Yesterday evening, as is traditional on Epiphany, we get our new "holy protectors" and spiritual mission.
This year my patroness is Blessed Mariam Baouardy - the "Little Arab" (the first arab "blessed" in history). She was a Carmelite nun here in Bethlehem. Born in 1846 on the eve of Epiphany in the village of Ibillin (still a christian village today in Galilee), she had a dramatic youth including near death by beheading by a muslim and miraculous healing by Our Lady. She became a Carmelite nun in France, then founded the Carmelite monastery in Bethlehem and Nazareth in accordance to visions of Jesus. Read more at http://www.melkite.org/sa33.htm
My verse for meditation is from the writings of Blessed Mariam Baouardy "Even if someone rises against you, I am with you always. You must never be afraid."
My virtue to practice this year is "patience when in trial".
And I must pray for the soul of Fr Antoine DeFauw. I knew him 20 years back when I was a student and he was actively involved in many Custodial projects - Casa Nova, Christian Information Centre, Status Quo, application for visas. He was a small man with a huge temper. But deep inside, he was kind and caring. May he rest in peace.
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