It was a big rush to complete as much work as I could yesterday afternoon - writing a couple of important letters together with the Dean, discussion on certain important topics (you'll soon know what!), then Sr. Veronica asked me to help clean the lamps of the Flagellation chapel. There're 17 in total and very high, and she got me a short ladder ...... what to do in such a situation? Stand at the top of the ladder on tiptoes to reach those bronze (very heavy) coverings. Also had to clean a Crusader period chandelier - nearly fell doing it. Then cleaned out the courtyard because the dead leaves were collecting and blocking the drains.
Then it was run run run to Grand Court hotel to meet Angelina Lim of the Singapore group. Small world - she comes from Serangoon Gardens too; says she's seen me many times (like 20 yrs back) at our parish. She's a very nice lady, and she's leading for the first time a group to the Holyland. And she brought some stuff cared-off from my mum. We had a nice chat in the lobby and then I had to rush back to the monastery for Vespers and the Novena preaching.
On the way to the hotel and back, I had to pass through Damascus Gate - and the crowd was unbelievable. All the muslims were about, vendors selling everything from food to toys to carpets lined the roads. It was very festive. And it was good to see young families coming out to enjoy - lots of babies in strollers. Minibuses leave every minute to transport people back to their villages. Everyone greeting everyone. Laughing, singing, chatting. The atmosphere was good. The sights and smells is so characteristically Middle eastern. Kebabs roasting on made-shift spits, ripe fruit stacked mountain high by the roadside, cars impatiently tooting pedestrians out of the way, the muzzein singing in the background, teens blasting off music from their blasters, and young people strutting about in their new clothes - out to be seen. I wish Christmas could also be like that. It gives a feeling of life, light something to be proud of. Unfortunately Christians are surrounded in fear here.
Fr. Vincenzo wrote to say by Egyptian standards, the offering you guys gave is alot; and so he asked if he could use some of it to help some Christian girls (not children but teens) because girls are very disadvantaged there. They need money for food and schooling; and there's enough money to sponsor a couple of girls to go through secondary school. That would alleviate their social standing and be an asset to their family in the future. I took the liberty on your behalf to say yes. I'm sure you'll agree. Anyway it's the extra money after food is bought for the children and their families this Christmas. Sponsoring a child through school will not only ensure a good future for the child, but also for the family and the village.
Tonight the HK group is coming. I'll be away for 10 days with them, so I'll wish you all a Happy and Holy Christmas now. We'll remember you all in Bethlehem and the other holy places we'll visit. Let the Word made Flesh find a place to stay in your hearts, and share this joy with others. See you all in 10 days time! And Happy New Year too.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Nice readings
Yesterday afternoon I had an extra lesson with the Missionaries of Charity - since next Monday I'll be out with the group. We had an hour's lesson on Matthew's and Luke's birth narratives and then had a little coffee and sing-a-long Christmas carols with the sisters. I can't call these sisters "penguins" because they have blue and white habits - which looks very much like the Israeli flag so I told them they're very patriotic.
Our chapel was very empty and cold for Vespers last night as most have already left Israel for their Christmas holidays. There're only 15 of us now and in the next 2 days another 5 or 6 of us will be out bringing groups. A Singapore group arrived and the leader called me; I have to go to their hotel to pick up some things tonight. Then tomorrow at midnight the HK group arrives and we'll be spending the 24th and 25th in Bethlehem.Then for the rest of the trip we'll be visiting most of the usual places (I think except one day when we actually will go into the desert to see the ruined cities of the Nabateans).
This morning was the last lesson before the Christmas holidays (10 days) but I didn't have any lessons so I cleaned out the birdcage. The weather is still cold but it stopped raining. Then there was alot of followup work on Fr Allegra's centenary celebrations. And did some photocopying as well.
Hope you found the "O" antiphon links interesting. The Office of Readings these few days are also very nice. You can visit http://www.universalis.com/readings.htm for the readings. It begins with 3 psalms and then a Bible reading and followed by a reading from an early Church Father - today is from St. Bede the Venerable who comments on the "Magnificat" of Mary. These readings especially on Christmas Day and the octave (8 days following Christmas) are very profound. Try and make your Christmas 2007 a little special and do a little of these readings!
Our chapel was very empty and cold for Vespers last night as most have already left Israel for their Christmas holidays. There're only 15 of us now and in the next 2 days another 5 or 6 of us will be out bringing groups. A Singapore group arrived and the leader called me; I have to go to their hotel to pick up some things tonight. Then tomorrow at midnight the HK group arrives and we'll be spending the 24th and 25th in Bethlehem.Then for the rest of the trip we'll be visiting most of the usual places (I think except one day when we actually will go into the desert to see the ruined cities of the Nabateans).
This morning was the last lesson before the Christmas holidays (10 days) but I didn't have any lessons so I cleaned out the birdcage. The weather is still cold but it stopped raining. Then there was alot of followup work on Fr Allegra's centenary celebrations. And did some photocopying as well.
Hope you found the "O" antiphon links interesting. The Office of Readings these few days are also very nice. You can visit http://www.universalis.com/readings.htm for the readings. It begins with 3 psalms and then a Bible reading and followed by a reading from an early Church Father - today is from St. Bede the Venerable who comments on the "Magnificat" of Mary. These readings especially on Christmas Day and the octave (8 days following Christmas) are very profound. Try and make your Christmas 2007 a little special and do a little of these readings!
Friday, December 21, 2007
"O" antiphons
OK here are some very good leads to the "O" antiphons. Check them out and reflect on them!
1. http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0374.html
2. http://www.fisheaters.com/customsadvent10.html
3. http://www.rc.net/wcc/antiphon.htm
There're lots of other websites explaining and reflecting on its meaning, so check them out. This is very Catholic tradition! And you might want to know that popularise it with the hymn "O Come O Come Emmanuel".
And correction: It's 4 weddings and ... not 3!
1. http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0374.html
2. http://www.fisheaters.com/customsadvent10.html
3. http://www.rc.net/wcc/antiphon.htm
There're lots of other websites explaining and reflecting on its meaning, so check them out. This is very Catholic tradition! And you might want to know that popularise it with the hymn "O Come O Come Emmanuel".
And correction: It's 4 weddings and ... not 3!
From Auden to "O" antiphons
We just had a "raduno" of the professors, students and workers at the Sala Crociata (Crusader Hall) to exchange Christmas greetings. Those young students really set up the place - Fr. Carmelo (archaeology professor who came to Israel as a seminarian in 1992 with me - I was already a priest) said. "Remember back in our time when all we had were music sheets to sing and a few potato chips?" yes it was 15 years back and we were poorer and simpler than the modern generation. So we had songs in various languages, a speech by the Dean and then chatting and eating - nice fancy panettone, and lots of other goodies. Wanted to "ta pao" some up to my room but got some very strange looks ..... ooops. Well not all the students came because 50% had already flown back home for Christmas. Same with the professors. But about 60 people showed up so that's not bad. Some of us staying back will have to guide groups.
This morning I woke up at 3.30am and couldn't sleep. There was a bright light coming through the chinks of the heavy wooden blinds - hhmmm aliens must have landed. Pulled up the blinds and opened the windows and I couldn't believe it - the Golden Dome of the Rock mosque was missing. There were bright lights all over the mosque esplanade, bright bright bright, but no mosque! I thought they must be filming a trick with David Copperfield. So I went up to the roof to get a better look. Aaahh then I saw that the whole of the Mt of Olives and the Kidron Valley was gone too! Fog! It was really heavy fog. And the bright lights from the Mosque esplanade was reflected all around and this made the entire place very bright but nothing to see. Real weird. The muslims are spending the 3rd day of their feast praying overnight in the mosque. It's cold and wet. Raining for the entire afternoon and night. I have to wear a woollen cap to keep my head warm.
Yesterday afternoon we also set up the decorations for the house. Marco the Mexican and I fixed up the refectory. I insisted on keeping it simple - none of those gaudy tinsel (and there're lots of it in the boxes). Spent over an hour to do it - but I like it. Simple and nice. The rest of the guys had to do the main entrance and the upper floor. And after all these decorations, there's hardly anyone to enjoy it. Everyone will be going off this weekend and leaving only 8 friars in the house. Hmmmm.
And I am receiving good news from some of you guys - two weddings and one entering religious life (no not quite 3 weddings and a ..... although last week I had this strange urge to reread W.H. Auden's "Stop all the clocks". Really powerful images. Can't remember this poem? It was read at the homily of the funeral in the movie. Haven't seen the movie? Go buy a DVD for goodness sake!) So at least some of us are really happy! Too bad I'm not around to share your happiness; like I explained I can't leave Israel and come to HK to celebrate your wedding masses or entry to religius life, much as I love to - like in the case of Sandy whom I saw grew up these last 21 years in HK.
For your reflection you should think about those beautiful "O" antiphons that we are singing at every evening prayer (also for the Alleluia verse at Mass). They are very well written and reflect the theological concepts of the 8th century Church regarding the coming of the Messiah by using Old Testament images to describe Jesus - like "Wisdom", "Key of David", "Orient", "Root of Jesse" etc... Will give you some leads on this.
Meanwhile for those too lazy to check out W.H.Auden's "Stop all the clocks" here it is:
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
This morning I woke up at 3.30am and couldn't sleep. There was a bright light coming through the chinks of the heavy wooden blinds - hhmmm aliens must have landed. Pulled up the blinds and opened the windows and I couldn't believe it - the Golden Dome of the Rock mosque was missing. There were bright lights all over the mosque esplanade, bright bright bright, but no mosque! I thought they must be filming a trick with David Copperfield. So I went up to the roof to get a better look. Aaahh then I saw that the whole of the Mt of Olives and the Kidron Valley was gone too! Fog! It was really heavy fog. And the bright lights from the Mosque esplanade was reflected all around and this made the entire place very bright but nothing to see. Real weird. The muslims are spending the 3rd day of their feast praying overnight in the mosque. It's cold and wet. Raining for the entire afternoon and night. I have to wear a woollen cap to keep my head warm.
Yesterday afternoon we also set up the decorations for the house. Marco the Mexican and I fixed up the refectory. I insisted on keeping it simple - none of those gaudy tinsel (and there're lots of it in the boxes). Spent over an hour to do it - but I like it. Simple and nice. The rest of the guys had to do the main entrance and the upper floor. And after all these decorations, there's hardly anyone to enjoy it. Everyone will be going off this weekend and leaving only 8 friars in the house. Hmmmm.
And I am receiving good news from some of you guys - two weddings and one entering religious life (no not quite 3 weddings and a ..... although last week I had this strange urge to reread W.H. Auden's "Stop all the clocks". Really powerful images. Can't remember this poem? It was read at the homily of the funeral in the movie. Haven't seen the movie? Go buy a DVD for goodness sake!) So at least some of us are really happy! Too bad I'm not around to share your happiness; like I explained I can't leave Israel and come to HK to celebrate your wedding masses or entry to religius life, much as I love to - like in the case of Sandy whom I saw grew up these last 21 years in HK.
For your reflection you should think about those beautiful "O" antiphons that we are singing at every evening prayer (also for the Alleluia verse at Mass). They are very well written and reflect the theological concepts of the 8th century Church regarding the coming of the Messiah by using Old Testament images to describe Jesus - like "Wisdom", "Key of David", "Orient", "Root of Jesse" etc... Will give you some leads on this.
Meanwhile for those too lazy to check out W.H.Auden's "Stop all the clocks" here it is:
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
More thanks from Musky
Thanks to Charles & Charlyn for their gift to Musky. And Gigi for her help to the Jan. pilgrimage group.
The total has come to US$4,270 & HK$68.80. In 2 days time a group from HK will come to Israel and give it to me and I'll hand it to our Treasurer who'll find a way to transfer it to Musky. We'll probably pass it to any friar who's going to Cairo these few weeks.
Thanks for giving the Musky kids something to smile about this Christmas. It's not toys they want; but just a meal to fill their stomachs.
Merry Christmas.
The total has come to US$4,270 & HK$68.80. In 2 days time a group from HK will come to Israel and give it to me and I'll hand it to our Treasurer who'll find a way to transfer it to Musky. We'll probably pass it to any friar who's going to Cairo these few weeks.
Thanks for giving the Musky kids something to smile about this Christmas. It's not toys they want; but just a meal to fill their stomachs.
Merry Christmas.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Why?
Yes as some of you wrote to ask if I was feeling too down to write my blog, it didn't take too much to guess that one. It's tough to let go the boys when I've raised them up since 6 weeks old. Fr. Niccacci has been trying to talk to me over this; but it doesn't take away the pain of knowing someone else is making the decisions far away on something very dear to me.
The weather is reflecting my mood - rain in the mornings and dark, overcast skies throughout the day. Wanted to go out for a walk several times but the weather is not right. Don't want to be caught in the rain. And besides the streets in my area is packed with muslims coming to pray at the Dome of the Rock. Found out it's the feast of the sacrifice of Ishmael (not Isaac as we know it) by Abraham. Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca (the Haj) during this time; others come to Jerusalem.
Today to shake off this horrible feeling, I decided to clean out my room. 3 hours in all. Found a catholic website broadcasting Christmas carols on the Internet: listening to it now. Not helping though - it's making me more homesick for the boys.
Yesterday the younger guys set up the crib and christmas tree. Saw the crib - it's in the refectory so you can't miss it. But somehow the manger was covered with a piece of paper. Everyone's asking why. No answers so far. And the tree? Heard it was somewhere in the house but haven't seen it yet. This morning at breakfast the fathers were saying that something is missing in the crib - rex and regis. They told me to put their photos in the crib so the Nativity scene would look complete. Aiya.
