A Proper Seat for Emmanuel: Personal Reflections on the History and Meaning of the Christmas Crèche
This lavishly illustrated presentation will offer a personal account of the muchbeloved tradition among Christians of constructing scenes of the Nativity of Christ for use at Christmastime. The lecture will draw from Dr. DeSanctis’ own
history as a religious artist who has been designing so-called “crèche’s” for nearly thirty years.
Michael DeSanctis, Ph.D.
Dr. Michael DeSanctis is a Professor of Fine Arts and Theology at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he teaches courses in the history of art and architecture. He is the author of Building from Belief: Advance, Retreat and Compromise in the Remaking of Catholic Church Architecture (Liturgical Press, 2002) and Renewing the City of God: Catholic Architectural Reform in the United States (Liturgy Training Publications, 1994), as well as numerous popular and academic writings on the topic of contemporary Catholic Church architecture. He is a member of the Commission on Sacred Art and Architecture for Diocese of Erie and has established an international reputation for his work as a liturgical educator and design consultant.
