Note: this meditation was inspired by our visit to the Mount of Beatitudes a few days ago. Today we went to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached the sermon on the mount to many of his disciples. Upon arriving at the church on site, there was a painting depicting Jesus preaching. I was struck […]
Continue ReadingWe started the day with a visit to a mosque, which has the Chapel of the Ascension at its center. Here, we are praying in the chapel, at the traditional location of the ascension of Jesus. Fr Carl celebrates Mass for us in the Grotto of Gethsemane, where Jesus was arrested. Hiking down the […]
Continue ReadingWe started the day at the École Biblique, a pontifical school for biblical studies. Fr Giambrone, an Eastern Province Dominican and New Testament professor, is speaking to us in the Basilica of St Stephen, where, liturgically speaking, it is always the day after Christmas! We begin to pray the stations of the cross on […]
Continue ReadingWe started this morning at St Anne’s, built at the likely site of Mary’s birth. Our class sings the Magnificat in front of the sanctuary of St Anne’s. Trevor Peterson praying in front of the cave where Mary was born. The Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the man who, for 38 […]
Continue ReadingWe are staying at the Greek Melkite Guesthouse. The Greek Melkite Catholic Church is an eastern Church in communion with Rome. Last night, Monsignor Jule, the retired Greek Melkite Archbishop of Jerusalem, shared with us about his church and his faith life. Monsignor Jule is a gentle and wise spiritual father! This morning, we visited […]
Continue ReadingWe started the day at Magdala, the town of Mary Magdalene. Behind Fr Eamon Kelly is a mural of the woman touching the hem of Jesus’s robe. Fr Eamon explains the ecumenical attraction of this holy site. The Church of the Beatitudes, atop the mountain where Jesus preached this famous sermon. Here Fr Carl is celebrating […]
Continue ReadingToday we prayed at the Church of the Transfiguration atop Mount Tabor. The three peaks in the roof are meant to evoke the three tents that Peter, James, and John offered to erect for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Andrew Rauenbuehler lectoring at Mass in the Moses Chapel. A group photo after a pilgrim lunch! […]
Continue ReadingHello from the top of Mount Tabor! The last few days have been such a gift. They’ve been filled with lots of walking, shawarma, prayer, and fraternity. We spent a day in prayer at the Basilica of the Annunciation, which was great. The walls of the cloister outside the basilica have beautiful mosaics of Our Lady, […]
Continue ReadingJohn McFadden praying at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. This church was built over the home of Mary, a cave where the Angel Gabriel visited Mary, and where she said, “Let it be to me according to your word.”
Continue ReadingWe met up with our guide, Farah, and toured the ruins of Caesarea Maritima. Herod the Great built this city and port in the first century BC. The Muslims destroyed it in the thirteenth century to prevent crusaders from returning and using it again. Farah explains Roman toilets, which are those slits directly behind […]
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