An Evening Of Prayer In A Special Place

As Christians, we are invited to pray constantly and, as pilgrims, we have had many opportunities to pray in different holy places. St. Paul's exhortation to “pray continually” (1 Thes 5:17) rings ever more true for us here in this sacred place.

​We had the opportunity to meet the Franciscan friars who are in charge of the Church of the Nativity.  The Franciscan Order has been in the Holy Land since the mid-1200´s. Because they share the church with Armenian and Orthodox Christians, they have specific times in which they can celebrate Mass or have prayer services at the Grotto. The Franciscans have been very kind to our class and they shared with us one of the allotted times in which they are permitted to use the Grotto and gave us an opportunity to pray. 

The Site of the Birth of Christ

We had a Holy Hour in the Grotto where Christ was born. Where the “Word was made flesh”. Reflecting on the magnificent event that happened right there, I can’t stop thinking that we have really found the center. Being at the place were Christ, our Savior, was born connects me to the origins of my faith and vocation. Through our years in seminary formation we can get involved in many deep philosophical and theological explanations or devotional practices, but having a moment of prayer one-on-one with Jesus at the place where He was born puts everything in the right perspective. It’s like someone who is thirsty and finds the font of water where he or she will not thirst again. As the shepherds were invited by the angels to adore the incarnate Son of God, we had the same invitation, not by the angels, but by the Franciscans.

Just like the humble shepherds who came to the Grotto were sinners, we too are sinners invited to have private time with the One who has called us. We were there as people who Jesus has called without titles or honors, but rather as disciples of the Master who listen to Him with attention. What a magnificent opportunity to have the chance to spend some quiet moments in prayer without others coming in and out of the Grotto.  Our time there was peaceful and still, full of silent adoration in the flicker of the lamps that adorn the spot where Jesus was born. After we concluded our prayer and left the church, all of us noticed the beautiful nighttime sky, the shining moon, and a brilliant canopy of stars.  I couldn’t stop thinking that the sky must have looked somewhat similar on that night in which Jesus was born and entered this world. I reflected on how small we are and how humble is the One born in this poor cave, recognizing that all what we do is not for our own good but for the One who gave His life for our sins. It is not about us, but about the mission that He has entrusted to us.   

A Glimpse Inside Bethlehem Universtity

Today we had the opportunity to visit and tour the campus of Bethlehem University. As you enter the campus one immediately notices that the university stands as a beacon of hope and future for this land of Palestine. The University was founded in 1973 after the historic visit of Pope Paul VI to the Holy Land. In fact, Bethlehem University is proud to say that it is the first university established in the West Bank. This Catholic university was founded by the De La Salle Christian Brothers and they have been administering it ever since.

The population of Bethlehem University is unique. Because of cultural and social circumstances 70% of its students are Muslim and 30% are Christians. Furthermore, 75% of its student body is female, thus  leaving only 25% of the student body male. This provides an interesting feeling when one walks on campus.

One of the highlights of this visit was the opportunity to talk with five of the students. We were able to dialogue with them and ask questions ranging from what their favorite movies were to what their lives were like as students. Having the opportunity to ask them questions gave us the opportunity for us as seminarians and future pastors of souls to know some of the struggles that the future generation of this land faces.

Another of the highlights was to visit and learn the history of the glorious chapel that is the center of this campus. The Chapel is dedicated to the Divine Child of Jesus and immediately upon setting foot here one feels that this is a place of worship, a place where one can encounter the presence of God. I was very impressed by the architecture and the images that the chapel has. The images relate the history of salvation and it allows everyone who enters there to learn and know who Christ is.

Overall, this day was a blessed day. In this day we were able to encounter Christ not just in a glorious chapel but in the stories and hope of some of the students who wish to make a difference. 

Visiting the Burial Site of Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac and More!

