Well actually the Salesians call it the Lectio Magistralis, which opens officially their academic year. The Cardinal was to speak on "Doing Theology in the light of the Synod of Bishops' theme on the Bible in the Life and Misison of the Church".
It took place at our Franciscan Terra Santa College since the Salesians (living close by) do not have a hall large enough for such meetings. About 140 people attended, mostly representatives from all the religious families here in Jerusalem, together with the Apostolic Nuncio, Msgr. Franco.
On the whole, the cardinal's 35 minute speech (more a "familial sharing" in his words, than an academic Lectio Magistralis) can be reduced to one word (as Fr Spataro the Salesian rector put it) "reconciliation" or "harmony" - that is, a reconciliation between all the dichotomies that exist within the academic and pastoral worlds:
1. between the bible exegete and the theologian
2. between scholars and the laity
3. between academic methodology and Divine revelation
4. between the Bible and the Eucharist
5. between study and prayer
He said that doing theology is not talking about God but talking with God. More emphasis should be put on praying the Bible, encounter God through praying the Bible, but also stressed that experts on the Bible should be at hand to explain the passages that are being prayed so that prayer groups do not share errors instead of truths! He also spoke about the formation of seminarians and the need to put more biblical aspects into their formation programmes - including biblical prayer and biblical pastoral activities.
"It is humbly listening and joyfully accepting the Word of God"
Friday, October 31, 2008
David Jeaffreson R.I.P.
My good friend David Jeaffreson died today. He came with me to the Holyland with Elisabeth, his wife, several years ago. A good Christian who brought up a lovely family and served the Hong Kong community with fervour and sacrifice.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord
And may perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=73700&sid=21248219&con_type=1&d_str=20081031&fc=8
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord
And may perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=73700&sid=21248219&con_type=1&d_str=20081031&fc=8
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Cardinal Zen in the Holyland
On the right are photos of Cardinal Zen at the Franciscan chapel by the River Jordan, presiding the pilgrimage Mass of the Baptism of Jesus. It's the annual pilgrimage of the Commemoration of Christ's baptism to the River Jordan.
More photos tomorrow during his conference at Terra Santa College.
More photos tomorrow during his conference at Terra Santa College.
Tempest
Wow - yesterday evening we had the heaviest rain this month here in Jerusalem. Cats and dogs! But it's a good sign - we need this rain to soak this dry earth. Inevitably the temperature dropped and it became cold and dark. That makes sleeping ideal - but not when I have to continue with my work.
Today we commemorate the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan. The friars will lead the annual pilgrimage to the river - a militarised zone opened only this day for the pilgrimage. Friars and pilgrims need to bring their passports along. The baptismal site borders the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan, hence the heavy military presence.
Usually it's the Custos of the Holyland who presides at the Mass, but today it will be Cardinal Zen - yes, of HK. He's here in the Holyland at the invitation of the Salesians and will deliver a talk on Friday morning to the Christian public. Will update you on that.
Today we commemorate the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan. The friars will lead the annual pilgrimage to the river - a militarised zone opened only this day for the pilgrimage. Friars and pilgrims need to bring their passports along. The baptismal site borders the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan, hence the heavy military presence.
Usually it's the Custos of the Holyland who presides at the Mass, but today it will be Cardinal Zen - yes, of HK. He's here in the Holyland at the invitation of the Salesians and will deliver a talk on Friday morning to the Christian public. Will update you on that.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
And ....
And meanwhile in Israel - the teachers are on strike which means schools may not open (again). This has been going on for several years now and the tragic thing is it's the students who'll pay for it by not having a proper education. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225036830701&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Now the PM is personally intervening http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225199589426&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
And in Gaza, another boat from Cyprus has broken the Israeli blockade to bring aid to the Gazans. It's a good motive but I don't think constant confrontation with the IDF is the answer. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7696852.stm
And the killing of Christians continue in Mosul, Iraq. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7696242.stm
And in Gaza, another boat from Cyprus has broken the Israeli blockade to bring aid to the Gazans. It's a good motive but I don't think constant confrontation with the IDF is the answer. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7696852.stm
And the killing of Christians continue in Mosul, Iraq. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7696242.stm
Church without God?
Yesterday I worked for many hours on my paper. Just half an hour before vespers, I decided to take a break and watch the Internet TV for some inspiring homilies. Turned on to a protestant channel. They interviewed some people in a certain area of America asking if they go to church - surprising most of the young people were all enthusiastic and eager about church services ( to get inspiration, direction, community, security) but the middle ages protested the most. One lady was saying "I don't need the church to tell me what to do and not to do. I'm an adult, I don't need a parent watching over me and telling me I'm wrong. If church services were only prayer and praising I'll go, but not when it starts telling me what to do."
I guess that's the majority of middle-agers' opinion. They have made a life of their own, they feel they're in control, they're parents themselves, so they find it hard to accept teaching and directing by others. What lies deeper is this - the youth have learnt to encounter God in the church services while the middle-agers only encountered people. They have not encountered God. Of course if it's people telling you what to do and not to do, you'll react similarly. But if you really believe that it's God's law and teaching, then you'll take it seriously. That's a sad fact - a whole generation of Christians have had lousy catechism and end up experincing the church as a community of people, with human laws - there was no God in it. Church services were only a therapy session for the lonely, a singalong group, a social hour to meet up with friends; it was not a worship session. God was removed from the equation. Well I think we have to set that straight. And I think Pope John Paul II did alot to put God back into churches.
So where do we go from here? The ball is in your court! Church without God? Like char siu bao without the char siu! (Or as Chris C. says - like ice kachang without the ice)
I guess that's the majority of middle-agers' opinion. They have made a life of their own, they feel they're in control, they're parents themselves, so they find it hard to accept teaching and directing by others. What lies deeper is this - the youth have learnt to encounter God in the church services while the middle-agers only encountered people. They have not encountered God. Of course if it's people telling you what to do and not to do, you'll react similarly. But if you really believe that it's God's law and teaching, then you'll take it seriously. That's a sad fact - a whole generation of Christians have had lousy catechism and end up experincing the church as a community of people, with human laws - there was no God in it. Church services were only a therapy session for the lonely, a singalong group, a social hour to meet up with friends; it was not a worship session. God was removed from the equation. Well I think we have to set that straight. And I think Pope John Paul II did alot to put God back into churches.
So where do we go from here? The ball is in your court! Church without God? Like char siu bao without the char siu! (Or as Chris C. says - like ice kachang without the ice)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
char siu bao with no char siu?
It was sooooo good to have white rice and home-cooked food - cooked by the Missionaries of Charity of course! I was back on my begging rounds (!) but as there's no such thing as a free meal, I had to work for it! As usual I shared with the sisters abit of the Old Testament for an hour - something I missed doing for the past 3 months. After having taught for the last 10 years, it's difficult to drop teaching altogether. And they cooked me white rice, snow-peas fried with garlic and chili, and two meat patties. I didn't eat lunch yesterday so when I got home from the sisters at 5pm, I quickly ate it all up. It tasted really really good. And moreover I could eat in peace and tranquility in room - no hassle from the dining table.
And talking about teaching - I finally met up with my beloved group of handicaps on the VC. I've not seen them for well over a year now and it was good to see them all again. They belong to the society of Volunteers of the Suffering - most are in wheelchairs, blind or multiple sclerosis. They're sensitive to the message of the Scriptures and identify quickly with the biblical characters. They make my teaching experience really worthwhile and rewarding. I really hope to see them again soon on the VC.
It rained yesterday afternoon and this morning and it was really cold. I decided to use my "hot-air fan" this morning at 4am when I got up, because the bathrobe was not enough to keep me warm. So winter must have arrived - at least in my room.
OK it's back to work again for me. I'd like to cook chicken rice today (someone gave me a bottle of chicken rice sauce) but I'll have to see if there's a piece of chicken available in the kitchen. Not much fun cooking the rice and not having a piece of chicken; it's like eating a char siu bao without the char siu!
And talking about teaching - I finally met up with my beloved group of handicaps on the VC. I've not seen them for well over a year now and it was good to see them all again. They belong to the society of Volunteers of the Suffering - most are in wheelchairs, blind or multiple sclerosis. They're sensitive to the message of the Scriptures and identify quickly with the biblical characters. They make my teaching experience really worthwhile and rewarding. I really hope to see them again soon on the VC.
It rained yesterday afternoon and this morning and it was really cold. I decided to use my "hot-air fan" this morning at 4am when I got up, because the bathrobe was not enough to keep me warm. So winter must have arrived - at least in my room.
OK it's back to work again for me. I'd like to cook chicken rice today (someone gave me a bottle of chicken rice sauce) but I'll have to see if there's a piece of chicken available in the kitchen. Not much fun cooking the rice and not having a piece of chicken; it's like eating a char siu bao without the char siu!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Appeal
OK here's an appeal I received and now share with you. It doesn't generate from me but I think as Catholics we should be concerned about pro-life topics:
"On December 10th, radical pro-abortion groups will present petitions asking the UN General Assembly to make abortion a universally recognized human right.
We have met the challenge and you can help.
We have initiated a petition drive that calls for governments to interpret the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as protecting the unborn child from abortion. Along with a coalition of pro-life groups from around the world, we will present our petitions at a press conference at UN headquarters.
So far, in only three weeks we have generated 46,417 names endorsing our petition; that is 15,000 a week! I now fully expect that we will present 100,000 names on December 10th, the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In order for this to happen, though, I need your help and I need it now.
If you have not signed the petition, do so now HERE or by going directly to http://www.c-fam.org and clicking on the icon 'UN Petition for the Unborn Child.' Then, after you have signed the petition, send this email or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
If you have already signed the petition, send this email or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS and urge them to sign it.
What we are trying to do is create a real global internet campaign that will shock the pro-abortion radicals at the UN on December 10th! To help you, the petition has been translated into 11 different languages and each can be found HERE or by going to http://www.c-fam.org
So, please act now. Go HERE or here http://www.c-fam.org and sign the petition. Then send this message or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS."
"On December 10th, radical pro-abortion groups will present petitions asking the UN General Assembly to make abortion a universally recognized human right.
We have met the challenge and you can help.
We have initiated a petition drive that calls for governments to interpret the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as protecting the unborn child from abortion. Along with a coalition of pro-life groups from around the world, we will present our petitions at a press conference at UN headquarters.
So far, in only three weeks we have generated 46,417 names endorsing our petition; that is 15,000 a week! I now fully expect that we will present 100,000 names on December 10th, the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In order for this to happen, though, I need your help and I need it now.
If you have not signed the petition, do so now HERE or by going directly to http://www.c-fam.org and clicking on the icon 'UN Petition for the Unborn Child.' Then, after you have signed the petition, send this email or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
If you have already signed the petition, send this email or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS and urge them to sign it.
What we are trying to do is create a real global internet campaign that will shock the pro-abortion radicals at the UN on December 10th! To help you, the petition has been translated into 11 different languages and each can be found HERE or by going to http://www.c-fam.org
So, please act now. Go HERE or here http://www.c-fam.org and sign the petition. Then send this message or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS."
Advent is coming
It was a sombre day - as we remember Fr Michele. A commemoration Mass was celebrated this morning, presided by our superior Fr Najib. We sang the Mass for the Dead, as well as the Office of the Dead. "One of the pillars of our school" - that was how he was described by a confrere. We will truly miss him and his immense contribution to the archaeology of Jordan and the Holyland.
