How did the cradle of the Baby Jesus come to Rome?

St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome houses wooden slats that Christian tradition identifies as part of the manger used to hold Jesus after his birth. While the relic is encased in gold and silver, the interior consists of the wooden structure used for animals in Bethlehem.

According to the Gospel of Luke, Mary and Joseph sought shelter in a cave because there was no room in the local inn. Early Christian writers, including St. Justin, identified this specific cave as the birthplace of Jesus. During the second century, Emperor Hadrian attempted to suppress devotion at the site by building a pagan grove, which inadvertently helped preserve the exact location of the cave.

Following the legalization of Christianity in the fourth century, Constantine ordered the construction of the Basilica of the Nativity directly over the cave. Tradition suggests the relic of the cradle eventually reached Rome during the seventh century.