Now that Sr. Pieta is gone, Sr. Jeronima has to wash all the dishes by herself. A couple of us decided to stay back after dinner to help her. It's 9pm by the time we finish washing up the stuff. I sleep straight away after that. The nights are much colder now, so my small "hot-air fan" is working overtime.
Today's Gospel reading about the angel telling Joseph to marry Mary got me thinking what if Joseph didn't want to obey? I felt Joseph must have been like me now - not knowing why some things are happening. Scratching the head doesn't help especially if you're bald. Maybe sometimes its better not to know why.
The weather is reflecting my mood - rain in the mornings and dark, overcast skies throughout the day. Wanted to go out for a walk several times but the weather is not right. Don't want to be caught in the rain. And besides the streets in my area is packed with muslims coming to pray at the Dome of the Rock. Found out it's the feast of the sacrifice of Ishmael (not Isaac as we know it) by Abraham. Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca (the Haj) during this time; others come to Jerusalem.
Today to shake off this horrible feeling, I decided to clean out my room. 3 hours in all. Found a catholic website broadcasting Christmas carols on the Internet: listening to it now. Not helping though - it's making me more homesick for the boys.
Yesterday the younger guys set up the crib and christmas tree. Saw the crib - it's in the refectory so you can't miss it. But somehow the manger was covered with a piece of paper. Everyone's asking why. No answers so far. And the tree? Heard it was somewhere in the house but haven't seen it yet. This morning at breakfast the fathers were saying that something is missing in the crib - rex and regis. They told me to put their photos in the crib so the Nativity scene would look complete. Aiya.
Now that Sr. Pieta is gone, Sr. Jeronima has to wash all the dishes by herself. A couple of us decided to stay back after dinner to help her. It's 9pm by the time we finish washing up the stuff. I sleep straight away after that. The nights are much colder now, so my small "hot-air fan" is working overtime.
Today's Gospel reading about the angel telling Joseph to marry Mary got me thinking what if Joseph didn't want to obey? I felt Joseph must have been like me now - not knowing why some things are happening. Scratching the head doesn't help especially if you're bald. Maybe sometimes its better not to know why.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
*Ping!*
The Novena for Christmas started for us on Sunday evening. That means every evening at 7.20 this week we sing vespers and someone will give a sermon. Well it's pretty cold in the chapel at that time, and many of us are covered with thick woolen clothes from head to toe. Not a very comfortable way to pray or sit for 40 minutes listening to a sermon - you know when wool gets a little hot, it starts tickling the skin; so you see many guys twitching and scratching. And of course it's time for the "O" antiphons which we sing in latin. Don't know what that is? Check up the internet!!! And Mass every morning has a sermon preached too. The new superior is really on his toes in perking up this Advent religious exercise.
Have been reading, but yesterday the Dean called me up to say we have to do something for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Fr Allegra, the founder of the HK Studium Biblicum. He also taught here in Jerusalem and some of the older fathers here were his students. So several of us were commissioned to write articles (including me) and I also have to translate them into english. Some very interesting stuff showed up - mind you these guys here are serious. When they write an article, they really research! Found out that Fr Allegra was in the Holyland as early as 1940 before he came to China, and after staying here in the Jerusalem Studium Biblicum (where I'm now staying), he got the inspiration to start a similar institute in China.
But I spent the night reading Fr Niccacci's new book on Wisdom. Interesting new insights - would love to challenge some of his views but not just yet .... better read more and pack more ammunition before you face the big gun!
While working on the computer this morning, Matthew my Indian classmate flopped onto my mattress (I have no bed remember?). He was very upset over the progress of his thesis. So I suggested going out for a walk to cool him down. It was a tough decision for me as I really have to complete a tonne of work. But Matthew needed to talk, so we went out. We actually planned to come back for lunch but as things turned out we got stuck out in town and eventually spent 4 hours in the New City. We both had shwarma (lamb roasted on a spit and eaten in a pitta bread - remember that's my favourite dish; besides maashi waara ai'nab which is stuffed vine leaves) out in Ben Yehuda (swanky open air cafe/mall). I think Matthew felt better when we got back. But how we had to struggle down Damascus Gate to get back home. That's the gate where St. Paul would have left to go persecute the Christians in Damascus (read Acts). Apparently it is a muslim feast today and tomorrow and the muslim crowd that went to the Dome of the Rock mosque to pray was incredible. No wonder the muezzins were singing throughout the night - yes, I mean literally singing throughout the night. But this ones turned the volume down, and the chanting was very melodious so I enjoyed it.
One of the penguins left for good - Sr Pieta who looks like old mother Hubbard. The poor thing was constantly sick for the past months, not eating and therefore no strength to work. I helped her a couple of times after dinner to wash the dishes because I saw she just wasn't functioning: she can't take the Jerusalem climate (not just physical but social/political/religious). She was crying when I went to the kitchen to say goodbye. I'm sure she'll be much happier back in Poland. When I got back to my room, I remembered that Jean Paul can make her smile - now this is our private joke because I always say whenever Jean Paul shows up, Sr Pieta goes "ping!" with a smile with flashing stars on her teeth like in advertisements! Jean Paul just cracks up each time I say that - so yesterday I dragged him down to the kitchen to say goodbye to Sr Pieta. *Ping!*
Hmmmm I've been busy making people happy these two days but I've been feeling very down because of Rex and Regis. There's no hope now.
Have been reading, but yesterday the Dean called me up to say we have to do something for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Fr Allegra, the founder of the HK Studium Biblicum. He also taught here in Jerusalem and some of the older fathers here were his students. So several of us were commissioned to write articles (including me) and I also have to translate them into english. Some very interesting stuff showed up - mind you these guys here are serious. When they write an article, they really research! Found out that Fr Allegra was in the Holyland as early as 1940 before he came to China, and after staying here in the Jerusalem Studium Biblicum (where I'm now staying), he got the inspiration to start a similar institute in China.
But I spent the night reading Fr Niccacci's new book on Wisdom. Interesting new insights - would love to challenge some of his views but not just yet .... better read more and pack more ammunition before you face the big gun!
While working on the computer this morning, Matthew my Indian classmate flopped onto my mattress (I have no bed remember?). He was very upset over the progress of his thesis. So I suggested going out for a walk to cool him down. It was a tough decision for me as I really have to complete a tonne of work. But Matthew needed to talk, so we went out. We actually planned to come back for lunch but as things turned out we got stuck out in town and eventually spent 4 hours in the New City. We both had shwarma (lamb roasted on a spit and eaten in a pitta bread - remember that's my favourite dish; besides maashi waara ai'nab which is stuffed vine leaves) out in Ben Yehuda (swanky open air cafe/mall). I think Matthew felt better when we got back. But how we had to struggle down Damascus Gate to get back home. That's the gate where St. Paul would have left to go persecute the Christians in Damascus (read Acts). Apparently it is a muslim feast today and tomorrow and the muslim crowd that went to the Dome of the Rock mosque to pray was incredible. No wonder the muezzins were singing throughout the night - yes, I mean literally singing throughout the night. But this ones turned the volume down, and the chanting was very melodious so I enjoyed it.
One of the penguins left for good - Sr Pieta who looks like old mother Hubbard. The poor thing was constantly sick for the past months, not eating and therefore no strength to work. I helped her a couple of times after dinner to wash the dishes because I saw she just wasn't functioning: she can't take the Jerusalem climate (not just physical but social/political/religious). She was crying when I went to the kitchen to say goodbye. I'm sure she'll be much happier back in Poland. When I got back to my room, I remembered that Jean Paul can make her smile - now this is our private joke because I always say whenever Jean Paul shows up, Sr Pieta goes "ping!" with a smile with flashing stars on her teeth like in advertisements! Jean Paul just cracks up each time I say that - so yesterday I dragged him down to the kitchen to say goodbye to Sr Pieta. *Ping!*
Hmmmm I've been busy making people happy these two days but I've been feeling very down because of Rex and Regis. There's no hope now.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Addendum
You may write to Fr Vincenzo at the following address. But please, NEVER send money or cheques to him directly as it will be stolen.
Vincenzo Ianniello
Franciscan Centre of Christian Oriental Studies
Shareh el-Bendaqah,
12 (Sh. Port Said - Bein es-Surein)
Atabah - POB 381
11511 Musky - Cairo - EGYPT
Fr. Vincenzo reads english but I doubt he'll reply in english.
Vincenzo Ianniello
Franciscan Centre of Christian Oriental Studies
Shareh el-Bendaqah,
12 (Sh. Port Said - Bein es-Surein)
Atabah - POB 381
11511 Musky - Cairo - EGYPT
Fr. Vincenzo reads english but I doubt he'll reply in english.
Fr. Vincenzo (english version)
(Words in brackets are my additions for the sake of explanation).
Dear Lionel
Please thank the people who have given the amount that you will send me for the poor.
15 years ago I began (in Cairo) a programme of adoption from overseas. A lady had asked me if she could adopt a child (She gives money to support the child who remains in Cairo with his/her family). I found a little girl of 5 yrs; now she’s married. With time, the number of children rose to 220.
I then left for Jerusalem (transfer) and handed everything to another friar; but he decided for various reasons that I will not discuss here, to stop the programme.
I closed the doors. But now you came knocking at my window with an offer to help the poor. I cannot say “no”. I have seen the difficulties of the Holyland – but the reality of Cairo is very much worse. It is difficult to say “no” when you find children dressed in rags; who at Christmas, do not expect toys but only the possibility to eat a piece of meat and chocolate. A lady who works as a cleaner in a school collects leftover bread, cuts away the dirty parts and gives to these poor children who have nothing to eat.
I not only need the help of your benefactors, but also their prayers that I may find the time and courage to restart this programme that requires alot of hardwork and patience. A girl during catechism class said that if God really exists, then He would remember the poor and not leave them with a future of certain poverty. I tried to tell her, among other things, that even Our Lord experienced poverty. He meets the poor, but He wants to be helped; and the help that each one of us gives to Him with love, we do it so that others may have the bare necessities in order to live; not luxuries. If I do not work hard, then in a certain sense my words to this girl would be false.
I know that Our Lord as a child needed a mother who helped him; and as an adult needed a mother to console him with her presence at the foot of the Cross. It seems that now the Father needs us to realize His plans.
I remember with affection your benefactors even if I do not know them. I know that my affections count for nothing. What is important is that Our Lord, born in Bethlehem, remembers them all. What we leave in His hands is a sure treasure that will not rot.
I apologise for not writing you a poetic, moving or theological letter. I am not a poet, and after much dreaming, I am left with looking at realities; leaving poetry for another occasion.
To your benefactors I simply say “Thank you” and best wishes for a Christmas that brings them and their families above all peace, serenity and the hope of Christ.
Merry Christmas to you too.
Vincenzo
Dear Lionel
Please thank the people who have given the amount that you will send me for the poor.
15 years ago I began (in Cairo) a programme of adoption from overseas. A lady had asked me if she could adopt a child (She gives money to support the child who remains in Cairo with his/her family). I found a little girl of 5 yrs; now she’s married. With time, the number of children rose to 220.
I then left for Jerusalem (transfer) and handed everything to another friar; but he decided for various reasons that I will not discuss here, to stop the programme.
I closed the doors. But now you came knocking at my window with an offer to help the poor. I cannot say “no”. I have seen the difficulties of the Holyland – but the reality of Cairo is very much worse. It is difficult to say “no” when you find children dressed in rags; who at Christmas, do not expect toys but only the possibility to eat a piece of meat and chocolate. A lady who works as a cleaner in a school collects leftover bread, cuts away the dirty parts and gives to these poor children who have nothing to eat.
I not only need the help of your benefactors, but also their prayers that I may find the time and courage to restart this programme that requires alot of hardwork and patience. A girl during catechism class said that if God really exists, then He would remember the poor and not leave them with a future of certain poverty. I tried to tell her, among other things, that even Our Lord experienced poverty. He meets the poor, but He wants to be helped; and the help that each one of us gives to Him with love, we do it so that others may have the bare necessities in order to live; not luxuries. If I do not work hard, then in a certain sense my words to this girl would be false.
I know that Our Lord as a child needed a mother who helped him; and as an adult needed a mother to console him with her presence at the foot of the Cross. It seems that now the Father needs us to realize His plans.
I remember with affection your benefactors even if I do not know them. I know that my affections count for nothing. What is important is that Our Lord, born in Bethlehem, remembers them all. What we leave in His hands is a sure treasure that will not rot.
I apologise for not writing you a poetic, moving or theological letter. I am not a poet, and after much dreaming, I am left with looking at realities; leaving poetry for another occasion.
To your benefactors I simply say “Thank you” and best wishes for a Christmas that brings them and their families above all peace, serenity and the hope of Christ.
Merry Christmas to you too.
Vincenzo
Fr Vincenzo writes (in italian)
(English version coming up soon).
Il Cairo 16 dicembre 2007
Caro Lionel,
Ti prego di ringraziare le persone che hanno messo a disposizione la somma che mi invierai a favore dei poveri.
Oltre quindici anni fa cominciai per caso l’attività delle adozioni a distanza. Una signora mi chiese di adottare un bambino. Trovai una ragazzina di cinque anni, ora già sposata. Con il tempo le adozioni sono arrivate a oltre duecentoventi.
Lasciando Gerusalemme consegnai tutto ad un altro frate e decisi di non continuare più questa attività, per diversi motivi che non sto qui a spiegare.
Ho chiuso la porta e ora, come si suol dire, vieni tu dalla finestra con la tua offerta per i poveri. Non posso dire di no! Ho visto molte difficoltà in Terra Santa. La realtà del Cairo è molto peggiore. È difficile dire di no quando ti trovi davanti bambini che vanno vestiti con stracci, che a Natale non si aspettano giocattoli, ma la possibilità di mangiare un pezzo di carne e una cioccolata. Una signora che lavora come bidella in una scuola raccoglie i panini che i ragazzi lasciano in giro, taglia via la parte rovinata e il resto lo da a chi non ha da mangiare.