Today we traveled to see the Tombs of the Patriarchs. This structure was built by King Herod the Great and it began as a synagogue. Today this structure still stands, but is actually shared by both the Muslims and the Jews. Each religion has a half of the building in which they hold their worship. It also holds the tombs of Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, and their wives. Seeing these ancient tombs and knowing that the Fathers of our faith were located there was a surreal moment in which it was necessary to step back and take a moment for prayer in order to acknowledge the divine plan which began thousands of years ago in order to bring us to salvation and to offer us the heavenly kingdom. 

(Underneath represents the place of Abraham's Burial)

After leaving the tombs we headed to the tree of the oaks of Mamre from Genesis 18 in which the Lord appeared to Abraham and told him that his wife Sarah would bear a son. Upon hearing of this Sarah laughed knowing that she was far past child bearing year. Once their son was born he was named Isaac which means, ‘laughter.’ This amazing site of this tree in which at its trunk the Lord gave news to Abraham that seemed out of the realm of reality was a beautiful chance to remind us that with God nothing is impossible. 

(Oak of Mamre tree which marks the place of Abraham and Sarah were visited)

This moment at the tree was especially beautiful to show all of us that so often the things that God asks of us seem like something that can never come to fruition, but through trust in the Lord He can take those who are weak and unequipped and transform them into lights in his world of darkness.

Contemplation Among Classes

In the midst of traveling to the Holy sites, we still manage to have a typical school day with classes. We begin the day with Morning Prayer and the Eucharist, the moments where we are united, in a special way, to the entire Church and are nourished by the Lord himself. We have classes: Spiritual Direction and Ecumenism. In addition to these classes, we also have time to read and connect the various scripture passages with the places we visit and experience.

Even though being on pilgrimage means some of our time is traveling and visiting the Holy sites, we also, and should, have time for contemplation and reflection, seeing God’s presence and hand in all our experiences. This aspect is what makes us pilgrims. We reflect and contemplate on our relationship with Christ, and this is what gives us the identity of pilgrims.

It is necessary to allow God to reveal himself to us during this time of experience and pilgrimage, and this aspect is crucial in our growth of a deeper relationship and union with The Lord. This is the reason we are here, to allow the Lord to touch our lives and transform us into his instruments for His people.

“The Lord is my shepherd, whom shall I fear”

For many of us this pilgrimage has been a time of transformation, and its quite amazing to know that we have begun our second week of this pilgrimage. On that note, today it was a quite interesting day, we began our day with morning prayer and Mass. Furthermore, our schedule today included a trip to Neot Kedumim which mean "Pastures of Old”. A biblical Landscape Reserve in Israel were one of the opportunities we had was to lead sheep. At one point on our walk, I decided to take an old road surrounded by the nature, the beautiful green landscape. I thought that the view from that road of the quiet landscape was a view shared by the early Christians as well as countless pilgrims to Jerusalem throughout the centuries before the great urban sprawl. The peaceful silence of that walk served as a prayerful preparation for my pilgrimage in Jerusalem.




Being a person who likes falling into habits (hopefully good ones!), it has been good to be able to establish my own little habits, within the plan of life that the pilgrimage provides for us. This development of good habits (i.e. virtues) A good “Plan of Life” will help us live balanced lives.

 

The Milk Grotto

Today, our little pilgrim community celebrated Mass at the "Milk Grotto."  Traditionally held to be the first place the Holy Family went after the birth of Christ, the grotto and church are mere meters from the hustle and bustle of Nativity Square.  Going down a few winding streets, we found ourselves outside an unassuming complex containing the site many believe to be the place that Our Lord spent the first few weeks or months of His earthly life (depending on who you ask).  

