2 days to Nakba Day

Mass at the Grotto of the Finding
of the True Cross

And as Israelis continue their long weekend of Independence Day holidays, groups of arabs are rising up and protesting at the lost of their land, lost of their citizenship. A few million are living in exile in Jordan and Lebanon as refugees for the past 60 years with no hope of returning to their homes or lands. The arabs call it Nakba Day or Catastrophe Day. Officially it's celebrated on May 15th which falls on this coming Sunday. We're expecting riots and violence as Jewish right-wing groups will provoke the already angry arabs. Yesterday on the Israeli Independence Day, a group of jews joined hands and blocked Damascus Gate to the arabs (It was Thursday just before the muslim prayer day; the arabs were entering the City to get to the Al Aqsa Mosque). Scuffles brought out and police had to drive away these extremists jews. Arabs went to the Negev desert to protest their lost of land.

Inside the Grotto

By the way for the isareli celebrations of Remembrance Day (haZikaron) and Independence Day (haAtzmaut), the borders with palestine were closed. No arab could get out of those areas hence many lost 2 days wages.

Last Saturday we celebrated the Finding of the True Cross. This took place e in the chapel of St. Helena or the Finding of the True Cross. Solemn Mass was celebrated there and vespers was sung, It was a beautiful liturgy. Down in this grotto of the Holy Sepulcher church, tradition holds that Queen Helena discovered the true Cross.

So another weekend has come upon us. I just want to sleep .... am so very tired.

Relic of the True Cross