Ho bisogno non solo dell’aiuto dei tuoi benefattori, ma anche delle loro preghiere perché trovi il tempo e il coraggio di riprendere quest’attività che richiede impegno e pazienza. Una ragazza durante il catechismo disse che se il Signore esistesse veramente si ricorderebbe anche dei poveri e non lascerebbe che come loro prospettiva futura abbiano solo la certezza della povertà. Provai a dirle, tra le altre cose, che anche il Signore ha fatto esperienza di una sua povertà. Ora egli va incontro ai poveri, ma vuole essere aiutato e l’aiuto glielo diamo ognuno di noi con la nostra carità quando cerchiamo di fare in modo che tutti abbiano non il sovrappiù, ma il necessario per vivere. Se non mi impegnassi almeno un po’ in questo senso tutte le mie parole che dissi a quella ragazza sarebbero false.
So che il Signore da bambino ha avuto bisogno di una madre che lo assitesse e da adulto, sulla croce, ha avuto bisogno di una madre che lo consolasse anche con la sua presenza. Sembra che anche il Padre ha bisogno di noi per realizzare i suoi progetti.
Ricordo con affetto i tuoi benefattori anche se non li conosco. So che il mio affetto vale poco. Importante che sia il Signore, nato a Betlemme, a ricordarsi di loro. Ciò che mettiamo nelle sue mani è un tesoro sicuro che non si corrompe.
Mi scuso se non ti scrivo una lettera poetica, commovente e teologica. Non sono un poeta e dopo aver molto sognato, mi limito a guardare la realtà, lasciando la poesia per altre occasioni.
Ai tuoi benefattori di semplicemente grazie e augura loro un Natale che porti soprattutto la pace, la serenità e la speranza di Cristo a loro e alle loro famiglie.
Buon Natale anche a te.
Vincenzo
Il Cairo 16 dicembre 2007
Caro Lionel,
Ti prego di ringraziare le persone che hanno messo a disposizione la somma che mi invierai a favore dei poveri.
Oltre quindici anni fa cominciai per caso l’attività delle adozioni a distanza. Una signora mi chiese di adottare un bambino. Trovai una ragazzina di cinque anni, ora già sposata. Con il tempo le adozioni sono arrivate a oltre duecentoventi.
Lasciando Gerusalemme consegnai tutto ad un altro frate e decisi di non continuare più questa attività, per diversi motivi che non sto qui a spiegare.
Ho chiuso la porta e ora, come si suol dire, vieni tu dalla finestra con la tua offerta per i poveri. Non posso dire di no! Ho visto molte difficoltà in Terra Santa. La realtà del Cairo è molto peggiore. È difficile dire di no quando ti trovi davanti bambini che vanno vestiti con stracci, che a Natale non si aspettano giocattoli, ma la possibilità di mangiare un pezzo di carne e una cioccolata. Una signora che lavora come bidella in una scuola raccoglie i panini che i ragazzi lasciano in giro, taglia via la parte rovinata e il resto lo da a chi non ha da mangiare.
Ho bisogno non solo dell’aiuto dei tuoi benefattori, ma anche delle loro preghiere perché trovi il tempo e il coraggio di riprendere quest’attività che richiede impegno e pazienza. Una ragazza durante il catechismo disse che se il Signore esistesse veramente si ricorderebbe anche dei poveri e non lascerebbe che come loro prospettiva futura abbiano solo la certezza della povertà. Provai a dirle, tra le altre cose, che anche il Signore ha fatto esperienza di una sua povertà. Ora egli va incontro ai poveri, ma vuole essere aiutato e l’aiuto glielo diamo ognuno di noi con la nostra carità quando cerchiamo di fare in modo che tutti abbiano non il sovrappiù, ma il necessario per vivere. Se non mi impegnassi almeno un po’ in questo senso tutte le mie parole che dissi a quella ragazza sarebbero false.
So che il Signore da bambino ha avuto bisogno di una madre che lo assitesse e da adulto, sulla croce, ha avuto bisogno di una madre che lo consolasse anche con la sua presenza. Sembra che anche il Padre ha bisogno di noi per realizzare i suoi progetti.
Ricordo con affetto i tuoi benefattori anche se non li conosco. So che il mio affetto vale poco. Importante che sia il Signore, nato a Betlemme, a ricordarsi di loro. Ciò che mettiamo nelle sue mani è un tesoro sicuro che non si corrompe.
Mi scuso se non ti scrivo una lettera poetica, commovente e teologica. Non sono un poeta e dopo aver molto sognato, mi limito a guardare la realtà, lasciando la poesia per altre occasioni.
Ai tuoi benefattori di semplicemente grazie e augura loro un Natale che porti soprattutto la pace, la serenità e la speranza di Cristo a loro e alle loro famiglie.
Buon Natale anche a te.
Vincenzo
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Defects and all ....
Apparently it rained last night but no one realised it. This morning the roads and terraces are all wet and the sky is very clear and the sun is out in full force. many of the professors and students want to go out; just to take a break. Me too. Want to get away from the books just for today - clear the mind by taking a walk outside in the New City, or maybe a nearby park.
This morning I concelebrated Mass at the Flagellation Chapel instead of the Holy Sepulchre; was feeling really tired and bogged down by loads of work. Fr Bissoli gave a nice sermon which I'm adapting here for you. The theme was "waiting" in Advent; but what are we waiting for? John the Baptist expected a Messiah to come and judge the world; but Jesus corrected this by showing that the Messiah comes to treat everyone with great patience and bringing everyone to wholeness (therefore 1st reading Isaiah talks about blind seeing again, lame walking etc... which is repeated in the Gospel). The Messiah is coming not to judge and condemn but to bring to fullness everything that is suffering from defects; to make everything whole and perfect; and he does this with great patience (2nd reading Letter of St James). So think about that - what are the areas that you feel is defective and requires wholeness? Are we patient with others' defects? Critical? or helping them overcome it?
This morning I concelebrated Mass at the Flagellation Chapel instead of the Holy Sepulchre; was feeling really tired and bogged down by loads of work. Fr Bissoli gave a nice sermon which I'm adapting here for you. The theme was "waiting" in Advent; but what are we waiting for? John the Baptist expected a Messiah to come and judge the world; but Jesus corrected this by showing that the Messiah comes to treat everyone with great patience and bringing everyone to wholeness (therefore 1st reading Isaiah talks about blind seeing again, lame walking etc... which is repeated in the Gospel). The Messiah is coming not to judge and condemn but to bring to fullness everything that is suffering from defects; to make everything whole and perfect; and he does this with great patience (2nd reading Letter of St James). So think about that - what are the areas that you feel is defective and requires wholeness? Are we patient with others' defects? Critical? or helping them overcome it?
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Elijah lost his head
Saturday. The rest of the students are having exams. now with Fr Cortese. I was doing some writing on the computer when Jean Paul knocked on my door - I forgot he's supposed to cut my hair this morning. The electric shaver Minnie got me is doing a good job. Found out that almost all the students also have their own shavers as its alot cheaper doing it yourself or another student to help you. Almost 70% of the students here have a crewcut, like really very short. It saves on money.
My headache subsided somewhat when I took another brand of aspirins (Neosed) that Cecilia Cavero left me. It worked. Wihtin 30 min. the headache was gone. That made it possible for me to go out to dinner - one of the rare occassions I get invited!
Well the hosts were Alexander and Gabriella Frolich; a young couple with a 2 yr old son called Emmanuel ("Ninel" for short since that's all he can manage to say). Alex is a free lance photographer and Gabriella is a journalist for Vatican Radio. We had chinese noodles (yes they managed to get white rice noodles from a specialised store far out in the New City!) and chatted alot about the Bible as they had many questions. They're what I call the "John Paul generation" - grew up in the pontificate of JP II and fully immersed in the spirituality he developed for the young Catholics through World Youth Days etc. After dinner, Gabriella played the guitar in a prayer session and then sent Emmanuel to sleep, and we continued chatting about the Bible. By the time I got home it was 10.30pm - pretty late for my standards but it was good to have met up with them again. Very serious Catholics - they meet up once a week with a Dominican priest to discuss theology and spirituality; go for daily Mass in the nearby sanctuaries (Holy Sepulchre is just round the corner) and have a little altar in their apartment where they teach Ninel to pray.
This little encounter got me thinking about today's readngs at Mass. It's all about the prophet Elijah. The belief was that Elijah was/is preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah and the Gospel said this Elijah is none other than John the Baptist himself. Well he sure gave his all in preparing for the coming for the Messiah - he had his head chopped off for it! I wonder if that's our attitude in preparing ourselves. Imagine the students here preparing for the exams the whole week, skipping meals, staying up late in the night etc. Lots of sacrifice. Or Alex preparing dinner the whole evening, thus giving up play time with Ninel. I guess when we feel if it's something worth preparing for, we'd sacrifice some other things in place of the preparation. The problem is not whether we're ready to sacrifice - we're all ready for that. Rather its what we think is WORTH sacrificing for - it boils back to our priorities, our value systems and of course our spirituality. If you make a list today of what you're willing to sacrifice in order to spend time and energy in preparing for it, I wonder how far up the list is God, or the Sacraments, or Catechism, or Faith formation, or prayer. Wanna lose your head over it?
My headache subsided somewhat when I took another brand of aspirins (Neosed) that Cecilia Cavero left me. It worked. Wihtin 30 min. the headache was gone. That made it possible for me to go out to dinner - one of the rare occassions I get invited!
Well the hosts were Alexander and Gabriella Frolich; a young couple with a 2 yr old son called Emmanuel ("Ninel" for short since that's all he can manage to say). Alex is a free lance photographer and Gabriella is a journalist for Vatican Radio. We had chinese noodles (yes they managed to get white rice noodles from a specialised store far out in the New City!) and chatted alot about the Bible as they had many questions. They're what I call the "John Paul generation" - grew up in the pontificate of JP II and fully immersed in the spirituality he developed for the young Catholics through World Youth Days etc. After dinner, Gabriella played the guitar in a prayer session and then sent Emmanuel to sleep, and we continued chatting about the Bible. By the time I got home it was 10.30pm - pretty late for my standards but it was good to have met up with them again. Very serious Catholics - they meet up once a week with a Dominican priest to discuss theology and spirituality; go for daily Mass in the nearby sanctuaries (Holy Sepulchre is just round the corner) and have a little altar in their apartment where they teach Ninel to pray.
This little encounter got me thinking about today's readngs at Mass. It's all about the prophet Elijah. The belief was that Elijah was/is preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah and the Gospel said this Elijah is none other than John the Baptist himself. Well he sure gave his all in preparing for the coming for the Messiah - he had his head chopped off for it! I wonder if that's our attitude in preparing ourselves. Imagine the students here preparing for the exams the whole week, skipping meals, staying up late in the night etc. Lots of sacrifice. Or Alex preparing dinner the whole evening, thus giving up play time with Ninel. I guess when we feel if it's something worth preparing for, we'd sacrifice some other things in place of the preparation. The problem is not whether we're ready to sacrifice - we're all ready for that. Rather its what we think is WORTH sacrificing for - it boils back to our priorities, our value systems and of course our spirituality. If you make a list today of what you're willing to sacrifice in order to spend time and energy in preparing for it, I wonder how far up the list is God, or the Sacraments, or Catechism, or Faith formation, or prayer. Wanna lose your head over it?
Friday, December 14, 2007
Jumping to conclusions
It's Friday again. Another week gone. Today's lesson on philology was focussed on the analysis of Acts 20 (that's "Acts of the Apostles chapter 20"). It was very detailed. And though I could follow everything, I found it hard to concentrate. I still have this terrible headache since yesterday evening. Took aspirins but no effect. Now I'm skipping lunch as I feel nauseous. Reminds me of Chris Chua taking the minibus up to our HK place - giddy, vomit. Well I hardly slept last night because of this headache.
Read yesterday about a local tree (local meaning you guys in SE Asia) called "Indian almond tree" (Terminalia Catappa) which has leaves that soften hard water. Want to try it. Our water here is very hard. Apparently people in the Indian subcontinent use it to soften their drinking water; purify it also. So if you guys come across this leaf (I think they sell it in the shops that also sell other fresh herbs like jintan, anise etc..), buy a couple and send them up to me. It's in a dried form; not fresh. And apparently the tree grows profusely throughout S'pore, M'sia etc. I think its called ketapang in malay.
Anyway yesterday after dinner, Fr Cignelli said he wanted to see me. Scared. He's our retired Greek professor and when he says something like that - it usually means we did something wrong. Well how different my expectations! He wanted to give me a New Testament translated in ancient Hebrew (not modern Hebrew - that kind you can find anywhere here in Israel). He told me to read a passage everyday to brush up on my hebrew (now who told him about my poor hebrew?!). It was a nice gesture - and I appreciate it because I read the first chapter of Mark's Gospel and found it easy to understand because I already know the greek contents (Mark's Gospel as we have it exists only in greek). So Fr Cignelli was right - it is easier to brush up on my hebrew with texts that i already know rather than doing some OT texts (as in Old Testament) that I do not know. So lesson for the day? Don't jump to conclusions. Things may not be what you expect!
Read yesterday about a local tree (local meaning you guys in SE Asia) called "Indian almond tree" (Terminalia Catappa) which has leaves that soften hard water. Want to try it. Our water here is very hard. Apparently people in the Indian subcontinent use it to soften their drinking water; purify it also. So if you guys come across this leaf (I think they sell it in the shops that also sell other fresh herbs like jintan, anise etc..), buy a couple and send them up to me. It's in a dried form; not fresh. And apparently the tree grows profusely throughout S'pore, M'sia etc. I think its called ketapang in malay.
Anyway yesterday after dinner, Fr Cignelli said he wanted to see me. Scared. He's our retired Greek professor and when he says something like that - it usually means we did something wrong. Well how different my expectations! He wanted to give me a New Testament translated in ancient Hebrew (not modern Hebrew - that kind you can find anywhere here in Israel). He told me to read a passage everyday to brush up on my hebrew (now who told him about my poor hebrew?!). It was a nice gesture - and I appreciate it because I read the first chapter of Mark's Gospel and found it easy to understand because I already know the greek contents (Mark's Gospel as we have it exists only in greek). So Fr Cignelli was right - it is easier to brush up on my hebrew with texts that i already know rather than doing some OT texts (as in Old Testament) that I do not know. So lesson for the day? Don't jump to conclusions. Things may not be what you expect!
Thanks from Fr Vincenzo
Thanks to the following people for helping the Musky kids:
Jeannie So, Sarah Chan, Leung Lai Sheung, Lui Ching Kwan, Wong Kwong Tak, Hui Man Ying & Sze Yuk Ying.
Jeannie So, Sarah Chan, Leung Lai Sheung, Lui Ching Kwan, Wong Kwong Tak, Hui Man Ying & Sze Yuk Ying.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Search
Bogged down with alot of work. I thought I could spend some time after dinner doing some of the things, but I just fell asleep right away. This morning some of the students are out on excursion to the Dead Sea. The rest are preparing for the exam. this Saturday. The breakfast table was very animated with discussion because Wojcych (I think that's how you spell his name. he's polish.) preached during Mass about "God's right hand" as mentioned in the 1st reading. Someone brought it up and the discussion went on the God's arm etc.... and mind you, they were using aramaic sources, rabbinic sources ... it was a very academic breakfast. Found it hard to digest at such an early morning, so I went out to feed the canaries.
The Dean, during breakfast, had asked Marco our Mexican student to clean out the Crusader Hall because it was pretty messy and the students use it to play ping-pong and weightlifting. I know Marco has to do his exam. so he was abit disappointed, but he said he'll ask a couple of other students to help. I volunteered to help, but only after I clean the canary cage which is absolutely filthy (didn't clean it for a week. Was busy with Lang!). Marco told the Dean he'd ask the "ragazzi" (boys) to help him, and then he armlocked my head and said "like this one". We laughed and the Dean said "Careful, Lionel is not one of the ragazzi. He is a senior." Boy that made me feel old! Well you could take it two ways I guess - senior meaning older than the rest of the students in age (which I am. In fact I'm the oldest student here!) or senior meaning doing the doctorate and not the Master's degree as the rest of the students are doing. Marco took the second meaning and began teasing me; which I wasn't in the mood as I wanted to clean the birdcage as soon as possible; and then finish off my other work. It's fun living with these younger friars but it saps the energy from a "senior" like me.
Marathon morning - vacuumed my room, clean out everything, threw out the rubbish (meaning going to the school, down 4 floors and into the courtyard where the rubbish bin is), cleaned the birdcage, spoke to the Dean regarding two matters, was too late to clean the Crusader Hall as the other guys finished it very quickly (4 of them), said goodbye to Osvalda because she's returning to Italy for a month for her mum's birthday and Christmas, printed some articles, all before 10.45am. Now exhausted and hungry so cooked 2 packets of instant noodles and a cup of pomegranate tea (from Turkey - love it!).
OK my rest time is over - must get back to work. Oh one other thing I want to share. Last night I couldn't find something important that I had put away. Searched everywhere and couldn't find it; worse I couldn't remember if I had thrown it away. Was so tired searching I fell asleep while searching! Weird! This was before vespers - 6pm that is. This morning at 4,30am continued searching for it. And also later this morning. Was pretty angry because it means I have to walk 2km to the New City to buy another one, and I don't want to go out today because I've got lots of work to do. Then as I opened the cupboard to get my kettle to boil water for my noodles and tea, there it was in front of me, next to the kettle! I've checked that cupboard 7 times and simply overlooked the thing directly in front of my eyes! I was searching at the back of the cupboard! Well a lesson everyone has experienced; nothing new; but very very important lesson. What you're searching for in life may be alot closer than you think!
The Dean, during breakfast, had asked Marco our Mexican student to clean out the Crusader Hall because it was pretty messy and the students use it to play ping-pong and weightlifting. I know Marco has to do his exam. so he was abit disappointed, but he said he'll ask a couple of other students to help. I volunteered to help, but only after I clean the canary cage which is absolutely filthy (didn't clean it for a week. Was busy with Lang!). Marco told the Dean he'd ask the "ragazzi" (boys) to help him, and then he armlocked my head and said "like this one". We laughed and the Dean said "Careful, Lionel is not one of the ragazzi. He is a senior." Boy that made me feel old! Well you could take it two ways I guess - senior meaning older than the rest of the students in age (which I am. In fact I'm the oldest student here!) or senior meaning doing the doctorate and not the Master's degree as the rest of the students are doing. Marco took the second meaning and began teasing me; which I wasn't in the mood as I wanted to clean the birdcage as soon as possible; and then finish off my other work. It's fun living with these younger friars but it saps the energy from a "senior" like me.
Marathon morning - vacuumed my room, clean out everything, threw out the rubbish (meaning going to the school, down 4 floors and into the courtyard where the rubbish bin is), cleaned the birdcage, spoke to the Dean regarding two matters, was too late to clean the Crusader Hall as the other guys finished it very quickly (4 of them), said goodbye to Osvalda because she's returning to Italy for a month for her mum's birthday and Christmas, printed some articles, all before 10.45am. Now exhausted and hungry so cooked 2 packets of instant noodles and a cup of pomegranate tea (from Turkey - love it!).
OK my rest time is over - must get back to work. Oh one other thing I want to share. Last night I couldn't find something important that I had put away. Searched everywhere and couldn't find it; worse I couldn't remember if I had thrown it away. Was so tired searching I fell asleep while searching! Weird! This was before vespers - 6pm that is. This morning at 4,30am continued searching for it. And also later this morning. Was pretty angry because it means I have to walk 2km to the New City to buy another one, and I don't want to go out today because I've got lots of work to do. Then as I opened the cupboard to get my kettle to boil water for my noodles and tea, there it was in front of me, next to the kettle! I've checked that cupboard 7 times and simply overlooked the thing directly in front of my eyes! I was searching at the back of the cupboard! Well a lesson everyone has experienced; nothing new; but very very important lesson. What you're searching for in life may be alot closer than you think!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Thanks
Thanks to Polly & Tancred (nice name huh? It's the famous Crusader prince of Galilee) and Agnes Leung for the offerings to the Musky kids. Fr Vincenzo will soon write a thank-you note in italian to everyone which I will upload on this blog. By the way, P&T (Polly/Tancred of course, not a name of a pharmaceutical company), I got the printer. Pretty good and heavy duty so my 300 page thesis can be printed.
Advent - looking back or forward?
It's nearing Christmas and ... the exams. This week there's one exam. for those doing Old Testament exegesis. You can sense the tension: students skipping meals and other activities, staying up late in the night, more silence than usual. I'm busy with a couple of assignments that I have to complete by this week. Lots of reading. For the past two evenings I've this terrible headache .... probably from too much reading. Fr Buscemi says it's a good sign - at least I have a head. I realised that my eyes are alot weaker now, and the heavy eyelids are not helping: it reduces the scope of vision, and everything is alot darker. I've resorted to what old Fr Marcus used to do - hold up the eyelids with scotchtape... and to think I used to laugh at him. Things come full circle.
Last night before I slept, I was thinking about the group that is coming to spend Christmas in Bethlehem. It's such a unique experience. We'll be celebrating Midnight Mass in one of the caves of Shepherds' Field. Then on Christmas Day we'll celebrate Mass at the Manger. I was thinking of the prophecies about the Messiah in the prophetic books; and I was wondering how difficult it must have been for those early Israelites to believe in those words. It's like someone at the MTR shouting to everyone that Jesus is coming in a few days' time. We'll all be sceptical, if not frightened by these people. Ever notice how you try to step away or avoid these people, eyes looking in another direction to avoid eye-contact, telling yourself "please don't come near me; please don't point at me and ask if I believe". Well lucky for us today we have the benefit of hindsight. The Messiah came 2000 yrs ago so we can easily say we believe. But Advent is also about looking into the future coming / 2nd coming of the messiah. No hindsight here. I wonder if we're looking just too much to the past in commemorating the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and forgotten that it's also a celebration and preparation for his 2nd coming. Look forward guys! It's coming!
Last night before I slept, I was thinking about the group that is coming to spend Christmas in Bethlehem. It's such a unique experience. We'll be celebrating Midnight Mass in one of the caves of Shepherds' Field. Then on Christmas Day we'll celebrate Mass at the Manger. I was thinking of the prophecies about the Messiah in the prophetic books; and I was wondering how difficult it must have been for those early Israelites to believe in those words. It's like someone at the MTR shouting to everyone that Jesus is coming in a few days' time. We'll all be sceptical, if not frightened by these people. Ever notice how you try to step away or avoid these people, eyes looking in another direction to avoid eye-contact, telling yourself "please don't come near me; please don't point at me and ask if I believe". Well lucky for us today we have the benefit of hindsight. The Messiah came 2000 yrs ago so we can easily say we believe. But Advent is also about looking into the future coming / 2nd coming of the messiah. No hindsight here. I wonder if we're looking just too much to the past in commemorating the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and forgotten that it's also a celebration and preparation for his 2nd coming. Look forward guys! It's coming!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Urgent notice
Thanks to everyone who's given so generously to the poor kids of Musky in Cairo. I have one urgent notice to mention: cheques written to the Duns Scotus Pilgrimages Ltd is causing problems for our accounting, something I thought would happen and now did. My poor judgement. Those who have already donated there, no problem we'll deal with it. But future donaitons please if possible, use cash and give to Katie who'll issue immediately a receipt. Our accountant will be keeping tabs on the receipts. If you wish to send cheques, well I'm still not sure how to deal with it as it has to be in USD and Fr Vincenzo hasn't given me any information.
Thanks to the CLC people for their offerings: Kyla Kwong, Wendy Chan, Philip Chak, Joseph Lai, Tan Kang John and Ivy Chan. Also thanks to Catherine Yau.
Thanks to the CLC people for their offerings: Kyla Kwong, Wendy Chan, Philip Chak, Joseph Lai, Tan Kang John and Ivy Chan. Also thanks to Catherine Yau.
Graffiti with a lesson
Yesterday's 1st reading for Mass brought alot of muffled laughter from the 20 concelebrants at our conventual Mass. It's from Isaiah 35 and one verse says "There will be no more lions...[in the way of the Lord]". That's my name - "LIONel". In italian they call me "leoncello" like a young lion. So they figured when the messiah comes, I'll have to disappear! Well, they can keep hoping but I'll make sure this verse doesn't come true!
The sun is bright and shining again - but believe me it's cold. I've just opened my windows and directly in front (besides our bell tower) of my view is the Dome of the Rock mosque. Most people believe it's the same place where the Jewish temple once stood but was destroyed in 70 AD and the mosque was built over it in the 7th century. Today's readings and psalms kept repeating the words "Your holy mountain" and "your holy Temple" and it struck me that I am living ON this holy mountain and the Holy Place IS directly in front of my window - I see it hundreds of times a day. And this got me thinking about Lang's little note he left me (secretly tucked away in a toothpaste box ...... it's a long story so don't ask why .... ). I had brought him to the Holy Sepulchre and showed him the place where an ancient Christian pilgrim (possible 2nd century) from Rome carved a graffiti on the wall of the Church saying "Lord, I have come!" Lang said this struck him throughout his stay in Jerusalem - that his spiritual journey has "arrived" here in the Holyland.
That was very profound. I wonder how many of us are still bogged down by the past with regrets or fearful of the future; and fail to appreciate the here and now. "Lord I have come" - come this far in life's journey; survived all the battles of life, scarred, wounded, but nonetheless arrived.... just like the ancient pilgrim. I think it is very telling of our present state of life if we try to add an adjectival clause to the statement "Lord I have come". Try it. What would you add? "Lord I have come" - to praise You? "Lord I have come" - with sickness and pain? "Lord I have come" - to ask you a favour? "Lord I have come" - ...................
The sun is bright and shining again - but believe me it's cold. I've just opened my windows and directly in front (besides our bell tower) of my view is the Dome of the Rock mosque. Most people believe it's the same place where the Jewish temple once stood but was destroyed in 70 AD and the mosque was built over it in the 7th century. Today's readings and psalms kept repeating the words "Your holy mountain" and "your holy Temple" and it struck me that I am living ON this holy mountain and the Holy Place IS directly in front of my window - I see it hundreds of times a day. And this got me thinking about Lang's little note he left me (secretly tucked away in a toothpaste box ...... it's a long story so don't ask why .... ). I had brought him to the Holy Sepulchre and showed him the place where an ancient Christian pilgrim (possible 2nd century) from Rome carved a graffiti on the wall of the Church saying "Lord, I have come!" Lang said this struck him throughout his stay in Jerusalem - that his spiritual journey has "arrived" here in the Holyland.
That was very profound. I wonder how many of us are still bogged down by the past with regrets or fearful of the future; and fail to appreciate the here and now. "Lord I have come" - come this far in life's journey; survived all the battles of life, scarred, wounded, but nonetheless arrived.... just like the ancient pilgrim. I think it is very telling of our present state of life if we try to add an adjectival clause to the statement "Lord I have come". Try it. What would you add? "Lord I have come" - to praise You? "Lord I have come" - with sickness and pain? "Lord I have come" - to ask you a favour? "Lord I have come" - ...................
Monday, December 10, 2007
Just for laughs
Went to the Missionaries of Charity just now to share some thoughts on the Bible - we did the story of Moses' mother and sister today; and one of the sisters told a joke that I thought you'd enjoy.
There was a long-suffering man with a nagging wife who came to the Holyland on a tour. While touring, she suddenly died. The authorities offered the man two choices: bury her in the Holyland and pay $150 or bring the body back to their country which means paying $15,000. The man said he'll pay $15,000. The authorities were surprised and asked again if he was sure he wanted to pay that much and go through all the trouble. He said he was absolutely sure. Why they asked. He said "Because I heard someone once died here in the Holyland and he resurrected after 3 days!"
There was a long-suffering man with a nagging wife who came to the Holyland on a tour. While touring, she suddenly died. The authorities offered the man two choices: bury her in the Holyland and pay $150 or bring the body back to their country which means paying $15,000. The man said he'll pay $15,000. The authorities were surprised and asked again if he was sure he wanted to pay that much and go through all the trouble. He said he was absolutely sure. Why they asked. He said "Because I heard someone once died here in the Holyland and he resurrected after 3 days!"
God's friend
Wow - yesterday was marathon sleep! I was very tired even before lunch but forced mself to go down to the refectory anyway because the community hasn't seen me for 2 days. Good to catch up with the guys again - chatting and laughing at the dining table. Jobi (2nd year student from India) came over to me and said "We were worried about you because we didn't see you for 2 days". It's very nice - to have a community that cares and watches your back when you're out. Even Fr Kaswalder (the Tyrolese Old Testament professor who's pretty gruff) called me over and offered me a chocolate - something he doesn't usually do - it's his way of saying "welcome back". Anyway after lunch i slept right through till 6pm. The exhaustion just caught up. Went down for dinner (hardly ate anything because I was still sleepy), then came back up to my room and slept till 4am this morning. And guess what? I'm still feeling sleepy!!!! Better drink some coffee otherwise I'll get no studies done today.
I was thinking back at some of the things that happened the last 2 days when Lang was here. By the way, Luca from Sydney finally wrote this morning!!!! Hmmm it's about time. Anyway Luca, I was wearing your sneakers with my habit - looked really weird! Lang wanted to take photos to show you. Time you got me another pair too - this time half a size larger ok? Ok back from the digression - I had a tough time trying to introduce Lang to people (the friars or whomever we met). When I said he's my friend - they found it strange. To the friars, I have to say he's my student. You see, around here it's not normal to have people younger than you to be friends. Friends are your peers, of your same age or work. At St Peter Gallicantu where we had to pay entrance fees, the guy asked who Lang was. I said a friend. he looked puzzled. He asked again and I said the same thing. He couldn't understand. I took out the money to pay for Lang, and the guy (arab) said "He's your brother". I looked back and the guy nodded his head, "yes, brother" he repeated. Then he let Lang enter free of charge. It got me thinking about the "brothers and sisters of Jesus" in the Gospels. It's the local culture to introduce people younger than you as brothers and sisters, not friends. They may not be your blood brothers and sisters, but that is how they are viewed here from a social and cultural point of view. Because they are younger, you must take care of them (in my case, bringing Lang to visit places), just as you would your own brothers and sisters; hence the name. It's a social relationship rather than a blood relationship. And of course those of you who have been here in Israel, you would have heard a hundred times the street vendors saying "Come to visit my brother's shop next door", and half the time we're laughing silently - "yeah sure". We all know they're not brothers, but that is how they call each other. So to those who still claim that Mary had other children "brothers and sisters of Jesus", I say come to the Holyland and experience the culture. It's the 5th Gospel - it'll teach you alot of things.
On the other hand "friends" are those of your age, same work or dignity - your equals. And its wonderful to hear from John's Gospel that Jesus calls us "friends"; note that previously he calls his apostles "little children". This concept of friendship with God actually comes from the Old Testament Book of Wisdom (my thesis book), and it raises our dignity and value in the eyes of God. God treats us with such high regard that we can be called his friends. Now think about that!
OK end of lecture. There're alot more reflections but we'll keep it for the next blogs. Just make sure you behave like God's friends today ok?
I was thinking back at some of the things that happened the last 2 days when Lang was here. By the way, Luca from Sydney finally wrote this morning!!!! Hmmm it's about time. Anyway Luca, I was wearing your sneakers with my habit - looked really weird! Lang wanted to take photos to show you. Time you got me another pair too - this time half a size larger ok? Ok back from the digression - I had a tough time trying to introduce Lang to people (the friars or whomever we met). When I said he's my friend - they found it strange. To the friars, I have to say he's my student. You see, around here it's not normal to have people younger than you to be friends. Friends are your peers, of your same age or work. At St Peter Gallicantu where we had to pay entrance fees, the guy asked who Lang was. I said a friend. he looked puzzled. He asked again and I said the same thing. He couldn't understand. I took out the money to pay for Lang, and the guy (arab) said "He's your brother". I looked back and the guy nodded his head, "yes, brother" he repeated. Then he let Lang enter free of charge. It got me thinking about the "brothers and sisters of Jesus" in the Gospels. It's the local culture to introduce people younger than you as brothers and sisters, not friends. They may not be your blood brothers and sisters, but that is how they are viewed here from a social and cultural point of view. Because they are younger, you must take care of them (in my case, bringing Lang to visit places), just as you would your own brothers and sisters; hence the name. It's a social relationship rather than a blood relationship. And of course those of you who have been here in Israel, you would have heard a hundred times the street vendors saying "Come to visit my brother's shop next door", and half the time we're laughing silently - "yeah sure". We all know they're not brothers, but that is how they call each other. So to those who still claim that Mary had other children "brothers and sisters of Jesus", I say come to the Holyland and experience the culture. It's the 5th Gospel - it'll teach you alot of things.
On the other hand "friends" are those of your age, same work or dignity - your equals. And its wonderful to hear from John's Gospel that Jesus calls us "friends"; note that previously he calls his apostles "little children". This concept of friendship with God actually comes from the Old Testament Book of Wisdom (my thesis book), and it raises our dignity and value in the eyes of God. God treats us with such high regard that we can be called his friends. Now think about that!
OK end of lecture. There're alot more reflections but we'll keep it for the next blogs. Just make sure you behave like God's friends today ok?
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Travelogue
Today's blog is going to be a travelogue about the visits we made (Lang and I). The weather was pretty fine but cold though, so I couldn't figure of I should wear more or less; and whether I should wear the habit or not. So finally decided on wearing jeans and sneakers (!!!!) under the habit, and brought a backpack with shirt, raincoat etc. Pretty heavy!
I was up at Casa Nova by 9am and took Lang through the Armenian Quarter. We visited the Armenian Cathedral of St James but there was a Liturgy there so we decided not to go in. It's a commemoraiton of St James "brother of the Lord", who was mentioned in Acts 15 and who was later killed (see also Acts. Don't be lazy, check it out yourselves!). From there we went out of the Old City onto "Mt. Zion" and visited the Franciscan Last Supper Room and the Crusader Last Supper Room. It was pretty quiet, only 2 groups that sped in and out. So we stayed for almost an hour in the Crusader room, and we talked about Church architecture and spirituality/theology. Lang is an architect and is here in Tel Aviv this week for an architectural competition. Well, he got the "most interesting lecture on religious architecture" than what he learnt at the U. from me! (Not bad huh?) I'm no expert, but (there's always the 'but") my teacher in Italian (way back in 1992 in Rome) would teach me Italian while visited the Churches in Rome. He holds a doctorate in Franciscan Architecture so he explained architectural styles and changes that influenced or were influenced by spiritual and theology. From there I researched on my own (the past 10 years) Hellenistic, Greek, Nabatean, Crusader and Roman architecture and how it was used by the Church to express its theology and spirituality. Lang was writing notes furiously. We then visited the Dormition Abbey (commemoration of Mary's death) and St. Peter Gallicantu (commemoration of Peter's demial of Jesus).
From there (I changed to civilian clothes) we walked around the city walls into Dung Gate. We saw the Waiing Wall and remains of the Temple from Christ's time; then moved on to the Crusader ruins of St. Mary of the Germans and then walked the whole of the Roman Cardo Maximus ("Straight Street" or the main road of the city built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD). We then bought Shwarma (Lamb roasted on a spit and wrapped in pita bread) and ate in my room for lunch. The Cardo almost ends at my monastery. Then it was change again into the habit, and we went down the Kidron valley (See John's Gospel) to the Garden of Gethsemani. The superior Fr Raphael was at the gate and he gave me the keys so that Lang and I could walk inside the enclosed garden and touch the ancient Olive trees, some over 1,000 years old. Fr Raphael is always good to me. He knew me since I was here as a seminarian back in 1990. the gardens are off limits to the public so it was a privilege to walk through it, and many tourists standing outside were envious. Lang took lots of pictures inside the church; and like typical tourists, when they saw Lang taking photos of certain things I was pointing out, they flocked to hear my explanation and started taking photos as well. I also pointed out to Lang the tomb of Bishop Pasini, our franciscan bishop of Sanyuan (China) who spent 40 years in Gethsemani praying for China after his expulsion and is buried inside the basilica. And Rumanian, Russian, American tourists started photos of the tomb too, even though they know nothing of him! Ahhhh tourists ..... photo, photo.
After that we went to the Grotto of the Betrayal and the Tomb of Mary (Greek Orthodox today - formerly Franciscan). The Greek Orthodox monk was pretty friendly and greeted us and welcomed us. Lang took lots of photos - and the American tourists followed us, listening to my explanations. Hmmmm nothing like a free guide. We then walked back to my monastery but on the way we met a Singaporean group. It was pretty late (5pm dark and all the churches were closed) so we continued to Casa Nova and then had dinner in a restaurent behind Casa Nova. Lovely quaint place runned by Syrian Orthodox. Good local food, nice arabic ambiance, and reasonable prices. Wanna try it out? You gotta come to Jerusalem first!!!!
Reached home by 9pm and was exhausted so slept immediately.
This morning I celebrated Mass on Mt Calvary with Lang doing the readings. 5.30am. A Singaporean or Malaysian group booked for Mass at 6.30am but never showed up. They also booked for Mass two days ago and never showed up. Terrible. They should have at least called so we know the altar is not used and we can give another group to celebrate Mass there. The group is led by Fr Charles Sim. Anyone knows him?
After Mass we walked back to the 8th Station to buy apple buns for breakfast. Oh but before that I showed Lang the Ethiopic Church and the Coptic Church. The Ethiopians were having Sunday Mass. And the singing is stupendous. No its not like a choral+organ kind of stuff that we are used to; it's ancient chanting, polyphonic (naturally like most african singing), languid is what I'd describe it, almost melancholic but still very dignified. You have to experience this. It transports you into another world. I was explaining to lang that the Etiopic church is one of the oldest since it is recorded in the Book of Acts that Philip baptised the Ethiopian eunuch near Bethlehem and tradition says he brought Christianity into Ethiopia after that. Now that is ancient! As we walked down the Cardo again, we met a Singaporean couple rushing up and down holding a map. They had parked their hired car outside the Old City and were being charged over US$10 an hour so they wanted to quickly see the Last Supper Room and get back before the price gets too high. Well obviously they were lost. I gave them directions and they ran off. Lang and I then decided not to have breakfast at Casa Nova but back at my place, so we made a huge u-turn across the Crusader markets. And guess what? Found the Singaporean couple again. Totally lost! Hmmmm so much for Singaporeans taking directions. Got them back on track again and as they were leaving the wife said "God always sends an angel when we get into trouble". My good deed for the day.
Well we had breakfast in my room and then we had to rush off to the New City because Lang needed to catch the mini-bus for Tel Aviv. He's leaving Israel this afternoon. Anyway it was good having him around - it was a good break. Reminded me of Luca, Andrew, James, Lawrence and Lily last year when they came. I guess I still miss the Sydney youth group that they belong. They're great guys and lots of fun.... and very polite.
All in all I must have walked 7 km these two days. Good sign - my ankle isn't hurting anymore. Lang said something that got me appreciating again what it means to live in the Holyland. He said, while eating his blueberry bun in my room, how unique and wonderful to walk everyday on the 2000 yr old stones, where people from the bible, not just names, actually lived and died. Yes its so true, but for us who live here, we tend to take it for granted. Like 8th Station of the Cross = bakery. Aiya, gotta change this mindset.
So journey, journey ..... Lang is flying back. I'm still trudging the ancient stones, and you guys? Why not come and trudge with me? If these ancient stones could speak, what will it tell you?
I was up at Casa Nova by 9am and took Lang through the Armenian Quarter. We visited the Armenian Cathedral of St James but there was a Liturgy there so we decided not to go in. It's a commemoraiton of St James "brother of the Lord", who was mentioned in Acts 15 and who was later killed (see also Acts. Don't be lazy, check it out yourselves!). From there we went out of the Old City onto "Mt. Zion" and visited the Franciscan Last Supper Room and the Crusader Last Supper Room. It was pretty quiet, only 2 groups that sped in and out. So we stayed for almost an hour in the Crusader room, and we talked about Church architecture and spirituality/theology. Lang is an architect and is here in Tel Aviv this week for an architectural competition. Well, he got the "most interesting lecture on religious architecture" than what he learnt at the U. from me! (Not bad huh?) I'm no expert, but (there's always the 'but") my teacher in Italian (way back in 1992 in Rome) would teach me Italian while visited the Churches in Rome. He holds a doctorate in Franciscan Architecture so he explained architectural styles and changes that influenced or were influenced by spiritual and theology. From there I researched on my own (the past 10 years) Hellenistic, Greek, Nabatean, Crusader and Roman architecture and how it was used by the Church to express its theology and spirituality. Lang was writing notes furiously. We then visited the Dormition Abbey (commemoration of Mary's death) and St. Peter Gallicantu (commemoration of Peter's demial of Jesus).