I was in my room the whole day yesterday - partly because I wanted to finish my work, and partly because I wanted some quiet to think about Fr Michele. I used to photocopy things for him back in 1993-1995, sometimes at odd hours of the night when he needed material in a hurry; and helped translate some of his conferences into english. In fact just a few months prior to his leaving for Italy for medical attention, he asked me to translate 3 articles for him which I did. Several months back when I was worried over my work, he told me (at dinner table where he sat opposite me) to lighten up - you think too much, he said, don't take life so seriously; enjoy the food in front of you and the company around you. Who would have thought a few months later we would not have his company with us. And it was so opportune that he died on the night of the feast of Our Lady of Palestine - the land that he loved so much.
Well I've decided that I'll need to put more effort in finishing my work at hand - which means I'll probably cook my own meals in my room: rice and maybe something from a can (the ubiquitous sardine). Matthew my Indian classmate is already doing it ... hmmmm that's why he finished his work before me. I'll also have to get a library card from the Dominican Ecole Biblique as most of the books I need are there. But the thought of having to walk there tires me already. My left calf is pretty painful and cramps most of the time - the doc says its probably because I strain it too much in order to avoid bending my ankle which is the real problem. Good to know the problem - but doesn't help in relieving the pain.
The sun is up today. But it still is cold. Yesterday I had a nostalgia for Advent - the Christmas carols, setting up the Christmas tree ..... probably because I spoke about Christmas to my nephews and nieces on the phone. Well Advent is round the corner. Are you guys going on an Advent retreat?
I was in my room the whole day yesterday - partly because I wanted to finish my work, and partly because I wanted some quiet to think about Fr Michele. I used to photocopy things for him back in 1993-1995, sometimes at odd hours of the night when he needed material in a hurry; and helped translate some of his conferences into english. In fact just a few months prior to his leaving for Italy for medical attention, he asked me to translate 3 articles for him which I did. Several months back when I was worried over my work, he told me (at dinner table where he sat opposite me) to lighten up - you think too much, he said, don't take life so seriously; enjoy the food in front of you and the company around you. Who would have thought a few months later we would not have his company with us. And it was so opportune that he died on the night of the feast of Our Lady of Palestine - the land that he loved so much.
Well I've decided that I'll need to put more effort in finishing my work at hand - which means I'll probably cook my own meals in my room: rice and maybe something from a can (the ubiquitous sardine). Matthew my Indian classmate is already doing it ... hmmmm that's why he finished his work before me. I'll also have to get a library card from the Dominican Ecole Biblique as most of the books I need are there. But the thought of having to walk there tires me already. My left calf is pretty painful and cramps most of the time - the doc says its probably because I strain it too much in order to avoid bending my ankle which is the real problem. Good to know the problem - but doesn't help in relieving the pain.
The sun is up today. But it still is cold. Yesterday I had a nostalgia for Advent - the Christmas carols, setting up the Christmas tree ..... probably because I spoke about Christmas to my nephews and nieces on the phone. Well Advent is round the corner. Are you guys going on an Advent retreat?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Michele Piccirillo R.I.P.
This morning we woke to the bad news that our professor and archaelogist, Fr. Michele Piccirillo died last night. He was ill for the past few months and had had a couple of operations. Though he is best known throughout the world as an expert archaeologist of the Holyland, we here will remember him as one of our brothers who gave us the example of selflessly working hard, tenacious in preserving the Christian memory of the Holyland and always available to students and professors alike. His love for the Holyland and the local Church is unequalled - as he had practically grown up here.
Fr Piccirillo used to sit opposite me during meals. He always told me to stay focussed, be calm, don't study too hard, and when I was out of hospital (he also then found out he had cancer), he told me to take good care of myself and that health is a precious gift from God. Those were his last words to me before he went to Italy and I never saw him again. He was less then 60 yrs old.
We pray that Our Lady of Palestine will accompany him to the heavenly Jerusalem, and console his family.
Fr Piccirillo used to sit opposite me during meals. He always told me to stay focussed, be calm, don't study too hard, and when I was out of hospital (he also then found out he had cancer), he told me to take good care of myself and that health is a precious gift from God. Those were his last words to me before he went to Italy and I never saw him again. He was less then 60 yrs old.
We pray that Our Lady of Palestine will accompany him to the heavenly Jerusalem, and console his family.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
mad, mad world
Will you die for US$60? Apparently a university student will - http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/25/taiwan.eating.ap/index.html The blind and senseless pursuit for quick money is reducing humanity to become like lemmings rushing toward the cliff. See the world staggering in this economic crisis as a result of mindless reckless greed ... the inevitable lemming jump is coming. Or why the melamine case ever got started in the first place ; or now its Japanese noodles http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7690591.stm (If you still don't know what a lemming is, check out Wikipidea or something!)
Don't belief me? - read this http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7688091.stm The line between reality and fantasy is so blurred now in the minds of so many people, they can't tell one from the other. And that is very dangerous.
Or when parents have to use sniffer dogs to catch their kids using drugs - because asking the kids outright would be "confrontational" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7688815.stm "Critics claim that the service could be invasive and may break down family trust." But wait on ... isn't the family trust already broken when the kid took the drugs? halloooooo???
I remember what William Butler Yeats envisioned almost 90 years ago in his poem "The Second Coming"
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
Don't belief me? - read this http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7688091.stm The line between reality and fantasy is so blurred now in the minds of so many people, they can't tell one from the other. And that is very dangerous.
Or when parents have to use sniffer dogs to catch their kids using drugs - because asking the kids outright would be "confrontational" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7688815.stm "Critics claim that the service could be invasive and may break down family trust." But wait on ... isn't the family trust already broken when the kid took the drugs? halloooooo???
I remember what William Butler Yeats envisioned almost 90 years ago in his poem "The Second Coming"
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
Our Lady of the Holyland
So today here in the Holyland (that means from Egypt all the way to Rhodes and Syria) we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Holyland - actually here in Israel it's Our Lady of Palestine. She's always depicted with cactus surrounding her - cactus being the symbol of Palestine - the desert plant that flowers.
Marco Gudinho presided at the Mass, and we sang most of it including the Our Father in arabic. That was a nice local touch. All in all it was a nice Mass, simple and dignified. I mispronounced one word during the reading and after Mass it was well noted by everyone ..... the hazards of reading publicly in a foreign language.
It rained last night from 11.30pm to 2.30am. It's been like this every night, so it gets cold. And there's no lettuce left in the fridge so the canaries have no veggies today. To make it up for their enormous appetite (for winter), I gave them two hard boiled eggs and a stick of grain with honey. They love it. The tortoises are partially hibernating now so they hardly eat anything except when it really gets hot in the afternoons and they wake up and search for food.
Well it's the Sabbath and I have to go to school now. Will write more after lessons.
Marco Gudinho presided at the Mass, and we sang most of it including the Our Father in arabic. That was a nice local touch. All in all it was a nice Mass, simple and dignified. I mispronounced one word during the reading and after Mass it was well noted by everyone ..... the hazards of reading publicly in a foreign language.
It rained last night from 11.30pm to 2.30am. It's been like this every night, so it gets cold. And there's no lettuce left in the fridge so the canaries have no veggies today. To make it up for their enormous appetite (for winter), I gave them two hard boiled eggs and a stick of grain with honey. They love it. The tortoises are partially hibernating now so they hardly eat anything except when it really gets hot in the afternoons and they wake up and search for food.
Well it's the Sabbath and I have to go to school now. Will write more after lessons.
Friday, October 24, 2008
More persecution
The persecution of Catholics in India is horrific - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7689215.stm
Terrible attack
Horrible attack yesterday afternoon just south of Jerusalem's Old City in Gilo. An innocent old man was stabbed to death. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017605824&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
This is only going to create more roadblocks, more checkpoints, more retaliation. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017609728&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Yesterday evening I was up at Pater Noster monastery of Carmelite nuns - that's where we commemorate Christ teaching the Lord's Prayer to the disciples - up on the Mt of Olives. We (me and Thiago and Cris) joined in their vespers and after that several sisters and the superior stayed to chat. They have some young sisters from Korea and the Philippines (I guess) while the rest are French and Arab christians. Total of 16 nuns there. We were allowed to enter the cloister (horrors!!!!) and it was beautiful with a cross in the middle (typical of all Carmelite monasteries) and lovely autumn flowers in bloom - roses, chrysanthemums and a type of strawberry bush (the leaves and flowers are typical strawberry but it was very tall, 3 feet high!)
When we finished chatting, it was 6pm and I had to rush back for our own Vespers - remember this week I'm the hebdom. Thiago drove the car so he dropped me off at Damascus Gate - and we said goodbye, which may be the last time because he's going back to Brazil next week for his holidays and I have a sneaky feeling he will stay there for good - to get married. It's been tough for him living 2 years in Israel away from his fiancee. So Thiago, have a great life with Adelina; and remember "man, you don't know nothing!"
Tomorrow we celebrate the Holyland's patron - Our Lady of the Holyland. Will let you know what happened. Pray that Our Lady of the Holyland will bring peace to this land.
This is only going to create more roadblocks, more checkpoints, more retaliation. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017609728&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Yesterday evening I was up at Pater Noster monastery of Carmelite nuns - that's where we commemorate Christ teaching the Lord's Prayer to the disciples - up on the Mt of Olives. We (me and Thiago and Cris) joined in their vespers and after that several sisters and the superior stayed to chat. They have some young sisters from Korea and the Philippines (I guess) while the rest are French and Arab christians. Total of 16 nuns there. We were allowed to enter the cloister (horrors!!!!) and it was beautiful with a cross in the middle (typical of all Carmelite monasteries) and lovely autumn flowers in bloom - roses, chrysanthemums and a type of strawberry bush (the leaves and flowers are typical strawberry but it was very tall, 3 feet high!)
When we finished chatting, it was 6pm and I had to rush back for our own Vespers - remember this week I'm the hebdom. Thiago drove the car so he dropped me off at Damascus Gate - and we said goodbye, which may be the last time because he's going back to Brazil next week for his holidays and I have a sneaky feeling he will stay there for good - to get married. It's been tough for him living 2 years in Israel away from his fiancee. So Thiago, have a great life with Adelina; and remember "man, you don't know nothing!"
Tomorrow we celebrate the Holyland's patron - Our Lady of the Holyland. Will let you know what happened. Pray that Our Lady of the Holyland will bring peace to this land.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Of kola nuts
I finally got to see (and eat) a kola nut. So what is it? Back in my time we had to study Chinua Achebe's "Things fall apart" as part of the literature course - and Achebe mentioned many times of the tribal chiefs exchanging kola nuts. Jean Paul brought some back from Cameroun and he gave one to me. Apparently only chiefs may use and eat kola nuts. It looks like an almond in a pitted/grooved shell and inside is an almond like centre that is very tangy in taste. Since Jean Paul comes from a chiefly family, he may eat it. The custom is for the chief to break the nut, take a bite from it and share it with the other chief/guest. So Jean Paul broke the nut, bit off one end to eat and gave me the rest - wow - so like I'm being treated as a African chief now! Because it's very tangy in taste, you have to eat it with a handful of other roasted nuts (look like very small peanuts). Now that was very nice to taste. We had a good laugh because I was being treated royally by an African chief.
