Trip Home - Remembering the Blessings

We left our hotel in Jerusalem at 1:30am (ouch) and headed for the Tel Aviv airport. During the trip we prayed morning prayer together - our last time of prayer with the entire group. As we sat in the airports (Tel Aviv, Frankfurt & Dallas), on the planes and in the bus, we got to reminisce on the last 10 days and give thanks for the many blessings we received.

This picture was taken outside of the cave of the Annunciation after our first Mass.

Here we are all posing after Mass in the Church of the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor.

Final Dinner

We left Ein Karem for a typical Israeli dinner in a Jewish neighborhood near our hotel. First comes the various salads including beets, hummus, cabbage, olives, eggplant, etc served with pita bread. Then came the fallafel and finally the meat - kabobs of chicken, beef and lamb (no pork of course!). For dessert, baklava.

Our tour guide, Dave, was joined by his wife and the director of Regina Tours, Benji. He encouraged us all to return and bring some friends. The group presented Deacon Jerry & his wife, Carole, with an olive wood carving of the Holy Family since this is the year of the family. There was much to be thankful for... but some people were anxious to start on the packing.

Ein Karem (Visitation & Birthplace of John the Baptist)

Ein Karem is just outside of Jerusalem - though it takes a while to get there in traffic - Mary probably didn't have much traffic as she traveled there on foot to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. Our first priority was the celebration of the Eucharist since they close at 5pm and we were arriving at 4:30. We celebrated our final Mass together quite quickly (25 min) but did not leave out the singing - which we were getting quite good at! After Mass we visited the cave of the Nativity of John the Baptist and looked out over the valley to view the Church of the Annunciation - perhaps we'll get to visit it on our next pilgrimage.

St. Peter Gallicantu

Our tour guide said we did not have much time for this visit - maybe 10 minutes but we ventured down the hill to the Church anyway. The lights were out in the cell where Jesus was imprisoned so we did not get to go down the steps for a visit. However, outside we were in the courtyard where St. Peter betrayed Jesus followed by the cockcrow (Denial of Peter - Lk 22:54-71). The steps that Jesus would have walked up as he was taken to prison were also visible amidst the ruins near the church.

Cenacle (w prayer for Holy Spirit)

This room, on the site of the original upper room, is very stark in decor. However, after reading scriptures pertaining to the Last Supper and Pentecost, we prayed divided into two groups and Fr. Brian and Deacon Jerry lead prayer over each person for a particular need. Many of us experienced the gift of tears during this prayer.

Dormition Church (Assumption of Mary)

This Church in one of the sites claimed to be that of Mary's Assumption into Heaven, or as they say in the East, her dormition, her falling asleep. The other site is near Ephesus. This statue is in the crypt of the main Church. We prayed here asking for Mary's intercession for us and we sang a marian hymn.

Armenian Quarter of the Old City

This picture is looking toward the Zion Gate, inside of which is the Armenian Quarter of the Old City. We met here after a free morning in which some of us rested, some packed, some shopped and some did the touring you see cataloged below. The Armenian Catholics are in union with the Latin or Roman Catholic Church. There are a few Latin Catholics in the Christian Quarter but in order to support our Armenian brethren, some of us shared a nice Armenian lunch.

Shroud of Turin Exhibit (Notre Dame Center)

After a good American style breakfast at the Notre Dame center, we visited the Shroud of Turin permanent exhibit which is housed there. It is a very professionally presented exhibit about the history of the shroud, its travels through Europe ending in Turin, questions about its authenticity and an examination of the image on the shroud. Some in our group were worn out with already busy morning but Fr. Eamon Kelly gave a great presentation almost 2 hours long and kept our interest perked. His presentation helped us delve deeper into the reality of what Jesus suffered, the incredible peace with which He offered Himself for us, and the reality of the Resurrection. For more on the shroud...
http://www.shroudforum.com/

St. Ann Church (5 Porticoes)

Sabbath Healing (Jn 5: 1-15) Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep (Gate) a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be well?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk." Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked. Now that day was a Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat." He answered them, "The man who made me well told me, 'Take up your mat and walk.'" They asked him, "Who is the man who told you, 'Take it up and walk'?" The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, "Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you." The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a Sabbath.