From there (I changed to civilian clothes) we walked around the city walls into Dung Gate. We saw the Waiing Wall and remains of the Temple from Christ's time; then moved on to the Crusader ruins of St. Mary of the Germans and then walked the whole of the Roman Cardo Maximus ("Straight Street" or the main road of the city built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD). We then bought Shwarma (Lamb roasted on a spit and wrapped in pita bread) and ate in my room for lunch. The Cardo almost ends at my monastery. Then it was change again into the habit, and we went down the Kidron valley (See John's Gospel) to the Garden of Gethsemani. The superior Fr Raphael was at the gate and he gave me the keys so that Lang and I could walk inside the enclosed garden and touch the ancient Olive trees, some over 1,000 years old. Fr Raphael is always good to me. He knew me since I was here as a seminarian back in 1990. the gardens are off limits to the public so it was a privilege to walk through it, and many tourists standing outside were envious. Lang took lots of pictures inside the church; and like typical tourists, when they saw Lang taking photos of certain things I was pointing out, they flocked to hear my explanation and started taking photos as well. I also pointed out to Lang the tomb of Bishop Pasini, our franciscan bishop of Sanyuan (China) who spent 40 years in Gethsemani praying for China after his expulsion and is buried inside the basilica. And Rumanian, Russian, American tourists started photos of the tomb too, even though they know nothing of him! Ahhhh tourists ..... photo, photo.
After that we went to the Grotto of the Betrayal and the Tomb of Mary (Greek Orthodox today - formerly Franciscan). The Greek Orthodox monk was pretty friendly and greeted us and welcomed us. Lang took lots of photos - and the American tourists followed us, listening to my explanations. Hmmmm nothing like a free guide. We then walked back to my monastery but on the way we met a Singaporean group. It was pretty late (5pm dark and all the churches were closed) so we continued to Casa Nova and then had dinner in a restaurent behind Casa Nova. Lovely quaint place runned by Syrian Orthodox. Good local food, nice arabic ambiance, and reasonable prices. Wanna try it out? You gotta come to Jerusalem first!!!!
Reached home by 9pm and was exhausted so slept immediately.
This morning I celebrated Mass on Mt Calvary with Lang doing the readings. 5.30am. A Singaporean or Malaysian group booked for Mass at 6.30am but never showed up. They also booked for Mass two days ago and never showed up. Terrible. They should have at least called so we know the altar is not used and we can give another group to celebrate Mass there. The group is led by Fr Charles Sim. Anyone knows him?
After Mass we walked back to the 8th Station to buy apple buns for breakfast. Oh but before that I showed Lang the Ethiopic Church and the Coptic Church. The Ethiopians were having Sunday Mass. And the singing is stupendous. No its not like a choral+organ kind of stuff that we are used to; it's ancient chanting, polyphonic (naturally like most african singing), languid is what I'd describe it, almost melancholic but still very dignified. You have to experience this. It transports you into another world. I was explaining to lang that the Etiopic church is one of the oldest since it is recorded in the Book of Acts that Philip baptised the Ethiopian eunuch near Bethlehem and tradition says he brought Christianity into Ethiopia after that. Now that is ancient! As we walked down the Cardo again, we met a Singaporean couple rushing up and down holding a map. They had parked their hired car outside the Old City and were being charged over US$10 an hour so they wanted to quickly see the Last Supper Room and get back before the price gets too high. Well obviously they were lost. I gave them directions and they ran off. Lang and I then decided not to have breakfast at Casa Nova but back at my place, so we made a huge u-turn across the Crusader markets. And guess what? Found the Singaporean couple again. Totally lost! Hmmmm so much for Singaporeans taking directions. Got them back on track again and as they were leaving the wife said "God always sends an angel when we get into trouble". My good deed for the day.
Well we had breakfast in my room and then we had to rush off to the New City because Lang needed to catch the mini-bus for Tel Aviv. He's leaving Israel this afternoon. Anyway it was good having him around - it was a good break. Reminded me of Luca, Andrew, James, Lawrence and Lily last year when they came. I guess I still miss the Sydney youth group that they belong. They're great guys and lots of fun.... and very polite.
All in all I must have walked 7 km these two days. Good sign - my ankle isn't hurting anymore. Lang said something that got me appreciating again what it means to live in the Holyland. He said, while eating his blueberry bun in my room, how unique and wonderful to walk everyday on the 2000 yr old stones, where people from the bible, not just names, actually lived and died. Yes its so true, but for us who live here, we tend to take it for granted. Like 8th Station of the Cross = bakery. Aiya, gotta change this mindset.
So journey, journey ..... Lang is flying back. I'm still trudging the ancient stones, and you guys? Why not come and trudge with me? If these ancient stones could speak, what will it tell you?
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Feast of Immaculate Conception
Today's feastday reminds us that God originally created humanity to be without sin. But through human free choice and folly, sin entered our lives. There's a very nice passage from the Book of Wisdom (you guys who never read the Bible, start reading today!!!) that says "Death was not God's doing; he takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living..." (1:13 meaning chapter 1 verse 13 for those who are still struggling to understand the bible) and "God did not make man perishable; He made him in the image of His own nature; it was the devil's envy that brught death into the world..." (2:23). Mary's immaculate conception reminds us what it would be like for us if sin didn't creep into our lives. But don't despair! Christ came to save us, as He did for Mary, so we will return to that pristine state again if we do all that he tells us.
And of course today's feastday reminds us also of Duns Scotus who fought for the dogma of the Immaculate Conception 700 years ago but was condemned and persecuted. He was vindicated only in the 19th century when the Pope declared Mary's Immculate Conception as dogma and that Scotus was correct after all.
Yesterday was wet! The rains came in the late evening at about 5pm. That was when Lang and I were out in the streets - was going to check him in at our Franciscan hostel "Casa Nova". We could only see the Holy Sepulchre as all the other churches were closed by then. And we had a simple dinner at Notre Dame of Jerusalem. Today I'll bring him around the churches of the Old City since the Jewish Quarter is closed for the Sabbath.
There's no school today because of the feast so I think I'll not study today - as a treat. So nothing much else to report. Will update you tomorrow.
And of course today's feastday reminds us also of Duns Scotus who fought for the dogma of the Immaculate Conception 700 years ago but was condemned and persecuted. He was vindicated only in the 19th century when the Pope declared Mary's Immculate Conception as dogma and that Scotus was correct after all.
Yesterday was wet! The rains came in the late evening at about 5pm. That was when Lang and I were out in the streets - was going to check him in at our Franciscan hostel "Casa Nova". We could only see the Holy Sepulchre as all the other churches were closed by then. And we had a simple dinner at Notre Dame of Jerusalem. Today I'll bring him around the churches of the Old City since the Jewish Quarter is closed for the Sabbath.
There's no school today because of the feast so I think I'll not study today - as a treat. So nothing much else to report. Will update you tomorrow.
Friday, December 7, 2007
No rain again
The rains didn't come. The sky was very dark yesterday but the wind was too strong. it blew all the clouds into Jordan. But the winds were very cold. Even this morning, the cold wind kept up its momentum - pretty strong. I've got to wear 2 layers of wool now to keep warm.
And I'm getting to like sleeping on the floor. I think maybe that's what I'll do. It really makes the room look more spacious and less claustrophobic. And I can always push the mattress against the wall to make for more space or cleaning the floor. I'm feeling alot more relaxed, and right now I'm listening to the harp CD sent by Paula. Nice.
And I saw several people with bug bites - I'm on the lookout! Fr Marcello came to class and he had the red bites on his neck; and Pavel a Polish student had them on his ears. Me? I fumigate my room 3 times a day, vacuum twice and sun all my pillows and clothes for the whole day when the sun shines. Not taking anymore risks!
Thanks to Kyla for spreading the word to CLC about donations to Musky's kids.
Today's reading from Isaiah 19 was incredible. I was researching on it 2 years ago but it is still fantastic - too good to be true. He prophesied that there will be an altar to Yahweh built in the middle of Egypt, and the egyptians will worship yahweh the true God, and that a road will be built linking Egypt to Assyria (Modern Syria and Iraq) and Israel will be a part of this union. All living in peace. Well from archaeology we know that there was a temple built to Yahweh in the 4th century BC in the Egyptian island of Elephantine but got destroyed later, and another temple built in the 2nd century BC in Leontopolis near Cairo which was destroyed by the 1st century AD. SO at least that part of the prophecy came true, but not all the Egyptians believed in Yahweh though. Hmmm now if only it did come true, then we'll have peace in the Middle East at last. Maybe that's what Advent is saying - wait for that peace, it'll come.
And I'm getting to like sleeping on the floor. I think maybe that's what I'll do. It really makes the room look more spacious and less claustrophobic. And I can always push the mattress against the wall to make for more space or cleaning the floor. I'm feeling alot more relaxed, and right now I'm listening to the harp CD sent by Paula. Nice.
And I saw several people with bug bites - I'm on the lookout! Fr Marcello came to class and he had the red bites on his neck; and Pavel a Polish student had them on his ears. Me? I fumigate my room 3 times a day, vacuum twice and sun all my pillows and clothes for the whole day when the sun shines. Not taking anymore risks!
Thanks to Kyla for spreading the word to CLC about donations to Musky's kids.
Today's reading from Isaiah 19 was incredible. I was researching on it 2 years ago but it is still fantastic - too good to be true. He prophesied that there will be an altar to Yahweh built in the middle of Egypt, and the egyptians will worship yahweh the true God, and that a road will be built linking Egypt to Assyria (Modern Syria and Iraq) and Israel will be a part of this union. All living in peace. Well from archaeology we know that there was a temple built to Yahweh in the 4th century BC in the Egyptian island of Elephantine but got destroyed later, and another temple built in the 2nd century BC in Leontopolis near Cairo which was destroyed by the 1st century AD. SO at least that part of the prophecy came true, but not all the Egyptians believed in Yahweh though. Hmmm now if only it did come true, then we'll have peace in the Middle East at last. Maybe that's what Advent is saying - wait for that peace, it'll come.
Thanks from Fr Vincenzo
Fr Vincenzo stopped by briefly to say bye to me as he's leaving for Musky on Monday. I told him of your donaitons and he wants to thank you all very much. Here's the list so far that I have of those who have donated to the kids in Musky.
1. Letty Chabot
2. Auntie Yvonne
3. Susan Kwan
4. Paulette
5. Irene Teoh
6. Emma Ho
7. Angela Leung
8. Paula Leung
Fr Vincenzo wants you to know that it is absolutely for the poor children in Musky and he wants to write personally to each one of you but I said it's ok if he writes in my blog in italian and I translate.
Thanks for your kindness. I'll pray for you at the manger on Christmas Day when I celebrate Mass there.
1. Letty Chabot
2. Auntie Yvonne
3. Susan Kwan
4. Paulette
5. Irene Teoh
6. Emma Ho
7. Angela Leung
8. Paula Leung
Fr Vincenzo wants you to know that it is absolutely for the poor children in Musky and he wants to write personally to each one of you but I said it's ok if he writes in my blog in italian and I translate.
Thanks for your kindness. I'll pray for you at the manger on Christmas Day when I celebrate Mass there.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
No rain yet!
The aweful headache is subsiding .... so I can do a little more reading today. And I found out I wasn't the only one who has a bed bug problem. But their's is not as serious as mine.
The Advent readings these few days got me thinking. It's all from the prophet Isaiah and the promise that God will intervene in human history because humans are just incapable of helping themselves. Isn't it awesome that God actually cares enough for us to actually intervene? Think about that - you matter enough for God to intervene.
The meeting with the Custos went well yesterday. He approved my request to translate the Custody's webnews into chinese and create our own website. He also approved my request that our groups that come to the Holyland without priests, can celebrate instead the Liturgy in the Absence of a priest; meaning there'll be the readings of the sanctuary, intercessions, then Our Father and Communion. But this is NOT a Mass; only a rite that is approved because most of our groups have no priests follwoing them, so they do not have Mass during their pilgrimage. And its a privilege ONLY for our Duns Scotus groups. So that's good news for our pilgrims. However there're several strict regulations to follow so that abuses do not occur. Will keep you updated, or you'll see it in the news in our Duns Scotus Pilgrimage website (still under construction but will soon be online).
Couldn't sleep early yesterday because of the headache so studied abit of arabic - can't imagine how much I've forgotten. That sent me straight to sleep! Today I plan to go to the New City and buy some bird seed because the poor canaries have no more food. And by the way, I was in Talpiot (surburb) to look for beds and tables. Found a real good one just the right size for my room (pretty small) but the guy wants 4,500 shekels (HK$9,000) plus 300 shekels for transport and another 300 shekels for assembling the stuff. Like the whole deal will cost more than HK$10,000! This morning all the guys here asked if I got it: it's now a traditoin in our house for everyone to guess when my bed and table will arrive. Aiya, but I'm resigned to sleeping on the floor. It's actually quite nice, except for the cold.
And the rains didn't come - at least not this morning. The sun is shining so I brought my pillows out to sun. But afraid that it'll get stolen ( or as we say "borrowed permanently"); not just the pillows but the metal stand that I bought. Anyway the weather forecast is that it'll rain tonight. Let's see if it will. We really need the rains.
Lang and his friends went off to the Dead Sea yesterday on their own. But they'll come to Jerusalem early on Friday. I'll go pick them up at Novotel as it's a safe place.
Meantime before I start my studies, I'll vacuum my room. It's terribly dusty, as anyone in Jerusalem will tell you because of the dry weather. So that's it.
The Advent readings these few days got me thinking. It's all from the prophet Isaiah and the promise that God will intervene in human history because humans are just incapable of helping themselves. Isn't it awesome that God actually cares enough for us to actually intervene? Think about that - you matter enough for God to intervene.