The weather is changing again - the sun sets early at 5pm and the rains are here again. It gets pretty cold in the nights. The canaries are also feeling it. And for us - it means wearing more clothes especially during Vespers when the church gets very cold.
Today we celebrate the memorial of St. John Capistran, a Franciscan preacher in Europe in the 15th century. His teacher was St Bernardine of Siena and his classmate was St. James of the Marches. His preaching for reform (he infleunced St Colette's reform of the Poor Clare nuns) brought on the accusation that he was a heretic but he was acquitted by the Church; in fact he was canonised a saint.
The weather is changing again - the sun sets early at 5pm and the rains are here again. It gets pretty cold in the nights. The canaries are also feeling it. And for us - it means wearing more clothes especially during Vespers when the church gets very cold.
Today we celebrate the memorial of St. John Capistran, a Franciscan preacher in Europe in the 15th century. His teacher was St Bernardine of Siena and his classmate was St. James of the Marches. His preaching for reform (he infleunced St Colette's reform of the Poor Clare nuns) brought on the accusation that he was a heretic but he was acquitted by the Church; in fact he was canonised a saint.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Roots
The past week, every evening lots of kids (10 yrs to 20) having been packing into the Omariyya Boys School hall late into the night. I know that every Thursday evening they have martial arts classes (they're very into kung fu kinda thing ... you know ... like everywhere else). But bright search lights have been turned on till midnight and kids coming in and out - very noisy. You see my room is directly opposite the hall and classrooms so it gets lots of noise. I have to shut the double windows to block it out.
So last night we found out why - funky loud music blaring from 4pm towards. And lots of kids in martial arts wear. There was a competition or exhibition of the different groups and it was drawing alot of attention from the arab crowd. Kids as young as 10 (I guess) were part of the competition. Hope no one got hurt. And I saw a chinese man among them - must be their instructor. All the excitement - and noise. We couldn't study - some of our students moved into the library to get away from it.
Well I guess these arab kids need this type of healthy diversions - it gives them some discipline and control over their lives; to experience a foreign culture (pretty much Jacky Chan type culture but it helps when you're living in this land - a little fantasy to get away from the harsh and violent reality); the nearest thing they can ever have in contacting the Far East because they will never ever be able to travel abroad; they dream of the peace and tranquility of the Far East (obviously they haven't read about the Taiwanese parliament or how it treats Chinese envoys http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7681556.stm), the values of co-existence (ditto above), tolerance, drinking tea under willow trees .....
It's all ok in this make-belief world so long as these kids don't use the martial arts to fight and rob people. I see their great joy when they receive a "chinese" type shirt that they wear when practising - or the cloth chinese kung fu shoes (mind you they can be very expensive) - it gives them a sense of pride; it's like the greatest thing that has ever happened in their lives ... and I compare that with all the modern stuff the kids in HK or Singapore get to play with and still are not satisfied .... and i sigh.
Anyway after having lived in this land for these years, I've seen the joys and sorrows of these people always as an outsider - but this year, I'm feeling it deep inside. I may not agree with everything they do or think, but I can understand their hardships. Is it a sign that I'm growing roots?
So last night we found out why - funky loud music blaring from 4pm towards. And lots of kids in martial arts wear. There was a competition or exhibition of the different groups and it was drawing alot of attention from the arab crowd. Kids as young as 10 (I guess) were part of the competition. Hope no one got hurt. And I saw a chinese man among them - must be their instructor. All the excitement - and noise. We couldn't study - some of our students moved into the library to get away from it.
Well I guess these arab kids need this type of healthy diversions - it gives them some discipline and control over their lives; to experience a foreign culture (pretty much Jacky Chan type culture but it helps when you're living in this land - a little fantasy to get away from the harsh and violent reality); the nearest thing they can ever have in contacting the Far East because they will never ever be able to travel abroad; they dream of the peace and tranquility of the Far East (obviously they haven't read about the Taiwanese parliament or how it treats Chinese envoys http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7681556.stm), the values of co-existence (ditto above), tolerance, drinking tea under willow trees .....
It's all ok in this make-belief world so long as these kids don't use the martial arts to fight and rob people. I see their great joy when they receive a "chinese" type shirt that they wear when practising - or the cloth chinese kung fu shoes (mind you they can be very expensive) - it gives them a sense of pride; it's like the greatest thing that has ever happened in their lives ... and I compare that with all the modern stuff the kids in HK or Singapore get to play with and still are not satisfied .... and i sigh.
Anyway after having lived in this land for these years, I've seen the joys and sorrows of these people always as an outsider - but this year, I'm feeling it deep inside. I may not agree with everything they do or think, but I can understand their hardships. Is it a sign that I'm growing roots?
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
What a feat!
Did you see this one yet? http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1079087/Pictured-The-1-500-ton-Catholic-church-moved-248ft-rotated-90-degrees-make-way-new-road.html Everyone back here seemed to have seen it on the news (I don't watch the news - ever) and talked about it since last night to this morning but I was a total blur until I found the news on this site.
Meanwhile the Olympic - and especially the Paralympic closing must have really been spectacular - because even today people come up and tell me it's the best they've ever seen and will remain unmatched for many more games to come. Too bad I never got to see it though - but someone from Shanghai just sent me a DVD on it, so when I'm free (if ever) I'll watch it.
Meanwhile the Olympic - and especially the Paralympic closing must have really been spectacular - because even today people come up and tell me it's the best they've ever seen and will remain unmatched for many more games to come. Too bad I never got to see it though - but someone from Shanghai just sent me a DVD on it, so when I'm free (if ever) I'll watch it.
Laughing stock
Where is the Iraqi army? Where is Bush? Christians continue to be persecuted openly and without any help from any quarter. It's time you people make a stand and write to the relevant embassies in your countries and make your concerns as a fellow Christian known loud and clear. This cannot continue. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/20/iraq.main/index.html
And don't make yourself a laughing stock, Miss Rice - go live in Gaza and Mosul before you tell us that!!! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7681000.stm Meanwhile "Dead Man Walking" Sister Prejean was "disinvited" from a keynote speech because of her stance against the govt.'s war in the Middle East. http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0823-08.htm
And as expected, anti-Catholic feelings are being expressed by some quarters here in Israel - the latest is the photo of Pope Benedict superimposed on a swastika. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7679934.stm
And a little good news - Pope Shenouda is getting better. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/middle_east_enl_1224513889/html/1.stm
And don't make yourself a laughing stock, Miss Rice - go live in Gaza and Mosul before you tell us that!!! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7681000.stm Meanwhile "Dead Man Walking" Sister Prejean was "disinvited" from a keynote speech because of her stance against the govt.'s war in the Middle East. http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0823-08.htm
And as expected, anti-Catholic feelings are being expressed by some quarters here in Israel - the latest is the photo of Pope Benedict superimposed on a swastika. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7679934.stm
And a little good news - Pope Shenouda is getting better. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/middle_east_enl_1224513889/html/1.stm
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sr. Emmanuelle R.I.P.
More violence in the olive groves. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7679399.stm And I guess the situation in Jerusalem is still tense because I saw two mounted police riding into the Old City from New Gate - they seldom if ever do that! And since it's closing into the feast of Simchat Torah, the police/army presence in the Old City is stepped up.
Meanwhile Sister Emmanuelle - the nun of the slums - the relief of Cairo died. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7679487.stm She had done so much for the destitute and slum people of Cairo, but she never got any acknowledgement. People know Mother Teresa and never have heard of Sister Emmanuelle. But she did a lot - believe me.
And all the news you hear about the Holy Sepulchre is hype - it's always been like this here in the Middle East but it takes an outsider who comes from a comfortable middle class environment to be shocked at a different culture and way of life that he cannot and will not understand. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7676332.stm Get real, Mr! Since Christ died and rose again, we've lived under the Romans, the Persians, the Ayyubids, Mamluks, Ottomans and Brits .... it's a way of life here. Everyone at dinner table - when this news was brought up - just laughed and poofed at such bourgeois spirituality. Go to Gaza and Iraq, Mr, and see how the Christians are really suffering - and write about that!!!!!
Meanwhile Sister Emmanuelle - the nun of the slums - the relief of Cairo died. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7679487.stm She had done so much for the destitute and slum people of Cairo, but she never got any acknowledgement. People know Mother Teresa and never have heard of Sister Emmanuelle. But she did a lot - believe me.
And all the news you hear about the Holy Sepulchre is hype - it's always been like this here in the Middle East but it takes an outsider who comes from a comfortable middle class environment to be shocked at a different culture and way of life that he cannot and will not understand. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7676332.stm Get real, Mr! Since Christ died and rose again, we've lived under the Romans, the Persians, the Ayyubids, Mamluks, Ottomans and Brits .... it's a way of life here. Everyone at dinner table - when this news was brought up - just laughed and poofed at such bourgeois spirituality. Go to Gaza and Iraq, Mr, and see how the Christians are really suffering - and write about that!!!!!
Problems
Winter is quickly setting in and the olives have to be harvested as quickly as possible before they spoil. However this year many Palestinian families have been attacked while harvesting their crop by Jewish settlers who have taken over the land. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017576844&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Olives, as you read so often in the Bible, is the most important staple for the local people here. Without this year's harvest, the families will have no oil and food for the rest of the year.
However the settlers are provoking more trouble by moving into the olive groves of the Palestinians: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017576434&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and now they're sending girls inside and occupy the land because it's less likely the soldiers will dare physically remove them.
Meanwhile Pope Benedict stood firm and said he will not visit Israel unless a plaque accusing Pope Pius XII for being silent in the face of the Nazi persecution of Jews be removed in an Israeli museum. The Church has always said Pope Pius remained relatively silent because any active intervention would have made the Holocaust worse. And Pope Pius did encourage priests and nuns at grassroots level to protect and save Jews - but Israeli right-wingers say "It's not enough". Now what does that mean? See http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017567342&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull However some Vatican circles and the Israeli statesman Shimon Peres insist this question of Pope Pius should not interfere with Benedict's visit. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017574500&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Well you can imagine the demonstrations in the streets and anti-Catholic feelings if the Pope decides to come.
Olives, as you read so often in the Bible, is the most important staple for the local people here. Without this year's harvest, the families will have no oil and food for the rest of the year.
However the settlers are provoking more trouble by moving into the olive groves of the Palestinians: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017576434&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and now they're sending girls inside and occupy the land because it's less likely the soldiers will dare physically remove them.
Meanwhile Pope Benedict stood firm and said he will not visit Israel unless a plaque accusing Pope Pius XII for being silent in the face of the Nazi persecution of Jews be removed in an Israeli museum. The Church has always said Pope Pius remained relatively silent because any active intervention would have made the Holocaust worse. And Pope Pius did encourage priests and nuns at grassroots level to protect and save Jews - but Israeli right-wingers say "It's not enough". Now what does that mean? See http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017567342&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull However some Vatican circles and the Israeli statesman Shimon Peres insist this question of Pope Pius should not interfere with Benedict's visit. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017574500&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Well you can imagine the demonstrations in the streets and anti-Catholic feelings if the Pope decides to come.
Newly beatified
Yesterday the parents of St Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower) were beatified. Both wanted to be priest/nun but changed their minds and got married instead - had 9 children; 4 died and the other 5 girls became nuns and one of whom is of course a saint.
