Happy New Year to one and all!
Soon we will leave Bethlehem for Galilee and then Jerusalem. It has become our home of sorts... it will be hard to leave the priests, brothers, and sisters of Bettharam House who have received us here and cared for us with such warmth and hospitality. Thank you Fr. Pietro! Thank you Sr. Mukta, Sr. Josepina, Sr. Mary! (I doubt they'll ever read this! ;)
Last night they let us have a little campfire out under the starry sky... the moon wasn't up yet, so we could really see Orion, and even a few shooting stars. We heard and saw a helicopter, and wondered a little if they were watching our fire. But it kept going. I bought a kilo of chestnuts in the market to roast. I've only had them a couple times, in Portugal once, and in Zurich on the way here. It worked - I was a little worried how they'd turn out, but they were perfect. Hot and ashy from the olive-wood coals. And such beautiful coals - we could have roasted anything in their aromatic heat! It was a beautiful way to bring the month here to a close.
This morning we made a quick trip into Jerusalem to have an audience with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Michel Sabbah. He received us warmly in an audience hall, spoke to us a little, and shared some refreshments with us. He asked us for our prayers for the Christians here in the Holy Land, and for all here. He especially asked us to pray for peace. I think there is some cautious hope that the process started at Annapolis will bear fruit, but people here have seen so many promises of peace, that I think they've grown a little weary.
So, family, friends, acquaintances, visitors... fellow pilgrims all! I wish you a very Happy New Year and a joyful celebration of Mary, Mother of God tomorrow! Know that you are in my prayers today when I visit the Church of the Nativity for the last time. Please pray for us, and for peace here. Peace begins in the heart, in the soul, in God's grace working within us. Without that it will not be. Without this, there may only for a little while be the absence of war, which is not by itself true peace. May the Good Lord grant us open hearts, so that we may receive the grace and strength and peace He offers us! Come Lord Jesus.
God Bless,
Ben
Soon we will leave Bethlehem for Galilee and then Jerusalem. It has become our home of sorts... it will be hard to leave the priests, brothers, and sisters of Bettharam House who have received us here and cared for us with such warmth and hospitality. Thank you Fr. Pietro! Thank you Sr. Mukta, Sr. Josepina, Sr. Mary! (I doubt they'll ever read this! ;)
Last night they let us have a little campfire out under the starry sky... the moon wasn't up yet, so we could really see Orion, and even a few shooting stars. We heard and saw a helicopter, and wondered a little if they were watching our fire. But it kept going. I bought a kilo of chestnuts in the market to roast. I've only had them a couple times, in Portugal once, and in Zurich on the way here. It worked - I was a little worried how they'd turn out, but they were perfect. Hot and ashy from the olive-wood coals. And such beautiful coals - we could have roasted anything in their aromatic heat! It was a beautiful way to bring the month here to a close.
This morning we made a quick trip into Jerusalem to have an audience with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Michel Sabbah. He received us warmly in an audience hall, spoke to us a little, and shared some refreshments with us. He asked us for our prayers for the Christians here in the Holy Land, and for all here. He especially asked us to pray for peace. I think there is some cautious hope that the process started at Annapolis will bear fruit, but people here have seen so many promises of peace, that I think they've grown a little weary.
So, family, friends, acquaintances, visitors... fellow pilgrims all! I wish you a very Happy New Year and a joyful celebration of Mary, Mother of God tomorrow! Know that you are in my prayers today when I visit the Church of the Nativity for the last time. Please pray for us, and for peace here. Peace begins in the heart, in the soul, in God's grace working within us. Without that it will not be. Without this, there may only for a little while be the absence of war, which is not by itself true peace. May the Good Lord grant us open hearts, so that we may receive the grace and strength and peace He offers us! Come Lord Jesus.
God Bless,
Ben
5 comments:
Dear Mike and Ben,
Who is the Latin Patriarch of Jersulam?
Miko... the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Michel Sabbah, is the head of the Roman Catholic Church Israel, Jordan, and Cyprus. That is his diocese. The reason he's called the "Latin" Patriarch is because there are 13! different heads of Christian communities in Jerusalem: 6 Catholic, 5 Orthodox, 1 Anglican, and 1 Lutheran. I'm not certain, but they would probably all consider themselves "bishops," although they might not agree what that means.
Does that help? I could say a lot more, but ask about whatever part of that is most interesting to you so I don't just blabber on! Thank you for your comment.
God Bless,
-Ben
Miko... the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Michel Sabbah, is the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Israel, Jordan, and Cyprus. That is his diocese the same way Bishop Sample is the head of the Diocese of Marquette.
The reason he's called the "Latin" Patriarch is because there are 13! different heads of Christian communities in Jerusalem: 6 Catholic, 5 Orthodox, 1 Anglican, and 1 Lutheran. I'm not certain, but they would probably all consider themselves "bishops," although they might not agree what that means. The "Latin" means he's the head of those Christians in union with the Pope in Rome who use the western liturgy, canon law, theology, etc. Here, Latin is used as we would use "Roman" at home.
Does that help? I could say a lot more, but ask about whatever part of that is most interesting to you so I don't just blabber on! Thank you for your comment.
God Bless,
-Ben
Dear Mike And Ben,
Thank you for answering my question. It was very helpful.
-*MiKo)
Happy New Year!
Did you guys know the people that you stayed with before you went to Jerusalm?
Kelly from MCC
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