The Amazing Story of the Nativity Stones

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review by Larry Peterson

Nativity Stone set in Gold Cross

To the right you see a picture of a gold filled cross and in the center of the cross you will notice a white stone.  Let me share with you about that stone.  It comes from the Manger Room of the Nativity in Bethlehem.  Yes, the stone is from the exact spot in the manger where Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the Son of God,  was born on the First Christmas over 2000 years ago.  This is true and has been documented and confirmed by the Vatican.

Back in 1963 philanthropist and archaeologist, Stanley Slotkin, was visiting the Cave of the Nativity and noticed a portion of the inside wall being removed.  His host, the mayor of Bethlehem, explained to him that the site was being expanded to make another exit so as to accommodate the thousands of visitors that came every year.  Slotkin asked for permission to have the excavated stones shipped to him in America and they were.  He began making crosses, each holding a precious Nativity Stone. These crosses he gave away to many charities and to the terminally ill providing comfort and peace to many while reinforcing their faith in Jesus.

It is important to remember that these stones are from the EXACT spot where Jesus was born.  The Church of the Nativity is the oldest Christian Church in the world.  Early Christians worshipped at this exact site soon after Christ’s death and resurrection.  In 325 AD, the Emperor Constantine officially recognized this site as the true birthplace of Christ.  Imagine having an actual Nativity Stone that was there when Our Blessed Mother gave birth to our Saviour while St. Joseph stood by caring for and protecting them.

Recently, at his request, Slotkin’s family made Nativity Stones available for a wider audience.  Jewelry was created that contained Nativity Stones. This jewelry is now available to everyone while supplies last.  Each cross comes in a case with  its own numbered Certification of Authenticity.  It makes a magnificent gift and will become a treasured keepsake to all who are able to acquire one.  For further information go to the link below. For visiting this blog you are eligible to use coupon code  “Honored15“  when ordering.  Just type it in the code box at checkout.

 http://www.nativitystonescollection.com/   
 Origins of the Nativity Stones                                                                                                                                  

Pope Francis I—God's Kind of "Big Shot"

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Last week I wrote a piece commenting on why “I Love being Catholic”. This past week has validated those feelings. “Hello, Pope Francis. Nice to meet you.”  Unbelievable.

I loved it when the cardinals went into conclave. The doors were locked and sealed behind them. No communication devices of any kind were permitted. They shut themselves off from the world and I thought that the 5000 journalists, reporters, broadcast folks and whoever else wanted information must have been going crazy. Speculation was rampant and no one knew anything. What I noticed and became fixated on (as I am sure many others might have too) was the bird sitting on the smokestack. It was alone and it stayed for the longest time.  How many statues have you seen of Francis of Assisi with a bird on his finger?  Was that God communicating to all of us what was about to happen? After all, God doesn’t need a cell phone or an iPod. “Hello, Pope Francis”.

How about the inexplicable angel cloud that appeared in the crystal clear skies of south Florida around the same time the new Holy Father was introduced? It was broadcast over numerous stations and many thousands were witness to it. Was God introducing us to His new representative here on earth? I think He was. “Hello, Pope Francis”.

I believe that it is easy to be Catholic as long as you stick to the fundamentals. You follow the “Golden Rule” and love your neighbor. That is Numero Uno, Numerus Unus, Number One in any language. “Hello, Pope Francis”. Did you really refuse to live in the palatial edifice that was available to the Cardinal of Buenos Aires and choose instead to live in your own small apartment?  Did you really turn down a chauffeured limo and take the bus to work like the plain folks? Oh no, you did your own cooking too? Did you not realize that you were the highest cleric in the land of the Pampas and Gauchos? What, are you kidding me? You also  frequented the slums surrounding the city. You kissed the feet of Aids’ victims and blessed unwed mothers? What kind of “Big Shot” cleric are you? You are God’s kind of “Big Shot”, that’s what kind.

Today, most Holy Father Francis, you are the “Biggest Big Shot” cleric in the whole world. So what have you done so far. You rejected  the papal Mercedes and took a Volkswagen to the conclave hotel to claim your own bags and pay your bill with your own money. You are certainly a strange “Big Shot” Holy Father.  All you had to do was ask someone to fetch your bags and pay the bill.  In fact, you might want to check but it is possible the  Vatican has a running tab for Popes all around the Eternal City.  But you do not care about that, do you? After your introduction as our new Pope you decided to take the bus along with the other Cardinals back to the Vatican for dinner.

So, “Hello, Pope Francis I”.  “Hello” to a follower of the man from Assisi who was a  lover of the poor and downtrodden and animals.  What a way to start a Papacy. You have humbled us all and made us proud. We must all thank the Lord for sending the world His kind of “Big Shot”.