They're now officially Blessed Louis Martin and Blessed Zelie Guerin. And their picture (in the Lisieux Cathedral) is next to their daughter St Therese. So you parents out there, you have a "patron saint" couple to intercede for you now.
They're now officially Blessed Louis Martin and Blessed Zelie Guerin. And their picture (in the Lisieux Cathedral) is next to their daughter St Therese. So you parents out there, you have a "patron saint" couple to intercede for you now.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Violence in Jerusalem
Unfortunately the violence has spread to Jerusalem. Heavy police and military presence in and outside the Old City. The Jewish feast of Sukkot is not over yet - there's still Simchat Torah next week. We'll have to be careful about going out now. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017571010&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Meanwhile the world famous IDF (Israel Defense Force) needs to re-evaluate itself now that an IDF post was infiltrated and a soldier attacked. It's well known that IDF morale has been on a low but this event is compromising on security. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017566808&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Meanwhile the world famous IDF (Israel Defense Force) needs to re-evaluate itself now that an IDF post was infiltrated and a soldier attacked. It's well known that IDF morale has been on a low but this event is compromising on security. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017566808&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Mother Theresa again
Sunday. This week I'm the hebdom (remember that word?) with Fr Cignelli and Marco. Luckily Fr Cignelli offered to preside at the 8am Mass which is always preached. I presided at the 6.30am Mass which I didn't preach but I asked Fr Pazzini to say something instead. Whew!
As usual cleaned out the birdcage after breakfast (meaning a cup of cafe-latte since I've lost all appetite in the morning a monthlong now). Ephrem, an African student who just moved in, offered to help out. So I taught him what are the things that need to be done. And talk about African students, Jean Paul has finally returned - he's the last student to return back to school. And he put on alot of weight! He did some parish work in Italy, then went to Paris and then several other places.
Meantime I'm taking two courses in school as my thesis moderator asked - Advanced Hebrew and the Book of Wisdom. That means 5 hours a week in classes.
My ankle is still painful - much more so as the weather in the nights drop to 15 degrees.
Oh and as it's Sunday I turned on the Australian Christian Channel on the web and found out that there's another instalment on the film about Mother Theresa - this time in her old age. I managed to watch only the 2nd half. It was an exciting moment in the film. Her work had spread so far and wide that influential people began to gather and organise this worldwide charity - planning future work, PR, fundraising etc.... It became a business corporation. Mother Theresa simply stood up and said "We'll go back to our original charism and trust in God." Board members protested saying it was in the statutes to develope this organisation, and she said "It WAS in the statutes. It doesn't exist now." And she walked out. Everything folded up then and there. The sisters went back to the primitive idea of relying on Providence, no more board meetings of professionals. It came across clearly that Mother Theresa was gruff, direct and minced no words. People saw her as rude, ignorant and no foresight. But time has shown that she was right. In the film, the professional board members protested to the priest who had worked with Mother Theresa all those years and had organised the governing board, as Mother Theresa walked out "Father, all the 30 years of your work will be lost", to which he replied "And it took me these 30 years to realise that Mother is correct."
As usual cleaned out the birdcage after breakfast (meaning a cup of cafe-latte since I've lost all appetite in the morning a monthlong now). Ephrem, an African student who just moved in, offered to help out. So I taught him what are the things that need to be done. And talk about African students, Jean Paul has finally returned - he's the last student to return back to school. And he put on alot of weight! He did some parish work in Italy, then went to Paris and then several other places.
Meantime I'm taking two courses in school as my thesis moderator asked - Advanced Hebrew and the Book of Wisdom. That means 5 hours a week in classes.
My ankle is still painful - much more so as the weather in the nights drop to 15 degrees.
Oh and as it's Sunday I turned on the Australian Christian Channel on the web and found out that there's another instalment on the film about Mother Theresa - this time in her old age. I managed to watch only the 2nd half. It was an exciting moment in the film. Her work had spread so far and wide that influential people began to gather and organise this worldwide charity - planning future work, PR, fundraising etc.... It became a business corporation. Mother Theresa simply stood up and said "We'll go back to our original charism and trust in God." Board members protested saying it was in the statutes to develope this organisation, and she said "It WAS in the statutes. It doesn't exist now." And she walked out. Everything folded up then and there. The sisters went back to the primitive idea of relying on Providence, no more board meetings of professionals. It came across clearly that Mother Theresa was gruff, direct and minced no words. People saw her as rude, ignorant and no foresight. But time has shown that she was right. In the film, the professional board members protested to the priest who had worked with Mother Theresa all those years and had organised the governing board, as Mother Theresa walked out "Father, all the 30 years of your work will be lost", to which he replied "And it took me these 30 years to realise that Mother is correct."
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Busy Saturday
Was a little busy today. Had some important guests coming - important enough to skip school this morning! Got permission from the professor and dean (in fact they encouraged me to meet with these guests) to miss the lesson though! That doesn't mean that you kids out there can do the same (unless you have a very good reason of course!)
Yesterday I had to go to St Saviour's monastery to buy some gifts for these guests. It was quite difficult as not all of them are Christians.
While waiting for the guests to come, I spent the time cleaning my room. With my ankle and knee problems, it was difficult to bend and clean corners or under the bed. S I had to be creative and find some other means to get it done.
Our new superior Fr Najib arrived today and had his first lunch with us. Hope he'll feel at home.
Right now the Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I is addressing the Synod of Bishops. He's got some interesting things to say like the Bible and art/icons; our worthiness to hear the Word of God; the Bible seen in nature. Will let you know what's up tomorrow.
Yesterday I had to go to St Saviour's monastery to buy some gifts for these guests. It was quite difficult as not all of them are Christians.
While waiting for the guests to come, I spent the time cleaning my room. With my ankle and knee problems, it was difficult to bend and clean corners or under the bed. S I had to be creative and find some other means to get it done.
Our new superior Fr Najib arrived today and had his first lunch with us. Hope he'll feel at home.
Right now the Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I is addressing the Synod of Bishops. He's got some interesting things to say like the Bible and art/icons; our worthiness to hear the Word of God; the Bible seen in nature. Will let you know what's up tomorrow.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Priestly Blessing
Did I mention that the olives pickled this year are absolutely sumptious? The first bottle was opened for dinner and it really was good. quite unlike last year's which turned to mush in the pickle bottles. That's because this year a different technique was used: last year Sr Geronima and her gang bashed the olives with meat tenderisers before pickling them - the olives simply turned to mush after months of soaking in vineger and salt. This year the cook simply sliced the olives on one side without bruising the olives. Result - firm, tasty olives: tangy and tart because its fresh, juicy as well.
Yesterday morning the Priestly Blessing at the Wailing Wall was astounding - literally thousands packed the plaza and it was impossible to move. I was afraid of a crush but luckily nothing happened. The first blessing was after 9.15am when the organisers advised everyone to drink water because it was getting too hot and stuffy; and warnings to women to keep to their side of the plaza (men and women do not mix). Then the Hazzan (cantor) called out "kohanim" which means "priests" and those men from the priestly caste (those usually with the surname Cohen, Cowen, Coen) draped their tallits (prayer shawls) over themselves and raised their hands in blessing. Then the chanting began. It was bewitching - absolute silence from the thousands gathered at the plaza, children huddling under the tallits of their fathers, grown men bowed in humility. Everything stood still for 3 minutes as the blessing God taught Aaron the first high Priest some 3,200 years ago through the haunting voice of the Hazzan resounded over the ancient stones of the Temple Wall so sacred to the Jews. Almost everyone was carrying their mobile phones or MP3 recorders to record the blessing which occurs only twice a year and only since 1971 here at this ancient site where the Temple once stood 1,930 years ago where this blessing was given every morning. It was not the first time for me, but each time I come for this event, goosebumps rise all over because this haunting chant evoked an ancient liturgy that Jesus himself had heard morning after morning when he was at the Temple - a blessing that he himself as God, had taught to Aaron and his descendents.
The second blessing was an hour later, and the crowds had reached its peak. The two Chief Rabbis of Israel (Ashkenazi and Sephardi) had come for the blessing (they themselves are not priests) and I could see them far away nearing the Wall: under large colourful umbrellas like the Ethiopics carry, each wearing their turbans and cloaks. The Hazzan once again called the priests to prepare themselves and then began the chant. After that it took me almost 20 minutes to get out of the plaza towards Dung Gate - there was no turning back as the flow of people kept pushing in that direction. It would have been alot closer to my home the other way around but the crowds prevented me from doing it.
Remember I said that this blessing, though reinstituted at the Wailing Wall only in 1971, was not popular for many many years but only gained significance these last few years? Today as I stood among the crowds of Jews, I felt why it had become so important to them. It united them as a people, giving them an identity, recalling the promise by God of a blessing to Abraham and his descendents, this same blessing that was intimately linked to God's gift of the land of Israel, the blessing of peace. It was something that gave meaning to their present-day situation.
But it is also this blessing that is now carried into the Church. As we now own Abraham as our father in Faith, we too share in this blessing. Our new Israel is heaven - the Kingdom of God. We too are united by a common faith and confess a common creed. We too share in this promise that is now fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and we look forward to that peace that only He can give, the peace that he offered at his resurrection appearance "Do not be afraid. Peace be with you"; the same peace that we share with each other before communion.
And so we recall the Aaronic blessing:
"May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May He shine his face upon you and be merciful to you.
May He lift up his face toward you and give you peace."
*In memory of Daniel Cavero*
Yesterday morning the Priestly Blessing at the Wailing Wall was astounding - literally thousands packed the plaza and it was impossible to move. I was afraid of a crush but luckily nothing happened. The first blessing was after 9.15am when the organisers advised everyone to drink water because it was getting too hot and stuffy; and warnings to women to keep to their side of the plaza (men and women do not mix). Then the Hazzan (cantor) called out "kohanim" which means "priests" and those men from the priestly caste (those usually with the surname Cohen, Cowen, Coen) draped their tallits (prayer shawls) over themselves and raised their hands in blessing. Then the chanting began. It was bewitching - absolute silence from the thousands gathered at the plaza, children huddling under the tallits of their fathers, grown men bowed in humility. Everything stood still for 3 minutes as the blessing God taught Aaron the first high Priest some 3,200 years ago through the haunting voice of the Hazzan resounded over the ancient stones of the Temple Wall so sacred to the Jews. Almost everyone was carrying their mobile phones or MP3 recorders to record the blessing which occurs only twice a year and only since 1971 here at this ancient site where the Temple once stood 1,930 years ago where this blessing was given every morning. It was not the first time for me, but each time I come for this event, goosebumps rise all over because this haunting chant evoked an ancient liturgy that Jesus himself had heard morning after morning when he was at the Temple - a blessing that he himself as God, had taught to Aaron and his descendents.
The second blessing was an hour later, and the crowds had reached its peak. The two Chief Rabbis of Israel (Ashkenazi and Sephardi) had come for the blessing (they themselves are not priests) and I could see them far away nearing the Wall: under large colourful umbrellas like the Ethiopics carry, each wearing their turbans and cloaks. The Hazzan once again called the priests to prepare themselves and then began the chant. After that it took me almost 20 minutes to get out of the plaza towards Dung Gate - there was no turning back as the flow of people kept pushing in that direction. It would have been alot closer to my home the other way around but the crowds prevented me from doing it.