Temple Mount

The Dome of the Rock is built on the Temple Mount or Mount Moriah, the site of Abraham's almost sacrifice of Isaac, the site of Solomon's Temple and later Herod's Temple which was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD. The Dome of the Rock was erected between 685 and 691 CE. Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, who initiated construction of the Dome, hoped that it would “house the Muslims from cold and heat” and intended the building to serve as a shrine for pilgrims and not as a mosque for public worship. However, historians contend that the Caliph wished to create a structure which would compete with the existing buildings of other religions in the city.

Our tour guide noted that this is the 3rd holiest site for the Muslims because they believe this is where Mohammed ascended into heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel. It is the holiest site for the Jews since this is where the Holy of Holies was, the dwelling of the Ark of the Covenant. The Jews do not walk on Temple Mount because they do not want to step on the place where God made His dwelling on Earth, the Holy of Holies.
Christians are allowed on Temple Mount through one entrance but are not allowed to go into the Mosque. The tension surrounding this site underscores the tension between these 3 major religions in this "City of Peace".

Mass at Calvary

A group of 17 of us got up for a 6:30am Mass at the Catholic Chapel which is next to Mount Calvary. It was early but it was an unforgettable experience. The Mosaic just above the Altar set the focus for the Mass. This is the moment when the sacrifice of Jesus, when He offered His life on the Cross for us, is made present to us again, for our salvation and that of the world.
In the background we could hear the organ playing and the Franciscan Friars chanting as they celebrated Mass at the Holy Sepulcher. Two Sisters of Charity joined us for Mass and didn't miss a beat - their presence with us made it even more notable.

Mass at St. Savior (visit w Franciscan Friars)

After traveling back to Jerusalem from the Dead Sea, we celebrated Mass at St. Savior where Fr. Brian reminded us of the need for fresh flowing water (Jesus) to give life. Then Fr. Athanasius McCora shared insights into the efforts of Christians, the crisis of leadership, and the financial struggles to keep Holy Places as churches rather than museums.

Dead Sea - floating

Dead Sea adventures began after a Mediterranean buffet lunch and shopping for mud, minerals, and creams that would make us more attractive. Many pilgrims ventured into the cool waters to feel the dark, slimy clay and experience free-floating in salty waters.

Qumran - Dead Sea Scrolls

Qumran, located on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea became famous due to the Essenes Jewish sect (second century B.C.) who left in the caves a magnificent legacy that we now call the Dead Sea Scrolls. The first discovery began in 1947 when Bedouin shepherds found seven ancient scrolls.

Massada

We boarded the bus to the Dead Sea area of Israel. We recited morning prayer while we traveled and learned the history and terrain of the area. The plateau of Masada, a National Park, is located on the eastern fringe of the Judean Desert near the shore of the Dead Sea between En Gedi and Sodom. Its remote location and natural defenses transformed it into a fortress. King Herod (40-4BC) constructed palaces and fortifications as a desert retreat. In AD 66 the Zealots captured Masada from the Romans at the start of the First Jewish Revolt. Eventually the Romans besieged Masada with 15,000 men while the Jewish Zealots and families numbered 967. When the Romans breached the wall of the western mountainside, they found everyone dead, except for one woman and her children. All others chose death over defeat and dishonor. A potent symbol for the state and people of Israel, Israeli soldiers are sworn in here with the words, “Masada shall not fall again.” Although most visitors reach the mountain top by cable-car with magnificent views, two of our younger pilgrims chose to hike the Snake Path to the top in record time.

Holocaust Museum (Yad Vashem)

Shopping & Support of Holy Land Christians

There are about 15,000 Christians in Bethlehem and about 60,000 Muslims. There used to be more but many left due to persecution from the Muslims and the lack of jobs - which came as they were separated from Jerusalem with a wall. To enter Bethlehem we had to leave our bus and tour guide and get on another one with a Christian guide. This man shared a little about his life there, about how many families have left, but that he stayed with his family because he thought it was the right thing to do. He helped us along in our pilgrimage experience by getting us started when singing Christmas Carols and giving us a description of the sites from a perspective of living faith.
In the picture, Rami, a 22 year old, gave us a tour of his family's olive wood factory. Later we went to his uncle's store where we purchased many treasures.