Why the "Milk" Grotto?  Legend has it that as Mary was feeding the Child some drops of her milk fell on the stones, miraculously turning them white.  The quality of the stones certainly gives a little credence to the story: they are the purest white I've seen other than high-quality marble.  As we were celebrating the Sacred Liturgy, I was struck by the humanness of the situation.  There are few things more beautiful in this life, or more human, than the relationship between a baby and new mother.  The tenderness and care that the mother shows her child, and the dependency of the child on his or her mother are enough to melt even the hardest heart.  It was these thoughts and reflections that I'd like to share with you all who are thinking about us and praying for us on this pilgrimage journey.  To see the Child and His Mother in this light is important for us, because it allows us all to relate to Christ in a way that really goes to the heart of what it means to say "et Verbum caro factum est," and the Word was made flesh.  The Baby Jesus went through much the same that all babies do, and Mary probably went through what many mothers do, like the doubts about readiness to be a mother.  This is perhaps what was most striking about the Milk Grotto: Mary and Jesus were human, too!  Jesus was like us in all things but sin, including (presumably) the discomforts of being a baby. 

I'd especially like at this juncture to thank the mothers of my classmates, and my own mother.  I think sometimes we don't vocalize our appreciation for all that you've given and sacrificed over the course of our lives.  I also wonder if we stop to contemplate the impact of our decision to pursue ordained ministry has on you, our mothers.  Thank you for all you have done and continue to do, and God bless you all.  Know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers each and every day, and that we are abundantly grateful for your presence in all our lives. 

Hic Christus Natus Est - Here Christ is Born!

       Is this really the Holy Land? The question goes through our minds as we are here after all we have seen and heard in the media.  But it's different, we see people living life as normal as normal can be; people "eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building..." (Luke 17:28) In the midst of the normalcy and the craziness we hear in the media, we see some consoling words; "Hic Christus Natus Est," ("Here Christ is born") which is inscribed on the star marking the place of the Christ's birth.

Star marking the spot of the birth of Christ

 
      This sentence is as consoling as the words of the angels to the shepherds "today in the city of David, a Savior has been born for you." (Luke 2:11)  As stressed in the homily at Mass today, it confirms the fact that Christianity is not based on ideas, but on real people, and real events. This is the story we come to follow in the Holy Land. How wonderful is it that we begin our journey in the place of His birth!

Mass being held in the cove right next to the manger where Christ was laid

  
     Going to the nativity one may think that there would be nothing more to experience, but thinking like that would neglect the real story of Christ and to miss the point.  There is much to see, hear, and experience.  Nothing can be compared to the experiencing of the same coldness the Holy family experienced that night in the nativity, or seeing the tidiness of the place in the caves that is now under the magnificent Basilica.  Most importantly, nothing compares to celebrating Mass at site of the manger, in which that Christ came to be food for the world. Words escape the reality: Here is the place of the nativity of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the King of the universe.  Here the Savior was born. This is why we need to join in the songs of the angels to praise the Lord in thanksgiving for the great gifts, including his very self, he has given us!

Savoring the Mystery of the Incarnation

Puri

      Silence. Around us, the world continues at full throttle, but today is a day of recollection in which we step back, quiet ourselves, and reflect on how good the Lord has been to us this past week. At breakfast, we are served freshly made puri, which to us seminarians is the Indian equivalent of some of the best funnel cakes we've ever eaten.

        In order to foster a spirit of reflection and gratitude, silence is to be observed throughout the whole day starting with Mass, which was celebrated at St. Jerome's tomb. It is in this very cave,  located under the Church of the Nativity, where St. Jerome wrote the Vulgate, which involved the translation of the Bible from the Hebrew and Aramiac into Latin. While having completed this monumental work around the end of the fourth century, he also wrote many beautiful letters in this cave and eventually was buried there, although his body has since been moved to Italy. 