Remember I said that this blessing, though reinstituted at the Wailing Wall only in 1971, was not popular for many many years but only gained significance these last few years? Today as I stood among the crowds of Jews, I felt why it had become so important to them. It united them as a people, giving them an identity, recalling the promise by God of a blessing to Abraham and his descendents, this same blessing that was intimately linked to God's gift of the land of Israel, the blessing of peace. It was something that gave meaning to their present-day situation.
But it is also this blessing that is now carried into the Church. As we now own Abraham as our father in Faith, we too share in this blessing. Our new Israel is heaven - the Kingdom of God. We too are united by a common faith and confess a common creed. We too share in this promise that is now fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and we look forward to that peace that only He can give, the peace that he offered at his resurrection appearance "Do not be afraid. Peace be with you"; the same peace that we share with each other before communion.
And so we recall the Aaronic blessing:
"May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May He shine his face upon you and be merciful to you.
May He lift up his face toward you and give you peace."
*In memory of Daniel Cavero*
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Rain
It drizzled the whole morning. The sky was heavy and dark. And a cold wind was blowing. The temperature fell to 15 degrees! It was cold and wet. But afternoon the sun came back for a few hours to dry the ground and again darkness enveloped us at 5pm because it's winter time. But there was a lovely amber full moon shining over the Mt of Olives - incredible sight. It was awesome. It's the full moon of Sukkot.
This morning I will go to the Wailing Wall for the Jewish Priestly Blessing (Birchat Kohanim) which takes place only twice a year at the Wall. This ancient blessing (of Aaron in the Book of Numbers chapter 6 verse 22 onwards) was given every morning by the priest who offered the incense sacrifice in the Temple 2000 yrs ago. But since the destruction of the Temple in AD70 it was rarely done in this holy site. The blessing at the Wall was revived in 1971 I think; and it never attarcted much attention until last year when immense crowds came so that the police had to block off the roads and stop people from entering the Wailing Wall Plaza. I hope it wouldn't happen again this year. I'll go there with my 2 Brazilian friends Cris and Thiago.
Meantime my research is going ahead - rather tediously. Get a terrible headache each time the day ends after I've written or read lots of books. The thing is I don't take a break in between. I just got through 2-4 hours of work and then get terribly tired. And hungry. I should eat snacks in between to stave off the hunger but I don't ... so when it comes to lunch or dinner I gorge myself and get terribly sick afterwards and regret. Hmmm the pattern is getting stuck so I'd better break it.
But meantime the rains will hopefully continue to pour and the dry parched land gets a soaking. We need it.
This morning I will go to the Wailing Wall for the Jewish Priestly Blessing (Birchat Kohanim) which takes place only twice a year at the Wall. This ancient blessing (of Aaron in the Book of Numbers chapter 6 verse 22 onwards) was given every morning by the priest who offered the incense sacrifice in the Temple 2000 yrs ago. But since the destruction of the Temple in AD70 it was rarely done in this holy site. The blessing at the Wall was revived in 1971 I think; and it never attarcted much attention until last year when immense crowds came so that the police had to block off the roads and stop people from entering the Wailing Wall Plaza. I hope it wouldn't happen again this year. I'll go there with my 2 Brazilian friends Cris and Thiago.
Meantime my research is going ahead - rather tediously. Get a terrible headache each time the day ends after I've written or read lots of books. The thing is I don't take a break in between. I just got through 2-4 hours of work and then get terribly tired. And hungry. I should eat snacks in between to stave off the hunger but I don't ... so when it comes to lunch or dinner I gorge myself and get terribly sick afterwards and regret. Hmmm the pattern is getting stuck so I'd better break it.
But meantime the rains will hopefully continue to pour and the dry parched land gets a soaking. We need it.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Hamsin
A hamsin was blowing throughout the whole day yesterday - probably the last one this year (hamsin = desert winds, sand storm). The whole sky was a sickly yellow. Sunlight was hardly seeping through and lights had to be turned on indoors. The air was hot (35 degrees) and very uncomfortable.
Talk, talk and empty talk - there was no protection for the Iraqi Catholics as promised by the govt. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/13/iraq.main/index.html I just simply cannot understand how in this 21st century people are still forcing others to join their religion - and I mean this generally, cf the situations in India, etc... Well we might as well revert to the Middle Ages again. And the problem in Akko is not good. Like the following article says: if non-Jews must obey Jewish holiday laws, then shouldn't Jews follow non-Jewish holiday laws? http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017529549&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and now inflammatory words are issued by outside groups: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017531048&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Let commonsense prevail! Tawfik Jamal, the car-driver in the midst of this affair, said it was a mistake - so let's move on from there. It's not worth the shattered lives and properties lost during these 4 days of rioting.
Anyway a little happy news: Monday was William's birthday - our Lebanese seminarian now in Rome. Tried calling his mobile twice but the line was cut (found out he was in class! had to turn it off when it rang!), so I messaged him. An hour later after class, he messaged back and then called my room. We had a nice chat (5 minutes and the line was cut - it was a public pay phone), he's doing well and his italian is much better now. He used to speak mostly french - his arabic isn't as good as his french. But now in Rome he's forced to speak Italian everyday.
Today is the feast of St Teresa of Avila - the Carmelite reformer. Her determination to reform the Order earned her the scorn and enmity of many. They called her stupid, headstrong, individualistic, stubborn, obstinate, proud, rebel and tried to excommunicate her, imprison her, exiled her etc... Well today she is a saint, a doctor of the Church and we say she was far-sighted, persevering, inspired by God, .... all those virtues. How the song changes in time! The lesson to learn is - don't judge too quickly. You will only look like a fool when time moves on and prove you wrong.
Talk, talk and empty talk - there was no protection for the Iraqi Catholics as promised by the govt. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/13/iraq.main/index.html I just simply cannot understand how in this 21st century people are still forcing others to join their religion - and I mean this generally, cf the situations in India, etc... Well we might as well revert to the Middle Ages again. And the problem in Akko is not good. Like the following article says: if non-Jews must obey Jewish holiday laws, then shouldn't Jews follow non-Jewish holiday laws? http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017529549&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and now inflammatory words are issued by outside groups: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017531048&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Let commonsense prevail! Tawfik Jamal, the car-driver in the midst of this affair, said it was a mistake - so let's move on from there. It's not worth the shattered lives and properties lost during these 4 days of rioting.
Anyway a little happy news: Monday was William's birthday - our Lebanese seminarian now in Rome. Tried calling his mobile twice but the line was cut (found out he was in class! had to turn it off when it rang!), so I messaged him. An hour later after class, he messaged back and then called my room. We had a nice chat (5 minutes and the line was cut - it was a public pay phone), he's doing well and his italian is much better now. He used to speak mostly french - his arabic isn't as good as his french. But now in Rome he's forced to speak Italian everyday.
Today is the feast of St Teresa of Avila - the Carmelite reformer. Her determination to reform the Order earned her the scorn and enmity of many. They called her stupid, headstrong, individualistic, stubborn, obstinate, proud, rebel and tried to excommunicate her, imprison her, exiled her etc... Well today she is a saint, a doctor of the Church and we say she was far-sighted, persevering, inspired by God, .... all those virtues. How the song changes in time! The lesson to learn is - don't judge too quickly. You will only look like a fool when time moves on and prove you wrong.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Sukkot
As Sukkot began yesterday evening, scores of soldiers and police could be found throughout the Old City and outside. I guess they fear an outbreak of tension in Jerusalem - and rightly so. Acre is simply hanging on and who knows if Sukkot will bring more violence. Hopefully common sense will prevail. I was coming home through Damascus Gate yesterday afternoon at about 3pm - the Gate was blocked with people. As I squeezed in, I found out soldiers were separating two boys who got into a fight - well, boys meaning late teens. One was a trolley pusher (many young men do this very hard work of transporting goods in and out of the Old City, pushing trolleys up and down the hill. These guys usually come from poor families who need to supplement their income so instead of studying, they work. They're streetwise and know how to defend themselves - very tough kids.) and the other was probably a college student. Anyway the soldiers did a fine job of separating the guys and trying to talk some sense into them - the soldiers were druze because they spoke arabic well. However I thought how risky this was as the soldiers stood apart in corners to talk to the boys separately - with a huge crowd standing around. Someone could've easily taken advantage and launched an attack on the separated soldiers. But the soldiers took the risk of bringing some peace to the neighbourhood and they must really be lauded - after all, they're working on a national holiday as well.
Peres visiting Akko (Acre - better known as Arc as in Joan of Arc = John of Akko = the Crusader Knights of St John in Akko); with the chief rabbis talking to the arab leaders on the eve of Sukkot - all good signs that everyone is serious about peace. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017526138&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
My ankle is not the least good - hurts alot even at night. So I couldn't walk home from Terra Santa College some 2km away. Marcio my Brazilian friend working at the Media Centre offered to drive me back to Damascus gate. That's when I saw the incident.
Now read this - kosher is not just food and clothes, it's cellphones as well! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7636021.stm
So Sukkot is on us - the greatest feast of the Jewish people, full of rejoicing. Hag Sameah! (Happy Feastday!)
Peres visiting Akko (Acre - better known as Arc as in Joan of Arc = John of Akko = the Crusader Knights of St John in Akko); with the chief rabbis talking to the arab leaders on the eve of Sukkot - all good signs that everyone is serious about peace. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017526138&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
My ankle is not the least good - hurts alot even at night. So I couldn't walk home from Terra Santa College some 2km away. Marcio my Brazilian friend working at the Media Centre offered to drive me back to Damascus gate. That's when I saw the incident.
Now read this - kosher is not just food and clothes, it's cellphones as well! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7636021.stm
So Sukkot is on us - the greatest feast of the Jewish people, full of rejoicing. Hag Sameah! (Happy Feastday!)
Monday, October 13, 2008
Yesterday
Yesterday's celebration of the jubilees went off well. I didn't concelebrate the Mass because I was already at the Holy Sepulchre earlier (4.30am) to say Mass and Lauds. At lunch the Custos with the Custodial Economo (treasurer) came. Spoke with the Custos twice during lunch - he was very insistent that I complete my studies by this year as he has an new assignment for me - you wouldn't guess where! As usual we bantered. I always look forward to meeting him because we can talk.
The lunch was also a turning point because our superior for just one year will be transferred to Sicily this Friday. The new superior also came for lunch - Fr Najib Ibrahim - a Lebanese bible scholar whom I met back in 2004 in Rome. The letters of obedience were read before we began lunch and the transition will be 5 days. Hope Fr Carlo our outgoing superior will be fine in his new monastery.
Bro John Savage of the Holy Sepulchre made his solemn profession yesterday with 6 other friars. He mentioned to me last week that he would like to eat chinese food so yesterday morning I walked up to the Chinese restaurent "Mandarin" behind the Jaffa Street Post Office and got some takeaways - sesame shrimps, sweet/sour pork and cashewnut chicken. Hope he liked it. The friars in the Holy Sepulchre work very hard and rarely have days off. They still wake up at midnight for prayers, then again at 3am I think. They take constant care of the Empty Tomb as well as Mt. Calvary and since the Church doors close early (keys kept by 2 muslim families), their movement outside the basilica is very limited. I try to make them happy and life less stressful; after all they are taking care of the most important place in all Christianity - the place where Christ died, was buried and rose again. I think we owe them alot.
