson, OFM Conv., Director of the Shrine of St. Anthony. “This relic reminds us of St. Francis’s commitment to a radically simple way of living the Gospel and our call to emulate his example.”

The cord is also uniquely tied to the live Nativity as this tradition of recreating the Christmas story – complete with animals – was started by St. Francis in Greccio, Italy more than 800 years ago. At the very first service in 1223, St. Francis was wearing his cord, newly blessed by Pope Honorius III with the official founding of the Order. His cord included three knots, representing thethree vows professed by all friars: poverty, chastity and obedience.

The Shrine of St. Anthony hosts Greccio every December in honor of St. Francis’s desire for all to witness the humility of God made man. The prayer service is outdoors and, like at the initial celebration in Greccio, includes animals. Visitors can expect readings, music, time for Adoration ofthe Blessed Sacrament, and a reflection from one of the friars in residence at the Shrine.

The cord of St. Francis will be on loan from Assisi, Italy and traveling with Friar Michael Lasky, OFM Conv., the Franciscans’ global Delegate General for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. Therelic will be available for veneration at the Shrine of St. Anthony Friday Dec. 12 (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.), Saturday, Dec. 13 (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.), and after the Noon Mass at the Shrine on Sunday, Dec. 14. Friar Michael will celebrate the Mass on Sunday.