Mosaic in St. Jerome's Study

       After Mass, the day is free for additional prayer, reading, exercise, and of course, catching up on some sleep. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament was also offered in our house chapel and we had a couple of priests available for the sacrament of confession. We were especially encouraged to reflect on Luke 2:1-20, which is the narrative of the birth of Christ, and to see how our encounter with the birthplace of Christ has transformed our hearts. St. Jerome was also a focus of our day of recollection and some of his advice was offered in the homily. We were encouraged to carefully choose our friends, to live life with joy, and to live in harmony with Jesus so that through him we might have life to the fullest.
        The tendency to get caught up with picture taking and so miss the chance to pray is a temptation pilgrims often battle. Several seminarians were able to make another visit to the grotto where Christ was born and to do a holy hour there, quietly sitting in this small space and praying. Sometimes, the other visitors, which come from all corners of the Earth, only take pictures and then move on. This time however, noticing the seminarians in quiet prayer at this holy place, they found themselves drawn to sit down or kneel for a moment and to savor the mystery of the Incarnation.

Thankful

Jesus went up the mountain and 

summoned those whom he wanted 

and they came to him.

He appointed Twelve, 

whom he also named Apostles,

that they might be with him. 

                               Mk 3:13-14

It has been just a week since we started this pilgrimage, and there has not been a day when we have failed to give praise to the Lord, for he has been so good to us. Today was a great day. We had classes all morning and then we had the afternoon off. It was a good opportunity to build fraternity among us. Some guys gathered in small groups to go out for a cup of coffee; others went out to explore the town, and others spent time praying at one of the local churches. It is pretty neat.  The fact is that we all come from different places, with different customs, languages and personal stories. Yet, despite that diversity, at the end of the day, we all give thanks to the Lord for he has appointed us to be with Him.

An Ancient Monastery and the Shepherd's Fields

I awoke as usual to the noise of a bustling city, shortly before 5:00 AM, and headed to the wonderful little chapel within our place of residence.  We are privileged to have the opportunity to adore the Blessed Sacrament each morning before we have our community prayer.  Today we were encouraged to spend some quiet time in prayer and meditation on the life of a famous desert father, Anthony of Egypt, and on the role of shepherds in Luke’s birth narrative (Luke 2:8-20), as preparation for our visit to Mar Saba and the Shepherds’ Field. 

Not long after prayer we loaded into our tour bus, and first headed out to visit a Greek Orthodox Monastery called Mar Saba.  This ancient monastery overlooks the Kidron Valley, and is so remote that we had to change from the large bus into two smaller busses that could accommodate the winding road.   This monastery dates back over 1500 years, and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited monasteries in the world.  I was in awe at the simple beginning of this community.  Saint Saba spent the first ten years living as a hermit in a cave on the steep cliffs that overlook the valley.  He began to gain followers so a monastery was eventually built.

Our next stop was to the Shepherds’ Field.  We had Mass in a cave that shepherds used dating back to the time of Jesus’ birth.  After Mass, we were able to spend about an hour walking the beautiful grounds.  I found myself marveling at the idea that God chose simple, common shepherds to first reveal the birth of his Son.

The morning was capped off with an awesome lunch which featured some traditional Middle Eastern cuisine.  We all enjoyed the wonderful food as we continued to share the blessings received during our two site visits. 

As you continue to journey with us know that you are all in our prayers.  

First Day of Classes in the Holy Land

Today was our first day of classes in the Holy Land. The day was full of beauty: a blue sky and shining sun, with Muslim chants echoing in the distance. Fr. Fuller kick-started the academic semester with our first lecture on spiritual direction, followed by a double dose of Fr. Baima for our Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue class. By far the highlight of the day was learning about Islam’s definition of a messenger when lo and behold, one appeared in our midst. One of us, played the part as he, enduring the morning chill, came to class vested in a Northface hoodie with wool scarf across his face! All of us were charmed by his big smile and joyful disposition; this place is having great effects on all of us.

Masada and En Gedi

On the way to our first site!

           After spending a few days getting to know our new home in the Holy Land, we finally ventured further out. After being on the bus for an hour we made it to our first site: Masada. While Masada doesn't have any significance in the Bible, it does have a very interesting story as part of overall Jewish history. Josephus Flavius, who commanded the Jewish forces at Galilee during the "Great Revolt", recorded the history of Masada.

The ruins of Masada

Reflecting at En Gedi

            The story of Masada is a story of great pride for the Jewish people.  It is where they  took their last stand against the Romans, being their last hold out during the "Great Revolt".  It was here that the Jewish fighters, along with their families, decided to give up their own lives instead of allowing themselves to fall into the hands of Roman slavery. Even to this day, officers of the Israeli army take their oaths at Masada to signify their pride and resolve to fight until the last moment.

            After lunch we traveled to En Gedi - the sight were David had the chance to kill King Saul (cf. 1 Sam 24), but choose mercy instead. Many of the brothers were amazed, and a feeling of reverence fell over the group as we were in a place which had played a role in salvation history. Before leaving for the Holy Land many of our professors and older brethren in the seminary had commented that after visiting sights we would read the Word of God in a new way. After being in En Gedi, 1 Samuel 24 will never be read the same again. To see the place were David and his men were, makes the scripture come alive and breathes new life into the text.

            The scriptures are coming alive for us here. They are taking on new meaning and we will never read the scriptures the same way. 

At the Feet of the Master

Fr. Baima preaching in St. Helen's Chapel

     It was a beautiful day in the Holy Land.  The rain appears as thought it is gone for the near future after a couple of soakers started our time here.  The weather is warming up.  After Morning Prayer and breakfast we went to Nativity Square.  We celebrated Mass at the St. Helen Chapel in the Church of the Nativity.  Fr. Baima was the principal celebrant and homilist.  He spoke about what it means to be a disciple that sits at the feet of the master in every part of life.  The St. Helen Chapel is small and quaint compared to the grandeur of the Basilica.

A side altar in the monastery of St. Jerome,
beneath the Church of the Nativity

     Afterward, Fr. Fuller showed us around the Basilica, pointing out some of the historical items.  The Basilica is under major renovation, so there was scaffolding everywhere.  However the artistry and beauty of the place really shined through.  We were then free to travel around, visit various places and shops. Today the Armenian Church celebrated Christmas.  There was a small parade around the Nativity Square.  Many guys are still catching up on sleep and reading.  Body clocks are still adjusting. The afternoon was quiet, a chance to settle into our weeks in the Holy Land.

Bethlehem: House of Bread

            We arrived into Israel in the morning to start our Pilgrimage.  After arriving we were blessed to start our trip by visiting the city that saw the birth of Christ.  The tour guide reminded us as we entered the town of Bethlehem of the meaning of its name: "House of Bread."  How beautiful our Christian faith is, Jesus Christ was born and later proclaims, even now, "I am the bread of life." 

Door of Humility

            Today, I had the opportunity with half of the seminarians (the other half will do the same in a few days) to visit the birth place of Christ at the Church of the Nativity.  The Church is shared with three Christian Traditions: Roman Catholics led by the Franciscans, the Greek Orthodox, and the Armenian Orthodox.  To enter the church leading to the Grotto (the place where Christ was born) you have to bow your head!  It's just like in the Mass, when we bow our heads during the Creed, a slight bow acknowledging the Incarnation of God: "and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man." 

Mass at the Manger Grotto

           Love always has the ability to capture.  And to say that I was captured by the Mass in the cave in which Christ was born is an understatement.  During the Mass, I was pushed back into a cove area because we were squeezing into a very small area with 20 men.  I later found out that where I was standing was precisely the cove where the manger was in which Christ was laid.  I couldn't help but lift up a prayer to all the families I have encountered, for this is the place where the Holy Family began and resided.  Please be assured of our prayers.

Venerating the Place Where Jesus was Born

     The Pilgrimage is just beginning, yet I believe that one of the most powerful moments of this trip will be when I was able to receive Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, in the town named "house of bread," the place he was born. 

After Mass