And yesterday the Pope canonised Sr. Alphonsa the indian Clarist nun. She's the first Indian woman saint - a boost to the persecuted Church there. Lets hope she does a miracle soon and save the Christians there. Which leds me to the other point - Catholics being killed in Iraq. Let's see if the Iraqi govt. will do what it promises. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7665830.stm
The lunch was also a turning point because our superior for just one year will be transferred to Sicily this Friday. The new superior also came for lunch - Fr Najib Ibrahim - a Lebanese bible scholar whom I met back in 2004 in Rome. The letters of obedience were read before we began lunch and the transition will be 5 days. Hope Fr Carlo our outgoing superior will be fine in his new monastery.
Bro John Savage of the Holy Sepulchre made his solemn profession yesterday with 6 other friars. He mentioned to me last week that he would like to eat chinese food so yesterday morning I walked up to the Chinese restaurent "Mandarin" behind the Jaffa Street Post Office and got some takeaways - sesame shrimps, sweet/sour pork and cashewnut chicken. Hope he liked it. The friars in the Holy Sepulchre work very hard and rarely have days off. They still wake up at midnight for prayers, then again at 3am I think. They take constant care of the Empty Tomb as well as Mt. Calvary and since the Church doors close early (keys kept by 2 muslim families), their movement outside the basilica is very limited. I try to make them happy and life less stressful; after all they are taking care of the most important place in all Christianity - the place where Christ died, was buried and rose again. I think we owe them alot.
And yesterday the Pope canonised Sr. Alphonsa the indian Clarist nun. She's the first Indian woman saint - a boost to the persecuted Church there. Lets hope she does a miracle soon and save the Christians there. Which leds me to the other point - Catholics being killed in Iraq. Let's see if the Iraqi govt. will do what it promises. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7665830.stm
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Pray
The Christians in Mosul (Iraq) are under terror and death - many killed and many more escaping into the villages this week. Pray for them! Do something! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7665830.stm
Sukkot hopes
Another night of riots. Tensions are not subsiding. Like I said - hope this doesn't spread south to us. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017501207&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Meanwhile it was another tense moment at the end of Yom Kippur - at the border with Lebanon. Brings back nightmares of the Yom Kippur war 35 yrs back. Luckily nothing happened. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017498735&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
And as the olive harvest is underway - more violence. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017508011&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Tomorrow evening begins Sukkot - the feast of Tabernacles (Tents / Booths). Hope it'll be a happy affair for everyone and all violence cease.
Meanwhile it was another tense moment at the end of Yom Kippur - at the border with Lebanon. Brings back nightmares of the Yom Kippur war 35 yrs back. Luckily nothing happened. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017498735&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
And as the olive harvest is underway - more violence. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017508011&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Tomorrow evening begins Sukkot - the feast of Tabernacles (Tents / Booths). Hope it'll be a happy affair for everyone and all violence cease.
Greater things
Today we celebrate several anniversaries of the professors: Fr Lino (60 yrs as franciscan), Fr Enzo (50 yrs priesthood) and Fr Massimo (25 yrs priesthood). There will be a solemn Mass this morning and then later the Custos will come to lunch.
Yesterday I happened to log on the ACC website (Australian Christian Channel) and they were broadcasting the film "Mother Teresa". The dialogue was very stiff but the scenes were good (shot in Sri Lanka). It's very touching because it showed the early years of Mother's struggle with the Sisters of Loreto, the church authorities, the Hindus in order to fulfill Christ's words to her to start a new congregation. They called her stubborn and naive; now in hindsight they say she was persevering, committed, convinced, tenacious. It's strange how time changes perspectives. It's the same with Fr Allegra, the founder of the Studium Biblicum Hong Kong. He forged ahead with projects that people called stupid, dangerous, wasteful, meaningless and he was personally attacked as stubborn, obstinate, unco-operative, proud. Today we see it as fierce tenacity in fulfilling a dream to bring the Bible to China; total commitment to a cause; far-sighted. I think people who throw such disparaging judgements are simply frightened, near-sighted, comfort-zone people who never shared the greater dreams that God has planned for us all nor doing God's grace any justice.
I was surprised to see in the film that not only her students came to join her (Mother Theresa), but also the cook. I must ascertain if this is true, with the MC sisters. It was a good film overall - it was encouraging and confirmed many things for me. Coupled with the explanation of today's Gospel I made several blogs back, I think we have to take risks, have confidence in God with lots of perseverance and hope, go ahead and do what you think God is calling you to - even when people discourage you and judge you. God made you greater than you think you are - you must grow into it. You are capable of doing greater things than you're doing now. Have hope.
Yesterday I happened to log on the ACC website (Australian Christian Channel) and they were broadcasting the film "Mother Teresa". The dialogue was very stiff but the scenes were good (shot in Sri Lanka). It's very touching because it showed the early years of Mother's struggle with the Sisters of Loreto, the church authorities, the Hindus in order to fulfill Christ's words to her to start a new congregation. They called her stubborn and naive; now in hindsight they say she was persevering, committed, convinced, tenacious. It's strange how time changes perspectives. It's the same with Fr Allegra, the founder of the Studium Biblicum Hong Kong. He forged ahead with projects that people called stupid, dangerous, wasteful, meaningless and he was personally attacked as stubborn, obstinate, unco-operative, proud. Today we see it as fierce tenacity in fulfilling a dream to bring the Bible to China; total commitment to a cause; far-sighted. I think people who throw such disparaging judgements are simply frightened, near-sighted, comfort-zone people who never shared the greater dreams that God has planned for us all nor doing God's grace any justice.
I was surprised to see in the film that not only her students came to join her (Mother Theresa), but also the cook. I must ascertain if this is true, with the MC sisters. It was a good film overall - it was encouraging and confirmed many things for me. Coupled with the explanation of today's Gospel I made several blogs back, I think we have to take risks, have confidence in God with lots of perseverance and hope, go ahead and do what you think God is calling you to - even when people discourage you and judge you. God made you greater than you think you are - you must grow into it. You are capable of doing greater things than you're doing now. Have hope.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thanks
The Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa's sisters) in Gaza telephoned to say all the warm packs arrived at their convent safe and sound. I think there were a thousand packs. They also received the offerings many of you generously gave. Hopefully this will help the Christian families this coming winter. Without heating and electricity, they can still stay warm with the warm packs.
Too bad the medics in Gaza are torn between helping the sick and going on strike against Hamas. Working on limited resources is terrible without the fear and contraints of terrorism. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7612043.stm
Muslim groups in Egypt are trying to bring medical supplies to Gaza but were stopped by the authorities - it may end up in the wrong hands and not the truly poor who need it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7655184.stm
Too bad the medics in Gaza are torn between helping the sick and going on strike against Hamas. Working on limited resources is terrible without the fear and contraints of terrorism. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7612043.stm
Muslim groups in Egypt are trying to bring medical supplies to Gaza but were stopped by the authorities - it may end up in the wrong hands and not the truly poor who need it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7655184.stm
more riots
Spoke too soon. Last night more clashes and riots in Akko. Hope this doesn't spread to other areas. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7663870.stm and http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017501207&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Form and inform
The developement of the Bishops' Synod in Rome on the Word of God is becoming interesting because a growing consensus among the interventions made is on poor preaching of priests. The bishops realise that homilies are no longer bible-based, irrelevant to the readings at Mass, lacked imagination and even boring - and so people go to join protestant churches where the Word of God is vibrantly preached. Let's hope that this will push our priests to study more the Bible, develope a biblical imagination and culture, and make homilies more relevent to the daily lives of the people as God's Word is challenging them.
My suggestion is get all the priests to go back and read the homilies of the Fathers of the Church (the saints and great theologians of the 2nd - 7th centuries); they are lively, imaginative and yet full of doctrinal teaching and spirituality. Their homilies formed and informed. My experience for the past 12 years as professor has shown me how shallow and ignorant some clergy are regarding these great patristic sermons and explanations of the Bible - to the extent that they laugh, scoff and outrightedly reject the preaching of these saints and Fathers of the Church when I bring it up or quote them. Well when you are losing countless souls who drift to other denominations because of the Bible-less and soul-less preaching, I think such arrogant ignorance has reaped its own fruit.
If the Synod of Bishops continue along this line for the next week, I'd expect the final statement to recommend a "conversion" (not my words but the synod bishops' ) toward a biblical culture and imagination by the clergy who must learn again to preach God's Word, not their own. See you guys back in school!
If you want daily webcast report of the Bishops' Synod, see http://www.saltandlighttv.org/prog_special_synod_of_bishops.html
My suggestion is get all the priests to go back and read the homilies of the Fathers of the Church (the saints and great theologians of the 2nd - 7th centuries); they are lively, imaginative and yet full of doctrinal teaching and spirituality. Their homilies formed and informed. My experience for the past 12 years as professor has shown me how shallow and ignorant some clergy are regarding these great patristic sermons and explanations of the Bible - to the extent that they laugh, scoff and outrightedly reject the preaching of these saints and Fathers of the Church when I bring it up or quote them. Well when you are losing countless souls who drift to other denominations because of the Bible-less and soul-less preaching, I think such arrogant ignorance has reaped its own fruit.
If the Synod of Bishops continue along this line for the next week, I'd expect the final statement to recommend a "conversion" (not my words but the synod bishops' ) toward a biblical culture and imagination by the clergy who must learn again to preach God's Word, not their own. See you guys back in school!
If you want daily webcast report of the Bishops' Synod, see http://www.saltandlighttv.org/prog_special_synod_of_bishops.html
Friday, October 10, 2008
Hope
Hopefully the measures taken in Akko will bring some calm back there. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017501207&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull I had a bad feeling in my bones that something would happen, so when a friend asked me to go to another monastery yesterday to visit, I said no because I felt something was going to happen. I didn't want to go out. Luckily it wasn't here in Jerusalem but miles away in Akko.
I was really deep into my research yesterday - had an aweful headache as a result. And a terrible hunger. Couldn't sleep last night so I did some brushup on my German grammar till about 11pm before I slept. The nights are cold. Will have to wear longs to keep warm now. As a sort of cooling off my headache, I did some "gardening" ( 4 boxes) with the Dean. We pruned the geraniums for winter.
Yesterday I was sharing with some people about this Sunday's readings. It's always bothered people why the guy was kicked out of the wedding party because he wasn't dressed right, when he was originally pulled in from the streets and therefore naturally wasn't dressed for the occasion. Well I think we should focus more on those who DID remain (practically everyone else) in order to resolve this irksome and apparently unreasonable action. All the rest of the people pulled off the streets remained for the party, meaning they were probably dressed for the occasion. How come? because they nursed the hope of being invited, and therefore were dressed in preparation. They were originally not invited; but "not invited" is not equal to "not having hope in being invited". They hoped to be invited and dressed up appropriately according to the hope they had. And when the unexpected happened - they were invited - their hope was fulfilled and they were ready. Now the guy that got kicked out didn't have any hope in himself or in others. He didn't bother dressing because he never hoped to be invited. So I think what we should be doing is what the rest of the people did - have hope even though things do not appear to go our way. Behave and prepare as if this hope is already fulfilled, and it will.
I was really deep into my research yesterday - had an aweful headache as a result. And a terrible hunger. Couldn't sleep last night so I did some brushup on my German grammar till about 11pm before I slept. The nights are cold. Will have to wear longs to keep warm now. As a sort of cooling off my headache, I did some "gardening" ( 4 boxes) with the Dean. We pruned the geraniums for winter.