The meeting with the Custos went well yesterday. He approved my request to translate the Custody's webnews into chinese and create our own website. He also approved my request that our groups that come to the Holyland without priests, can celebrate instead the Liturgy in the Absence of a priest; meaning there'll be the readings of the sanctuary, intercessions, then Our Father and Communion. But this is NOT a Mass; only a rite that is approved because most of our groups have no priests follwoing them, so they do not have Mass during their pilgrimage. And its a privilege ONLY for our Duns Scotus groups. So that's good news for our pilgrims. However there're several strict regulations to follow so that abuses do not occur. Will keep you updated, or you'll see it in the news in our Duns Scotus Pilgrimage website (still under construction but will soon be online).
Couldn't sleep early yesterday because of the headache so studied abit of arabic - can't imagine how much I've forgotten. That sent me straight to sleep! Today I plan to go to the New City and buy some bird seed because the poor canaries have no more food. And by the way, I was in Talpiot (surburb) to look for beds and tables. Found a real good one just the right size for my room (pretty small) but the guy wants 4,500 shekels (HK$9,000) plus 300 shekels for transport and another 300 shekels for assembling the stuff. Like the whole deal will cost more than HK$10,000! This morning all the guys here asked if I got it: it's now a traditoin in our house for everyone to guess when my bed and table will arrive. Aiya, but I'm resigned to sleeping on the floor. It's actually quite nice, except for the cold.
And the rains didn't come - at least not this morning. The sun is shining so I brought my pillows out to sun. But afraid that it'll get stolen ( or as we say "borrowed permanently"); not just the pillows but the metal stand that I bought. Anyway the weather forecast is that it'll rain tonight. Let's see if it will. We really need the rains.
Lang and his friends went off to the Dead Sea yesterday on their own. But they'll come to Jerusalem early on Friday. I'll go pick them up at Novotel as it's a safe place.
Meantime before I start my studies, I'll vacuum my room. It's terribly dusty, as anyone in Jerusalem will tell you because of the dry weather. So that's it.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
No bug bites!
The room so much more spacious without a bed. And ..... I had no new bug bites last night. Down side - too cold on the floor: I've got a terrible headache now because of the cold. Well, you can't win them all.
Matthew was also re-arranging his room. It's a lot bigger but the downside is he doesn't get the sun and the kids next door keep him awake the whole night. Can't win them all.
Both of us are working on our scheme of research, and both of us have to do alot of bargaining with our directors of our theses. He just faced a block, and is feeling very upset; so he stopped studying for 2 days. Re-arranging his room is a good diversion for him. And I think he went for a jog to get it off his system. Me? well I haven't submitted my scheme yet so I wouldn't know. I was already rejected 3 times in the last 3 months and had to change topics. Now my strategy is to formulate a good research scheme, get a nice title, and wait for the director to be in a good mood - believe me it will take some time..... but I can wait.
Meantime my headache is killing me. Will take a panadol and do some light reading - which is in Catalan. It isn't such a difficult language: like a mixture of spanish, portuguese and french. But there are some words that really stump me (and these are the ones that occur the most). Anyway the article is very important for my research so I'll have to get back to reading it and writing notes.
Guess I'll go see Matthew also and find out how he is today.
Matthew was also re-arranging his room. It's a lot bigger but the downside is he doesn't get the sun and the kids next door keep him awake the whole night. Can't win them all.
Both of us are working on our scheme of research, and both of us have to do alot of bargaining with our directors of our theses. He just faced a block, and is feeling very upset; so he stopped studying for 2 days. Re-arranging his room is a good diversion for him. And I think he went for a jog to get it off his system. Me? well I haven't submitted my scheme yet so I wouldn't know. I was already rejected 3 times in the last 3 months and had to change topics. Now my strategy is to formulate a good research scheme, get a nice title, and wait for the director to be in a good mood - believe me it will take some time..... but I can wait.
Meantime my headache is killing me. Will take a panadol and do some light reading - which is in Catalan. It isn't such a difficult language: like a mixture of spanish, portuguese and french. But there are some words that really stump me (and these are the ones that occur the most). Anyway the article is very important for my research so I'll have to get back to reading it and writing notes.
Guess I'll go see Matthew also and find out how he is today.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Another night over
Another tough night fighting the bugs. But much better I must admit - I had help! The Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's sisters) came to my rescue. I had to give them a talk as usual yesterday afternoon (actually I was late) and they saw the red patches spreading from my neck up to my head (yes even into my hair), so they gave me a very powerful spray for bugs, and two sisters came back with me loaded with new blankets and a sleeping bag. They took my blanket (over 15 years old and never washed, having passed many many owners) and bedsheets to wash (and beat I guess - there's one sister here who's famed for killing bugs I hear). So last night there were less bites, about 35. I'll have to sleep on the floor from now on till I get a bed - but it's freezing in winter so I'll have to figure out how to warm the floor. Anyway I think I'm developing a reaction to the bites - I'm getting a fever the past day and vomited once.
Lang called. He's from the youth group in Sydney and is now in Tel Aviv for a week to participate in an exhibition on architecture. He's having the weekend off so I'll be bringing him around the Old City. Unless I die from the bug bites first. I'm waiting for his call again to confirm the hour - hhmm like in the spirit of Advent ... waiting.
Had a shock this morning when they told me Fr Angelo died. He's a Japanese friar who used to work in the Holy Sepulchre. He went back to Japan for a holiday and died. I went off to the Holy Sepulchre to pray for him. Other friars who used to work there also came. We talked about this shocking news and reminded each other that it's Advent, so we all have to be prepared for either Christ's coming or our going to him. Probably me first - the bugs are lending a helping hand.
Lang called. He's from the youth group in Sydney and is now in Tel Aviv for a week to participate in an exhibition on architecture. He's having the weekend off so I'll be bringing him around the Old City. Unless I die from the bug bites first. I'm waiting for his call again to confirm the hour - hhmm like in the spirit of Advent ... waiting.
Had a shock this morning when they told me Fr Angelo died. He's a Japanese friar who used to work in the Holy Sepulchre. He went back to Japan for a holiday and died. I went off to the Holy Sepulchre to pray for him. Other friars who used to work there also came. We talked about this shocking news and reminded each other that it's Advent, so we all have to be prepared for either Christ's coming or our going to him. Probably me first - the bugs are lending a helping hand.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Dark skies
A HK group of tourists arrived with John, the sales manager of El Al (I promised to mention him in my blog - so this is it, John! He says he reads it everyday ..... hhhmmm so how come sales managers have so much free time to read blogs?!). They're all tour agents from HK and the trip was organised by Jet-tours, escorted by Andy. It was a familiarisation tour. And of course on my part it was nice to meet with Honkies again (never dreamt I'd say that!!! bite my tongue!). Well John was very very nice because he brought a bag of my stuff over for me. Really appreciate that especially when he was busy with the group and all. (Pat on the back!) The group is leaving for HK tonight; so buon viaggio!
The sky is threateningly black and everything just looks so dull and listless - the muezzins are singing from every mosque in Jerusalem now (2.19pm) and the loudest and closest to us is always the best. He can hold his note for over a minute! And he sings so smoothly. Takes away the horrid itch and pain from my body. Oh from the bag that John brought, there was an ankle guard - thanks to whoever sent it to me! need it real bad as my ankle is hurting.
Anyway Eduardo who helps in the kitchen tells me that the weather report is warning of a severe storm on Wednesday - thunder, hail and floods (all in biblical proportions - it's the only way here in the Holyland!) The Lowlands like the Dead Sea and Jericho will be in big trouble as all the water will be rushing down to them, bringing along boulders and entire mountains. It is really frightening and many people have died being caught up in a flood in the desert. Keep this in mind because later in the Advent readings you'll hear about God changing the weather, the desert will have water flowing over it etc... man this is really biblical background! Wish you were here to see it!
OK must eat my lunch now. I'm late because I went off to Mt. Zion to get the bag from John. Strange isn't it? Mt. Zion for you is like from the psalms, singing of its beauty, reminders of David and Solomon's palaces there...... for us, it's one giant carpark where tourist buses park. Anti-climax! Sr. Pieta is in the kitchen cleaning up and she says there's gulash (chunks of boiled beef in simply language) - I've got another name for it but let's leave it for now ......
And as you have guessed from the photos, Regis will be leaving soon. Poor boy, a victim of human whims. He's so obedient and playful. You guys better say goodbye to him for me, and take lots of photos. Even the sky in Jerusalem is crying for you, Regis. Be a good boy in your new home.
The sky is threateningly black and everything just looks so dull and listless - the muezzins are singing from every mosque in Jerusalem now (2.19pm) and the loudest and closest to us is always the best. He can hold his note for over a minute! And he sings so smoothly. Takes away the horrid itch and pain from my body. Oh from the bag that John brought, there was an ankle guard - thanks to whoever sent it to me! need it real bad as my ankle is hurting.
Anyway Eduardo who helps in the kitchen tells me that the weather report is warning of a severe storm on Wednesday - thunder, hail and floods (all in biblical proportions - it's the only way here in the Holyland!) The Lowlands like the Dead Sea and Jericho will be in big trouble as all the water will be rushing down to them, bringing along boulders and entire mountains. It is really frightening and many people have died being caught up in a flood in the desert. Keep this in mind because later in the Advent readings you'll hear about God changing the weather, the desert will have water flowing over it etc... man this is really biblical background! Wish you were here to see it!
OK must eat my lunch now. I'm late because I went off to Mt. Zion to get the bag from John. Strange isn't it? Mt. Zion for you is like from the psalms, singing of its beauty, reminders of David and Solomon's palaces there...... for us, it's one giant carpark where tourist buses park. Anti-climax! Sr. Pieta is in the kitchen cleaning up and she says there's gulash (chunks of boiled beef in simply language) - I've got another name for it but let's leave it for now ......
And as you have guessed from the photos, Regis will be leaving soon. Poor boy, a victim of human whims. He's so obedient and playful. You guys better say goodbye to him for me, and take lots of photos. Even the sky in Jerusalem is crying for you, Regis. Be a good boy in your new home.
Advent appeal
Well showed my bug bites to several friars in the house. 2 are of the opinion that it's a rash - an allergy because it's so profuse and clustered. Others say it's definitely bed bugs. Well whatever! I'm still stuck with the itch and pain. One thing everyone agreed was: get rid of the bed immediately, and sleep on the floor if necessary. The bed and mattress have to be burned.
Now to business - the Advent appeal has nothing to do with my bed bug problem. It's actually from Fr Vincenzo. His area where he lives (Musky in the outskirts of Cairo) is very poor. The children are malnourished and eat only one meal a day of boiled vegetables (1 or 2 leaves). The janitor of our monastery works part time in a school, and he collects half-eaten bread, cuts of the dirty parts and with the bits leftover, he brings back to our monastery to feed the children. They're all christians. Vincenzo says that they get to eat meat only twice a year - in Easter and Christmas when our parish cooks something special for them. The cook scraps the grease from our cooking pans to bring home to feed her children - a little fat in their diet. Vincenzo is very upset by the situation.
He asked if any of you kind people out there can donate a little money so that the children (and adults) can have a little something more to eat during Christmas. In fact he reminded me twice last night before I came home. Just US$10 is enough to feed a child for several weeks if not a month. Because of the poverty, corruption is rampant and so he warned not to send any money directly to him. It will definitely be stolen. He asked that I collect the money here in Jerusalem and pass him the money whenever a friar goes to Musky from here.
So share a little Christmas cheer to the less fortunate Catholics in Cairo - US$10 is little but it means alot to the children in Musky and the surrounding villages. But remember a cheque of US$10 will get a large commission deducted by the bank and what you're left with is actually less than US$5, so think of a better way to avoid bank charges. You can pass the donation to Katie who'll give you a receipt. The money will be brought to me when the next pilgrimage group arrives, and I'll acknowledge it in my blog. Then I'll pass it to the friar who's going to Egypt.
Thanks people! Christmas will be so much more meaningful when you share it with others.
Now to business - the Advent appeal has nothing to do with my bed bug problem. It's actually from Fr Vincenzo. His area where he lives (Musky in the outskirts of Cairo) is very poor. The children are malnourished and eat only one meal a day of boiled vegetables (1 or 2 leaves). The janitor of our monastery works part time in a school, and he collects half-eaten bread, cuts of the dirty parts and with the bits leftover, he brings back to our monastery to feed the children. They're all christians. Vincenzo says that they get to eat meat only twice a year - in Easter and Christmas when our parish cooks something special for them. The cook scraps the grease from our cooking pans to bring home to feed her children - a little fat in their diet. Vincenzo is very upset by the situation.
He asked if any of you kind people out there can donate a little money so that the children (and adults) can have a little something more to eat during Christmas. In fact he reminded me twice last night before I came home. Just US$10 is enough to feed a child for several weeks if not a month. Because of the poverty, corruption is rampant and so he warned not to send any money directly to him. It will definitely be stolen. He asked that I collect the money here in Jerusalem and pass him the money whenever a friar goes to Musky from here.
So share a little Christmas cheer to the less fortunate Catholics in Cairo - US$10 is little but it means alot to the children in Musky and the surrounding villages. But remember a cheque of US$10 will get a large commission deducted by the bank and what you're left with is actually less than US$5, so think of a better way to avoid bank charges. You can pass the donation to Katie who'll give you a receipt. The money will be brought to me when the next pilgrimage group arrives, and I'll acknowledge it in my blog. Then I'll pass it to the friar who's going to Egypt.
Thanks people! Christmas will be so much more meaningful when you share it with others.
