2nd Saturday of Lent

Aspergil and other liturgical things
used at the Solemn Entrance

It's Saturday ... and the Lenten rigours are in full swing. 2pm the Apostolic Administrator (instead of a patriarch) will enter the Holy Sepulchre with his entourage. The Franciscans in the Holy Sepulchre will be there to receive him and accompany him to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. The daily procession then begins, with prayers and incense at all the altars inside the basilica. I had to celebrate Mass at the Holy Sepulchre this morning and noticed all the paraphernalia prepared in the sacristy for the Solemn Entrance. There was a processional Cross over 2 meters tall made entirely of Mother-of-Pearl. There were silver aspergils as well.

Immediately after Mass I had class - I have class everyday day of the week - and after that I had to rush home to see how the library is doing. Luckily our librarian-in-probation had returned so he opened the library and managed the reception till I got home. So it's been a long day starting at 4am. I am exhausted.

The rightwing newspaper Jerusalem Post has been covering the restoration work of the Holy Sepulchre all week. Strange as rightwing newspapers usually dislike christians .... the minimum they'd do is ignore the news, at worst they attack. So a couple of articles about the history and restoration and the eventual inauguration of the Holy Sepulchre is very surprising.  http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Restoring-Christianitys-Holy-of-Holies-481171

Just before the
electrical storm

The Sabbath is almost over ... just a few more minutes and the jews will celebrate the end of the weekend. Then it's party time ... at around 9pm people in costumes will be wandering out in the streets of West Jerusalem. I don't think it'll rain ... unlike yesterday night which saw some spectacular electric storm. Lots of lightening and thunder and very strong winds ... but just a drizzle. It was enough to keep people indoors ... the lightening were very threatening.

If the weather doesn't worsen, I might go to the Holy Sepulchre for midnight prayers and the procession around the Empty Tomb. Will pray for you all. If I don't make it for some reason or other, then I'll be at the 3rd Station for Mass tomorrow morning to pray for you.