Yesterday I was sharing with some people about this Sunday's readings. It's always bothered people why the guy was kicked out of the wedding party because he wasn't dressed right, when he was originally pulled in from the streets and therefore naturally wasn't dressed for the occasion. Well I think we should focus more on those who DID remain (practically everyone else) in order to resolve this irksome and apparently unreasonable action. All the rest of the people pulled off the streets remained for the party, meaning they were probably dressed for the occasion. How come? because they nursed the hope of being invited, and therefore were dressed in preparation. They were originally not invited; but "not invited" is not equal to "not having hope in being invited". They hoped to be invited and dressed up appropriately according to the hope they had. And when the unexpected happened - they were invited - their hope was fulfilled and they were ready. Now the guy that got kicked out didn't have any hope in himself or in others. He didn't bother dressing because he never hoped to be invited. So I think what we should be doing is what the rest of the people did - have hope even though things do not appear to go our way. Behave and prepare as if this hope is already fulfilled, and it will.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Yom Kippur 2
So Yom Kippur is on us. The New City is deadly quiet - nothing to disturb the sombre 24 hrs of reflection on the past year, and each one's shortcomings, sins, debts ....... It's a Jewish day to ask God to forgive all these - totally wiped out and beginning with a new slate. As was said earlier, in ancient times when the Temple still stood, a goat was killed and its blood was sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant by the High Priest, who only on this day, was allowed to enter the holy of Holies. Another goat had to carry all the sins of the Israelites into the desert, far away from civilization.
But the Palestinian east Jerusalem and the Old City continues life as usual; although with a massive presence of military everywhere to protect the Jews going to the Wailing Wall to pray. Tonight at sunset the Jews will blow the shofar (ram's horn) to mark the end of the 24 hr fast, and there'll be lots of singing and feasting to celebrate the forgiviness of their sins.
Last night as Yom Kippur started, I decided to go out to the Legacy for dinner with Bijou and Linson, two Indian students doing the Licentiate (something like Masters' degree). We had been postponing this meal for almost half a year now and we decided to do it now as the school work has not yet piled up. We chatted and had a relaxed time. Then a professor from our school showed up with a friend for dinner also. They sat at the table next to ours.
Just found out that our olive harvest was almost 500 kgs - most of it was sent to Abou Ghosh (Crusader village mistakenly identified as Emmaus) to be crushed for oil that we use for cooking. Yesterday our handyman Jadallah came back with lots of freshly crushed olive oil for our kitchen.
But the Palestinian east Jerusalem and the Old City continues life as usual; although with a massive presence of military everywhere to protect the Jews going to the Wailing Wall to pray. Tonight at sunset the Jews will blow the shofar (ram's horn) to mark the end of the 24 hr fast, and there'll be lots of singing and feasting to celebrate the forgiviness of their sins.
Last night as Yom Kippur started, I decided to go out to the Legacy for dinner with Bijou and Linson, two Indian students doing the Licentiate (something like Masters' degree). We had been postponing this meal for almost half a year now and we decided to do it now as the school work has not yet piled up. We chatted and had a relaxed time. Then a professor from our school showed up with a friend for dinner also. They sat at the table next to ours.
Just found out that our olive harvest was almost 500 kgs - most of it was sent to Abou Ghosh (Crusader village mistakenly identified as Emmaus) to be crushed for oil that we use for cooking. Yesterday our handyman Jadallah came back with lots of freshly crushed olive oil for our kitchen.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Yom Kippur
Now even the netherworld feels the pinch of the financial crisis. This is truly cosmic. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=72581&sid=20901173&con_type=1&d_str=20081008&fc=4
Tonight begins Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement, here in Israel. It will be a sombre day of recollection for the Jews. In ancient times, the scapegoat carried all the sins of Israel and was released into the desert.
Tonight begins Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement, here in Israel. It will be a sombre day of recollection for the Jews. In ancient times, the scapegoat carried all the sins of Israel and was released into the desert.
Yesterday
Yesterday was the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and therefore the feastday of our school secretary Bro. Rosario. He was in hospital the last 2 days for an operation on his knee and came home for his feastday limping. Anyway we had a nice celebration.
Yesterday was also the first day of lessons and most students have returned and started their work; reserving their seats in the library especially.
I had another chat with Fr Niccacci on my research and I think I've hit on something new - wow, it's awesome but that means I have to prove my position against bigtime mainstream scholars who hold another view. It's like fighting against the current. Fr Niccacci also wants me to audit for his Hebrew language courses - that means an added 6 hours of school for me each week.
Yesterday we had a nice surprise as well. Ronza our library assistent returned to work after a long break. She brought her baby Francis along and many of us came down to the school to see him. He is a very strong baby while only being 8 months old.
The Missionaries of Charity are coming today to collect more of the warm packs for Gaza. The cold has set in, and the poor people who cannot afford electricity are going to need them now.
Yesterday was also the first day of lessons and most students have returned and started their work; reserving their seats in the library especially.
I had another chat with Fr Niccacci on my research and I think I've hit on something new - wow, it's awesome but that means I have to prove my position against bigtime mainstream scholars who hold another view. It's like fighting against the current. Fr Niccacci also wants me to audit for his Hebrew language courses - that means an added 6 hours of school for me each week.
Yesterday we had a nice surprise as well. Ronza our library assistent returned to work after a long break. She brought her baby Francis along and many of us came down to the school to see him. He is a very strong baby while only being 8 months old.
The Missionaries of Charity are coming today to collect more of the warm packs for Gaza. The cold has set in, and the poor people who cannot afford electricity are going to need them now.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Letter from Musky
Received just now a thank-you card from Musky (Cairo) from two sisters whom many of you have generously sponsored so that they can continue their studies. Education is their gateway to a better future.
"Dear Father Lionel
Greetings in the Lord! We hope you are in good health. Thank you for your support. Our studies have gone well.
Teresa and Mariana Shan"
"Dear Father Lionel
Greetings in the Lord! We hope you are in good health. Thank you for your support. Our studies have gone well.
Teresa and Mariana Shan"
Ouch
In a gesture to understand better the Jewish understanding of the Old Testament, the chief rabbi of Haifa (Israel) was invited to address the Synod of Bishops. However things fell foul as the rabbi used the occassion instead to attack the Church especially Pope Pius XII regarding the Holocaust, which has nothing to do with the Synod discussion. The Italian Jews were already quite apprehensive about the Vatican inviting this rabbi and their fears came true. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017480228&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
School
School was officially inaugurated yesterday morning with a solemn Mass at St. Saviour's church. The church was packed with students, teachers and workers of our institutes as well as the Salesian Theological Seminary which is academically linked to us. The Salesians provided a great choir for Mass - lively, modern and in english! After Mass, the students gathered to vote for a representative to the schools' united Council. I think Nicola Agnoli (diocesan) was re-elected .... wasn't quite sure who got the most votes.
Fr Paul Sun and Sr. Maria Jiang were also present. They registered for courses and will begin classes tomorrow morning. They promise to pray for all their benefactors everyday during their stay here in the Holyland. I'll get them to write something to you tomorrow.
The Custos, who presided at Mass, gave the sermon, reminding all the students that despite all the difficulties of living in the Holyland and the pressure of studies, we must learn to integrate everything in our lives in order to serve others.
As for the rest of us doctoral students, school never really stopped because we worked all through the summer while others took their vacation. The professors are tightening the screws on me and I can feel the pressure of datelines already.
Fr Paul Sun and Sr. Maria Jiang were also present. They registered for courses and will begin classes tomorrow morning. They promise to pray for all their benefactors everyday during their stay here in the Holyland. I'll get them to write something to you tomorrow.
The Custos, who presided at Mass, gave the sermon, reminding all the students that despite all the difficulties of living in the Holyland and the pressure of studies, we must learn to integrate everything in our lives in order to serve others.
As for the rest of us doctoral students, school never really stopped because we worked all through the summer while others took their vacation. The professors are tightening the screws on me and I can feel the pressure of datelines already.
Monday, October 6, 2008
world a shudder
Following up on the earlier blogs about the financial crisis worldwide, the Pope has today something to say as well. It's this get-rich-quickly attitude nurtured by greed regardless of the risk and price to be paid that is now making the world reel and shudder. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7654878.stm
Bible-reading marathon
Pope Benedict began a bible-reading marathon in Rome yesterday that will last 7 days, 6 nights covering all 73 books of the Bible! http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/10/06/bible.marathon.ap/index.html
What really matters
An interesting story featured in the news: a successful broker left his luxury to become an Orthodox monk. "Brother Nikanor, a Nasdaq broker turned monk, advises former colleagues to put a jar with soil on their desks to remind them where we are all heading and what matters in life."
"Being a trader has seldom been more traumatic: placing bets on political decisions about billion-dollar bank bailouts which, if they fail, could mean much more than a bad day for yourself or colleagues, but also jeopardise livelihoods."
"Some have found solace in religion, others in humour, but a few fall. Surveys show traders reporting more stress and every news report of a trader suicide is accompanied by suggestions the pressure may have been too much."
"We always search for happiness in the outside world, in material things, which makes us constantly unsatisfied, angry with ourselves and the world," says Mishkov, exuding tranquillity, intelligence and humour."
"Greed and the marketisation of our lives have reached the point where people have been turned into a commodity - even our health can be traded like a stock, he says."
"We have so quickly lost our human appearance, we have become beasts ... There's no one to count on and say `hey neighbour come help me'. He will come but demand a payment."
"Mishkov says the crash should help correct a dangerous global trend of an excessive outflow of labour to the service sectors with its lure of high pay and an easy life."
"Milk is not produced by computers, bread doesn't come from a good company PR," says the monk."It is necessary to plough, sow and harvest before that."
Now think about that!
"Being a trader has seldom been more traumatic: placing bets on political decisions about billion-dollar bank bailouts which, if they fail, could mean much more than a bad day for yourself or colleagues, but also jeopardise livelihoods."
"Some have found solace in religion, others in humour, but a few fall. Surveys show traders reporting more stress and every news report of a trader suicide is accompanied by suggestions the pressure may have been too much."
"We always search for happiness in the outside world, in material things, which makes us constantly unsatisfied, angry with ourselves and the world," says Mishkov, exuding tranquillity, intelligence and humour."
"Greed and the marketisation of our lives have reached the point where people have been turned into a commodity - even our health can be traded like a stock, he says."
"We have so quickly lost our human appearance, we have become beasts ... There's no one to count on and say `hey neighbour come help me'. He will come but demand a payment."
"Mishkov says the crash should help correct a dangerous global trend of an excessive outflow of labour to the service sectors with its lure of high pay and an easy life."
"Milk is not produced by computers, bread doesn't come from a good company PR," says the monk."It is necessary to plough, sow and harvest before that."
Now think about that!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Sad
A sad and poignant illustration of how mad the world has become over money , re. the Nasdaq broker who became a monk (see blog above), read the following news of how several attempts to evict a 90 yr old woman from her house made her attempt suicide. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/10/03/eviction.suicide.attempt/index.html
Regis
Have dreamt of Regis the whole night. I miss him very much. He was the most obedient dog I ever had - even more than Rex. Had no idea why I dreamt of him the whole night as I was so caught up with going to the airport at 2am, settling school matters during the morning, concelebrating the Mass of St Francis at St. Saviour's Monastery etc.... until now I read the news of the blessing of animals yesterday. Of course it was the feast of St Francis, patron of the environment and animals. I said at the lunch table that I dreamt of Regis and everyone said the dream was a good sign that Regis is now in heaven with St Francis. If you still haven't known, the post mortem of Regis was that he was poisoned. There are still such evil people who do these things to helpless creatures who depend on us for food and drink. What would St Francis say?
