Immaculate Conception

Today is the feast of the Sacrifice for Muslims and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception for Catholics. I think the Orthodox Church is also celebrating a feast because the bells of the Holy Sepulchre were ringing this morning.

The muslims began to gather in the Al-Aksa mosque early at 4am and prayers were sung throughout the morning. Crowds and crowds of people. By 8am the prayers were finished and the muslims began to gather in certain areas of the city to kill the sheep/goats. I saw some of the sacrifice slaughter just outside St Stephan's Gate when I was going out to meet our Custody treasurer. Military presence in the Old City was stepped up even all the way to the 6th Station (which is rarely or ever under surveillance). Anyway all the muslim shops are closed today for the feast. Schools are closed till Wednesday - including Cahtolic schools since most of our students are muslim. The streets are pretty festive despite the soldiers around.

And for us, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is special because it was formally proposed and defendent by Franciscan John Duns Scotus almost 700 years ago. It was rejected by theologians and Scotus was relegated to the backwaters of history till the apparition at Lourdes when Mary told Bernadette she is the Immaculate Conception, just a few years after it was defined as a dogma in our Church. Here's a prayer:
Immaculate Virgin Mary, you were pleasing in the sight of God from the first moment of your conception in the womb of your mother, St Anne. You were chosen to be the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I believe the teaching of Holy Mother the Church, that in the first instant of your conception, by the singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race and your beloved Son, you were preserved from all stain of original sin. I thank God for this wonderful privilege and grace He bestowed upon you as I honour your Immaculate Conception. Look graciously upon me as I implore this special favour: (Mention your request). Virgin Immaculate, Mother of God and my Mother, from your throne in heaven, turn your eyes of pity upon me. Filled with confidence in your goodness and power, I beg you to help me in this journey of life, which is so full of dangers of my soul. I entrust myself entirely to you, that I may never be the slave of the devil through sin, but may always live a humble and pure life. I consecrate myself to you forever, for my only desire is to love your Divine Son Jesus. Mary, since none of your devout servants has ever perished, may I, too, be saved. Amen.

In the meantime, the rabbis here in Israel have declared that the Jewish youths (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702465920&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull)who attacked the Israeli soldiers, rioted and destroyed Palestinian property the past week are a "fringe element" that has rejected rabbinical authority and political authority. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702466178&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull They are very dangerous as a result and extremist rightwing groups are fanning their ardour; such as D. Weis whom some politicians are calling for her arrest. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702466172&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull In fact now the rightwingers are turning on their own Israeli govt. as the culprits. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702464908&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull