WE SAW THE STAR...
140th "birthday" of the Missionary Benedictines
In 2023/2024, the Christmas exhibition was dedicated to the Three Kings; January 6, Epiphany, is a Christian feast day. The newborn Christ, seen before only by a few shepherds, is now revealed to the representatives of the faraway world, the magoi: wise men from the East who followed a stellar constellation via Jerusalem to Bethlehem to see the newborn King of the Jews.
"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." (Gospel of Matthew 2,11).
Later interpretation changed the wise men to three kings, according to the three gifts mentioned in the Gospel. The "Three Holy Kings" came now from different continents. In most traditions Balthasar comes from Asia, Melchior from Europe and Caspar from Africa.
According to their global origin, they were soon worshipped as patron saints of travellers as well as patrons of those men and women who bring the Gospel to other countries - the missionaries.
January 6th is also considered as the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictines' "birthday". The founder, Fr. Andreas Amrhein, consciously began monastic life at this day with a few men in the Benedictine abbey at Reichenbach (Upper Palatinate), abandoned since secularization. Three years later, they moved to Emming, later renamed St. Ottilien. In this way, January 6 is also a mission feastday.
All presented figures are part of a collection of nativity scenes of the late Br. Anselm Hartmann OSB, gathered during the last 40 years. Most crèches came as donations or from estates to St. Ottilien.
Exhibited was a selection of figures that represent all continents where Missionary Benedictines live, work and pray.
Clay figures by Vidal Gutiérrez Cordero (Peru)

Estate Br. Burkhard Bäuml OSB
Vidal Gutiérrez Cordero (*1959) is one of the most famous artists of this typical style of fired and matt-glazed nativity figures from the ceramic-producing city of Ayacucho.
His works have their origin in a long family tradition; even as a child he worked in the ceramics workshop of his grandparents. Besides religious motives, he creates scenes from everyday life in his native village.
The figures came to the nativity scenes collection from the estate of Br. Burkhard Bäuml OSB, by the "Philatelist Group St. Paulus e. V.", a club of postage stamp enthusiasts founded in 1980 with Br. Burkhard as their longstanding chairman.
The Missionary Benedictines presently have no monastery in Peru. However, since over 20 years nativity scenes from this country are commissioned via the Fairhandel (Münsterschwarzach Abbey). Direct contacts to the producers is a way of the project to support people on site by fair conditions and adequate payment.
Painted wooden figures (Tanzania)

Commissioned from Ndanda abbey
The tall figures of the kings are portrayed in traditional East African clothes; the colorful painted wood is a rarity for this country.
Ndanda abbey in southern Tanzania, founded in 1906, is one of the oldest African monasteries in the Missionary Benedictines' congregation.
Teakwood figures (Myanmar)

Steyl Mission, acquired by late Br. Anselm Hartmann OSB
All figures of this nativity scene (including Mary and Joseph) in traditional country-specific clothes are in a kneeling position, the customary Asian body posture for reverence, here to the Child in the manger. In Myanmar, former Burma, Christians are a small minority with 6% of the population.
Oriental hand-painted porcelain figures (Germany)

Clothed wooden figures (Germany)