Synod opens today
Today the Church opens the Synod of Bishops in Rome to discuss the Word of God. It's been a topic we've been trying to get the Synod to do for several years now, and finally it's fulfilled. Right now as I write, the Mass of the opening is being celebrated by the Pope in the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls. The theme is going to be the pastoral aspect of the Bible apostolate, more than on the academic aspect.
Today is also the memorial of St. Faustina. The sisters at our monastery are celebrating it as their feastday. They consider Faustina as their second foundress of their congregation because it was dying out until Faustina gave it a boost in the 1930s.
Slept through the whole afternoon and evening yesterday as I was terribly tired. Was out in the airport at 2am to pick up Sr Maria Jiang and Fr Paul Sun and sent them to the convent of Mater Misericordia up on the Mt. of Olives next to Bethpage, where they will be staying for the next year while they study at my school. Thanks to your generous donations, they both now have an opportunity to experience the Word of God in the Holyland.
The Pope right now is explaining the readings of the Mass about the Lord's vineyard. He says if the tenants begin to claim authority over the vineyard; claiming to be the owners, they bring about more destruction than good. But not withstanding this, the vine continues to bear fruit despite what they have done. This is the good news.
Today is also the memorial of St. Faustina. The sisters at our monastery are celebrating it as their feastday. They consider Faustina as their second foundress of their congregation because it was dying out until Faustina gave it a boost in the 1930s.
Slept through the whole afternoon and evening yesterday as I was terribly tired. Was out in the airport at 2am to pick up Sr Maria Jiang and Fr Paul Sun and sent them to the convent of Mater Misericordia up on the Mt. of Olives next to Bethpage, where they will be staying for the next year while they study at my school. Thanks to your generous donations, they both now have an opportunity to experience the Word of God in the Holyland.
The Pope right now is explaining the readings of the Mass about the Lord's vineyard. He says if the tenants begin to claim authority over the vineyard; claiming to be the owners, they bring about more destruction than good. But not withstanding this, the vine continues to bear fruit despite what they have done. This is the good news.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Solar time
Baby boom. Miriam and Raymond just had their firstborn last week. Alexander and Gabriella Frohlich also wrote to say they just had a baby boy. Shukri our computer handyman ( he had to come almost every other day in the past months to help get my computer running as I'm totally lost with these gadgets) also had his firstborn. We pray for the health of both babies and moms and congratulate them on bringing new life to the Church.
Today is also the feast of St Francis of Assisi. Yesterday evening we had vespers and the transitus (passing on) liturgy at St. Saviour's monastery. It was very crowded - the parishioners came, and all the Salesians, and the Capuchins and the lone Conventual, and many other religious communities. The sermon was pretty long though and I couldn't hear half of it as I was sitting behind a pillar. Anyway 10 friars made their solemn profession in the middle of Vespers. The Transitus was very touching - we read the last moments of St Francis' life, the lights were dimmed, candles were lit at the relic of St Francis, we sang the traditional "O santissima anima" (O most holy soul) and ended with the "Salve Sancte Pater" (Hail Holy Father [Francis]). Then we lined up to kiss the relic. The Custos who was holding the relic said something to me but I didn't catch it; Thiago was filming me. Today we'll have a solemn Mass there also. The Custos will preside. Yesterday I got to meet him for a few minutes. It's good to meet him.
Meanwhile a couple of movies are causing a talk topic in our area. One was shot in Hebron itself - quite a feat if you know what Hebron is like (see the latest clash there in http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017448824&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull ). It's about a Palestinian girl who broke the curfew in order to attend her graduation. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7649354.stm The other film is "Religulous" (as in "religion + ridiculous") that scoffs Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Let's see what the reaction here will be. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017445507&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Another news that's rocking us is the water level of the Sea of Galilee. It's dropped 2 meters this year. It already lost 5 meters since 2004. Now that's bad news. If the lake dries up, we'll have a big water problem.
And tonight we officially revert to solar time. That means we lose one hour of sleep!
Today is also the feast of St Francis of Assisi. Yesterday evening we had vespers and the transitus (passing on) liturgy at St. Saviour's monastery. It was very crowded - the parishioners came, and all the Salesians, and the Capuchins and the lone Conventual, and many other religious communities. The sermon was pretty long though and I couldn't hear half of it as I was sitting behind a pillar. Anyway 10 friars made their solemn profession in the middle of Vespers. The Transitus was very touching - we read the last moments of St Francis' life, the lights were dimmed, candles were lit at the relic of St Francis, we sang the traditional "O santissima anima" (O most holy soul) and ended with the "Salve Sancte Pater" (Hail Holy Father [Francis]). Then we lined up to kiss the relic. The Custos who was holding the relic said something to me but I didn't catch it; Thiago was filming me. Today we'll have a solemn Mass there also. The Custos will preside. Yesterday I got to meet him for a few minutes. It's good to meet him.
Meanwhile a couple of movies are causing a talk topic in our area. One was shot in Hebron itself - quite a feat if you know what Hebron is like (see the latest clash there in http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017448824&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull ). It's about a Palestinian girl who broke the curfew in order to attend her graduation. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7649354.stm The other film is "Religulous" (as in "religion + ridiculous") that scoffs Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Let's see what the reaction here will be. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017445507&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Another news that's rocking us is the water level of the Sea of Galilee. It's dropped 2 meters this year. It already lost 5 meters since 2004. Now that's bad news. If the lake dries up, we'll have a big water problem.
And tonight we officially revert to solar time. That means we lose one hour of sleep!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Stop the violence
The Old City is coming back to normality. Shops are opening again, business as usual although not 100% yet. It's still holiday time but on the wane.
Yesterday I heard a very good sermon and wanted to share it with you but I forgot what it is now! Am growing old. A couple of nights ago I woke up and had no idea where I was. I forget people's names (normal enough) but also why I go to the library or other places.
Anyway had a long talk with Fr Niccacci yesterday evening regarding my thesis. He's pit-bulling me into getting the qualification paper organised. All holidays and days off forbidden until I get it done. Meanwhile Fr Priotto from Rome, one of the modern experts in the field I'm researching is teaching in our faculty. Met him yesterday at lunch and the first thing he said to me was "I knew Fr Allegra! He was my teacher 30 years back". Well, what a way to start ... I think I'll have to speak with him regarding my thesis because he seems to be my 2nd moderator (at least that's what I'm sensing).
The call to stop Jewish settlers' violence against their own soldiers and Palestinians is rising. Apparently hundreds of such extremists are now actively involved in such activities. They are physically aggressive (even sending parcel bombs, burning olive groves and beating up people) to anyone, including fellow Jews, who challenge their claim to take Palestinian property. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7647991.stm
Yesterday I heard a very good sermon and wanted to share it with you but I forgot what it is now! Am growing old. A couple of nights ago I woke up and had no idea where I was. I forget people's names (normal enough) but also why I go to the library or other places.
Anyway had a long talk with Fr Niccacci yesterday evening regarding my thesis. He's pit-bulling me into getting the qualification paper organised. All holidays and days off forbidden until I get it done. Meanwhile Fr Priotto from Rome, one of the modern experts in the field I'm researching is teaching in our faculty. Met him yesterday at lunch and the first thing he said to me was "I knew Fr Allegra! He was my teacher 30 years back". Well, what a way to start ... I think I'll have to speak with him regarding my thesis because he seems to be my 2nd moderator (at least that's what I'm sensing).
The call to stop Jewish settlers' violence against their own soldiers and Palestinians is rising. Apparently hundreds of such extremists are now actively involved in such activities. They are physically aggressive (even sending parcel bombs, burning olive groves and beating up people) to anyone, including fellow Jews, who challenge their claim to take Palestinian property. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7647991.stm
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Jerusalem woes
If you think the double festivities are just pure fun, then read this. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017431433&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull The tension in the Old City these few days are almost unbearable.
In the meantime Israelis are waking to the reality that Jewish violence on other Jews of different idealogies, and other races, can no longer be acceptable. This time a well-respected professor was almost killed by the extreme Jewish right because he was advocating peace with the Palestinians. When a rabbi begins to declare the death penalty on other Jews who hold different views, things begin to look dangerously similar to such calls in the neighbouring nations. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017436691&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
In the meantime Israelis are waking to the reality that Jewish violence on other Jews of different idealogies, and other races, can no longer be acceptable. This time a well-respected professor was almost killed by the extreme Jewish right because he was advocating peace with the Palestinians. When a rabbi begins to declare the death penalty on other Jews who hold different views, things begin to look dangerously similar to such calls in the neighbouring nations. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017436691&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Thanks
Thanks to Roger & Teresa, Eugene and Gerard; May Yu, Ephraim Lam, "Clarence", Jimmy and Zita, Barnabas Li & fmly, Mr 7 Mrs Ng and many others for the generous donation and gifts. The warm packs were also delivered and the Christians in Gaza will be very grateful to you this coming cold winter.
Rosh HaShana
What a couple of days these have been! The Jewish new Year - Rosh HaShana - and the Muslim Feast of the end of Ramadan fell on the same day; Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Festivities everywhere. But it also meant that all shops and places of interests were closed. Thousands of tourists were caught unexpectedly by this; with no places to visit or restaurents to eat; so they flooded the Christian churches and Christian restuarents. You cannot possibly imagine how packed Gethsemani or the Holy Sepulchre is today. You cannot even enter these churches!
Sadly the muslim kids as young as 3 yrs old celebrate their feast by firing toy guns with hard rubber pellets (parents think it is great to give their kids toy guns). These pellets can blind the eye, and even break glass of car windshields. Yes I was shot - on my back - last night. They stand in practically every corner and shoot at passing cars or foreigners. When violence and savagery is encouraged at such a young age, no wonder there is no peace among this people. What a terrible way to celebrate a feastday.
The rains continue to dapple the days and the cold has set its foothold. At sunset everyone wears thick jackets and back home, winter blankets are brought out to use.
We now wait for the Jewish feast of Yom Kippur next week; and Sukkot in the following week. And the rains will hopefully pour - a sign of God's blessings on our dry parched land. Maybe it can wash away the violent upbringing of these little children in the streets who learn anger from their parents.
Sadly the muslim kids as young as 3 yrs old celebrate their feast by firing toy guns with hard rubber pellets (parents think it is great to give their kids toy guns). These pellets can blind the eye, and even break glass of car windshields. Yes I was shot - on my back - last night. They stand in practically every corner and shoot at passing cars or foreigners. When violence and savagery is encouraged at such a young age, no wonder there is no peace among this people. What a terrible way to celebrate a feastday.
The rains continue to dapple the days and the cold has set its foothold. At sunset everyone wears thick jackets and back home, winter blankets are brought out to use.
We now wait for the Jewish feast of Yom Kippur next week; and Sukkot in the following week. And the rains will hopefully pour - a sign of God's blessings on our dry parched land. Maybe it can wash away the violent upbringing of these little children in the streets who learn anger from their parents.
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