St. Francis Xavier
Yesterday afternoon was dark and dreary - it rained and stopped and then rained again and stopped. Fr Stefano de Luca, the archaeologist of Magdala, called me during lunch to say he's in Jerusalem and wants to shop around Salahadin Street and would like me to come along. I didn't feel like it but went anyway; walked a full circle round the streets of East Jerusalem, some streets I never knew before. Bought a reading lamp for 60 shekels which I thought was pretty expensive, but it was the cheapest around here. The shop-keeper of the restaurent opposite the shop where I bought the lamp, suddenly ran out scolding lots of bad words in arabic. Everone else ran out to the street to see what had happened. Apparently someone ate his lunch there and ran off without paying the bill. Pretty bold to do such a thing in broad daylight.
At 7pm I went out with Fr Vincenzo for a pizza as promised. He misses pizza; then again he misses food in general, because the village where he stays is so very poor, there is hardly anything to eat. He himself has lost several kilos. I got Osvalda to come along - but she was pretty grumpy having to walk over 2 km to the restaurent in East Jerusalem. Don't forget Vincenzo and Osvalda live in West Jerusalem; and Osvalda isn't young (ahem!) nor fit (She's given up dieting). Then Vincenzo scolded me because I forgot to invite Sr. Helene, an arab FMM sister who's our very good friend. She knew me since way back in 1992. But she is old ..... over 70 I think. She just came back from Rome for a holiday but caught a cold. Anyway she showed up at Zahara restaurent (zahara=flower), one of the best restaurents in East Jerusalem, keeping its colonial atmosphere with turkish architecture. Very lovely place. Back in 1995 when I and my classmates earned our licentiates (Master's degree), it was traditional for the licensees to offer a meal to the school. The 3 of us organised a dinner here at Zahara for 40 people; and the price was very reasonable (split by 3 of course!). And their pizzas are real italian stuff - none of those weird spangled "pineapple and ham" type of pizzas. Vincenzo had a Napolitana, Sr. Helene had a margarita, and Osvalda and I had greek pizzas. It was almost 9pm when we finished dinner. Walked home - actually at Damascus Gate Sr Helene turned right to go home and I turned left into Damascus gate to go to my home. Vincenzo had to accompany Osvalda back to Casa Nova uphill; which is pretty tough for her since her knees are not strong (she's very very heavy).
But back home, the night was absolute torture. Didn't sleep one wink because the bugs kept biting me. I have a ring of bites around my neck now - literally a full circle of bug bites all round my neck because it was the exposed part. I also have bites on my tummy and knees. it is really bad. I've had it with this bed. Believe me its not one or two but it's in clusters of 7 or 10 bites. You people can start sending me medicated oil or mopiko to relieve the itch and pain of these bites because there's no such thing here in Jerusalem. And please don't think: I better not send anything because others will be sending it - and the result is everyone thinks like that and nothing gets to me!!!!! (which is exactly what is happening) Hey I'm desparate ok? The itch and pain can literally drive me crazy; to the point of crying. There's nothing I can do to kill those bugs. Sprayed a whole can of baygon last night; applied a whole bottle of anti-bite medicated spray on my whole body, and they still keep coming. It's living hell. I've tolerated this for 3 months now, and this is it. I can't wait for another bed. I need to burn this bed immediately or the bugs will lay eggs in my clothes etc...
And St Francis Xavier? Well he better do a miracle to get rid of those bugs.
At 7pm I went out with Fr Vincenzo for a pizza as promised. He misses pizza; then again he misses food in general, because the village where he stays is so very poor, there is hardly anything to eat. He himself has lost several kilos. I got Osvalda to come along - but she was pretty grumpy having to walk over 2 km to the restaurent in East Jerusalem. Don't forget Vincenzo and Osvalda live in West Jerusalem; and Osvalda isn't young (ahem!) nor fit (She's given up dieting). Then Vincenzo scolded me because I forgot to invite Sr. Helene, an arab FMM sister who's our very good friend. She knew me since way back in 1992. But she is old ..... over 70 I think. She just came back from Rome for a holiday but caught a cold. Anyway she showed up at Zahara restaurent (zahara=flower), one of the best restaurents in East Jerusalem, keeping its colonial atmosphere with turkish architecture. Very lovely place. Back in 1995 when I and my classmates earned our licentiates (Master's degree), it was traditional for the licensees to offer a meal to the school. The 3 of us organised a dinner here at Zahara for 40 people; and the price was very reasonable (split by 3 of course!). And their pizzas are real italian stuff - none of those weird spangled "pineapple and ham" type of pizzas. Vincenzo had a Napolitana, Sr. Helene had a margarita, and Osvalda and I had greek pizzas. It was almost 9pm when we finished dinner. Walked home - actually at Damascus Gate Sr Helene turned right to go home and I turned left into Damascus gate to go to my home. Vincenzo had to accompany Osvalda back to Casa Nova uphill; which is pretty tough for her since her knees are not strong (she's very very heavy).
But back home, the night was absolute torture. Didn't sleep one wink because the bugs kept biting me. I have a ring of bites around my neck now - literally a full circle of bug bites all round my neck because it was the exposed part. I also have bites on my tummy and knees. it is really bad. I've had it with this bed. Believe me its not one or two but it's in clusters of 7 or 10 bites. You people can start sending me medicated oil or mopiko to relieve the itch and pain of these bites because there's no such thing here in Jerusalem. And please don't think: I better not send anything because others will be sending it - and the result is everyone thinks like that and nothing gets to me!!!!! (which is exactly what is happening) Hey I'm desparate ok? The itch and pain can literally drive me crazy; to the point of crying. There's nothing I can do to kill those bugs. Sprayed a whole can of baygon last night; applied a whole bottle of anti-bite medicated spray on my whole body, and they still keep coming. It's living hell. I've tolerated this for 3 months now, and this is it. I can't wait for another bed. I need to burn this bed immediately or the bugs will lay eggs in my clothes etc...
And St Francis Xavier? Well he better do a miracle to get rid of those bugs.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Advent
Yesterday was pretty much a slow day. My chest was still aching from the asthma so I didn't feel up to anything. But Jadallah called me to say he wants to bring me to Salahaddin Street with the car so that I can buy a table - so I thought I'd better grab this chance. It's not everyday that he's free and able to use the car just for me. Well I ordered 2 small cabinets (about 2 feet high and one and a half feet wide) with locks so I can keep my passports. Till now I hide them in a ....... (not telling you! my secret!!) but I always forget where I hid them, and fear sometimes when I throw rubbish out, I might also throw them away .... ooopps let the cat out of the bag!!! Anyway bought also two wicker baskets to keep my laundry and toiletries. The shop owner wanted 120 shekels (HK$240) each which was outright cut-throat. We bargained till it reached 80 shekels each. Is that expensive by HK standards?
Ate an early dinner and slept by 7pm. Well, I did some reading and got a chapter from a book photocopied. Too restless not to do anything.
Got up at 4am this morning and prepared to go to the Holy Sepulchre. Felt a little warm, so I put on less clothes and wore sandles. When i reached the courtyard, found out that it was raining - big time! Thunder and lightening. Funny I never heard anything from my room. It probably rained the whole night because places around looked flooded. Anyway I was too lazy to climb up 4 floors and change to thicker clothes, so putting on my hood (Capuche), I hurried through the Way of the Cross up to the Holy Sepulchre where Stations 9 to 14 are housed. Was pretty wet and cold by then. But felt pretty good because it kept coming to my head that today is Advent - preparation for Christmas! The first day of the new liturgical year.
I celebrated Mass at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel then prayed the Office for Advent. Some other franciscan sisters were also praying the Office, and the Holy Sepulchre community was chanting it in their choir. I don't join them because they chant in latin. Solemn Mass had just ended at the Tomb and the crowds were dispersing. Bro Cristoforo, cantor for the Holy Sepulchre asked me if I had a relic of Fr Allegra to give him. He knew Fr Allegra when Allegra was in Jerusalem teaching from 1972-1973. In fact Cristoforo is also archivist of the Custody and has alot information on Allegra in the Holyland. We found out that Allegra was in the Holyland on a certain year but this was never recorded in his chronology in preparation for his beatification. Strange! No one seems to know of this, but the records clearly show his signature in several Sanctuary guestbooks where he celebrated Mass. We're looking deeper into this mystery. Was there bi-location involved?
Advent again - a new year. The dark sky and cold, wet weather is so theatrical and dramatic in setting the stage for the season. We read from the Mass readings and the Office (that's a series of psalms, Bible passages and readings from the fathers of the Church) that God is coming; humans in their weakness are incapable of saving themselves from themselves so God is going to intervene. But when? How? Advent tries to answer these questions by preparing us for that great moment when God's Son, invisible and eternal, took on flesh that is visible and destructible, to live among us - in Bethlehem, in a manger, one winter night, cold, wet, like today.
Ate an early dinner and slept by 7pm. Well, I did some reading and got a chapter from a book photocopied. Too restless not to do anything.
Got up at 4am this morning and prepared to go to the Holy Sepulchre. Felt a little warm, so I put on less clothes and wore sandles. When i reached the courtyard, found out that it was raining - big time! Thunder and lightening. Funny I never heard anything from my room. It probably rained the whole night because places around looked flooded. Anyway I was too lazy to climb up 4 floors and change to thicker clothes, so putting on my hood (Capuche), I hurried through the Way of the Cross up to the Holy Sepulchre where Stations 9 to 14 are housed. Was pretty wet and cold by then. But felt pretty good because it kept coming to my head that today is Advent - preparation for Christmas! The first day of the new liturgical year.
I celebrated Mass at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel then prayed the Office for Advent. Some other franciscan sisters were also praying the Office, and the Holy Sepulchre community was chanting it in their choir. I don't join them because they chant in latin. Solemn Mass had just ended at the Tomb and the crowds were dispersing. Bro Cristoforo, cantor for the Holy Sepulchre asked me if I had a relic of Fr Allegra to give him. He knew Fr Allegra when Allegra was in Jerusalem teaching from 1972-1973. In fact Cristoforo is also archivist of the Custody and has alot information on Allegra in the Holyland. We found out that Allegra was in the Holyland on a certain year but this was never recorded in his chronology in preparation for his beatification. Strange! No one seems to know of this, but the records clearly show his signature in several Sanctuary guestbooks where he celebrated Mass. We're looking deeper into this mystery. Was there bi-location involved?
Advent again - a new year. The dark sky and cold, wet weather is so theatrical and dramatic in setting the stage for the season. We read from the Mass readings and the Office (that's a series of psalms, Bible passages and readings from the fathers of the Church) that God is coming; humans in their weakness are incapable of saving themselves from themselves so God is going to intervene. But when? How? Advent tries to answer these questions by preparing us for that great moment when God's Son, invisible and eternal, took on flesh that is visible and destructible, to live among us - in Bethlehem, in a manger, one winter night, cold, wet, like today.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Another week gone
Yesterday night was really fun. I had dinner at Terra Santa College and met up with old classmates (actually only 3 are left; everyone else is a 1st year student). Fr Vincenzo was there, as well as Sr Ann the musician and Irene and Arlette the italian volunteers. As usual the sisters in the kitchen did a fantastic job - they are very very good cooks, the best in the custody. There's one student here called Pavarotti from Modena - yes, the same name and same town. And yes he's his cousin or nephew or something like that.
Walked back 2 km to the Flagellation. Pretty creepy because it was not only dark, but the streets in the New City were dead quiet - it was of course the Sabbath. I haven't walked in a Sabbath night for a long time - and the emptiness is so strange. No dogs, cats, cars. I wonder if that was how the ancient Israelites spent their Sabbaths.
The Muslim quarter on the otherhand was just closing down for the night - Friday being heir day off and Damascus Gate is filled with Bedouins bringing in their products to sell. All sorts of vegetables, fruit, cooked food ..... the sight and smell of the Middle East. But the rubbish they leave behind is by the tonnes. Cleaners are everywhere sweeping and washing down the stone pavements; making it very slippery to walk. Hundreds of cartons and plastic bags are scooped up and thrown into mini-tractors specially built to climb the stairs of the Old City. Reminds me that another week is past. November flew off so quickly.
Earlier in the afternoon Jadallah bought kniffeh for everyone to celebrate the birth of his 5th daughter. It's very nice: cheese baked in honey with pistachios. I had half a piece then realised it had honey. My face is now slightly swollen today. But even worse, I had an attack of asthma last night at 3am. It was pretty bad and I was awake till 6am. Was so exhausted I fell asleep till 7am. Anyway am very tired still and wheezing, so I'm going to rest again. No work today.
Walked back 2 km to the Flagellation. Pretty creepy because it was not only dark, but the streets in the New City were dead quiet - it was of course the Sabbath. I haven't walked in a Sabbath night for a long time - and the emptiness is so strange. No dogs, cats, cars. I wonder if that was how the ancient Israelites spent their Sabbaths.
The Muslim quarter on the otherhand was just closing down for the night - Friday being heir day off and Damascus Gate is filled with Bedouins bringing in their products to sell. All sorts of vegetables, fruit, cooked food ..... the sight and smell of the Middle East. But the rubbish they leave behind is by the tonnes. Cleaners are everywhere sweeping and washing down the stone pavements; making it very slippery to walk. Hundreds of cartons and plastic bags are scooped up and thrown into mini-tractors specially built to climb the stairs of the Old City. Reminds me that another week is past. November flew off so quickly.
Earlier in the afternoon Jadallah bought kniffeh for everyone to celebrate the birth of his 5th daughter. It's very nice: cheese baked in honey with pistachios. I had half a piece then realised it had honey. My face is now slightly swollen today. But even worse, I had an attack of asthma last night at 3am. It was pretty bad and I was awake till 6am. Was so exhausted I fell asleep till 7am. Anyway am very tired still and wheezing, so I'm going to rest again. No work today.
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