Bethlehem - Church of the Nativity

This is the oldest church in the Holy Land since it was spared by the Muslims when they invaded in the 7th century. The Chapel is just above the cave where Jesus was born and placed in the manger. The tradition that the birth was in a cave is one of the oldest Christian traditions. Justin Martyr mentions it in the mid-2nd century, as does the Protoevangelium of James (also 2nd c.). Origen notes that the cave of Jesus' birth was pointed out in his day and no doubt this was the same place where the Byzantine church was erected. Bethlehem, The “House of Bread”, also known as Ephrath - means fruitful.

CHURCH OF NATIVITY - Built over the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ. Manager Square, with its merchants of carved olive wood crèches and mother-of-pearl jewelry, stands in front of one of the most ancient churches of Christendom. It is in the charge of the Greek Orthodox. Centuries ago the spacious door was reduced to the small one of today so that one must bow low to enter the spot where God humbled himself to become man. It was done for a less spiritual reason: To prevent looting invaders from riding in on horseback. The interior of the church still contains elements from the fourth-century Church of St. Helena, such as the mosaic floor beneath the wooden doors of the present level. To the right of the Orthodox sanctuary a staircase descends to the cave of the Nativity. The Silver Star beneath the Greek altar proclaims in Latin the “Here the Word was made Flesh.” To the side are the Latin altars of the Manger and the Adoration by the Magi.

In the fourth century, the emperor Constantine ordered the construction of a magnificent basilica over the cave of Christ's birth. Its four rows of columns formed five aisles, at the eastern end of which was an octagonal structure above the site of the grotto. Destroyed in the sixth century, the church was rebuilt by the emperor Justinian. The structure of that church still stands, but only a few fragments of its magnificent mosaics and golden embellishments remain.

A stairway in the sanctuary descends to the Cave of the Nativity where a silver star, glistening with the reflection of scores of oil lamps, marks the spot honored as the birthplace of Jesus. The star is inscribed with the Latin words Hic De Virgine Maria Jesus Christus Natus Est (Here, of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ was born). A few feet away is the altar honoring the Adoration of the Magi and the site of the manger where the infant Jesus lay. Surely the Son of God could have chosen whatever culture and economic strata he wanted to enter our world. We stand in wonder at the choice he made for himself, a choice that must have been for our benefit and our instruction. Since there was no place in the lodging for travelers, Mary and Joseph withdrew to a place where animals were kept, perhaps underneath or at the back of a house (Luke 2:7). The earliest tradition says the place of Jesus' birth was a cave, a natural place for keeping animals and their feed.

Church of the Nativity - St. Joseph Chapel

At the rear of the Church of the Nativity the staircase descends to other caves and chapels dedicated to the memory of the Holy Innocents, and St. Joseph, and to St. Jerome, who lived in his cave, studying and translating the Bible into Latin (known as the Vulgate). His statue is on a pedestal in the cloister in front of the church. Deacon Jerry (Jerome) Klement was rather excited about this and several times exclaimed, "Heronimus". This altar where we celebrated Mass is at the entrance to the cave where Jesus was born. Here is also the traditional place where the Angel appeared to Joseph telling him to take Mary and Jesus and flea to Egypt.

Bethlehem - Shepherd's Field

We visited the chapels in the caves where the shepherds would have kept their sheep safe and warm at night. Also, there is a chapel above the caves with glass circles in the ceiling to imitate the stars at night.

At the time of Jesus, shepherds were people of low esteem. They were poor nomads, often looked upon with suspicion, holding no social or religious sta¬tus in Israel. That they would be chosen as the first to hear the "good news of great joy" (verse 10) is surely an indication that God has "lifted up the lowly" (1:52). Jesus' birth among the poor anticipates his ministry to the poor and outcasts of Israel's society. He, whose birth was first announced to shepherd in the fields, will become the good shepherd of the sheep.