“Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” ~Luke 2:1-7, NASB

“She gave birth…and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”  Advent is a time for Christians to prepare for the birth of Christ. Part of that preparation is retelling (and remembering) the biblical stories about his birth. On the first Sunday of Advent, we invite you to join us at the Yale University Art Gallery to contemplate the initial journey of the holy family to Bethlehem, their later exile in Egypt and the challenge of finding flashes of beauty amidst trauma and displacement. We shall spend an hour viewing both modern and classical art objects. A group will gather at STM’s front desk on December 3 beginning at 12:00 for a 12:30 tour in the Yale University Art Gallery.  For more information contact: sarah.woodford@yale.edu

Image: Francesco Vanni, Rest on the Flight into Egypt, known as the Madonna della Pappa, ca. 1599. Oil on canvas. Yale University Art Gallery, Maitland F. Griggs, B.A. 1896, Fund.