St. Berard & companions

3 of the 5 kittens in the garden

The stray cat that lives in our courtyard somewhere has given birth. It's not the first cat to do that and neither will it be the last. But this one was a little different ... she has 5 kittens instead of the usual 3 than we 've seen in all these years. And though the cat is black with streaks of orange, her babies are 3 black, one orange and one white. And they're quite cute. However I dislike cats as the hairs provoke an asthma attack. With the cold and rainy weather, these poor kittens should be hiding under the Porter's room. Yet they're fat and fuzzy and very playful. I think the pilgrims have been feeding them.

Another day with very cloudy skies and drizzle. It didn't feel as cold although it was only 9 degrees. In fact this whole week the temp. will fluctuate between 4 degrees to 9 degrees. And it will rain again on Friday. That will be very nice as the rain is still needed. And it is winter after all.

Rain clouds this morning

Today we celebrated the feast day of St. Berard & companions ... our franciscan protomartyrs. That means they were our first martyrs in the Order. They were preaching in a mosque in muslim Spain and was arrested and sent to Morocco where they were beheaded. Their deaths had such an impact on the franciscans that they decided to open more missions in muslim countries especially in the Holy Land. And St. Anthony of Padua, who was an augustinian monk, was so inspired by the protomartyrs that he left the Augustinian Order and became a Franciscan friar.

There was a terror plot at Joseph's Tomb in Samaria. Joseph as in the 12 sons of Jacob, He died in Egypt but his body was brought back to the Promised and buried in what today is Samaria. Many jews go there to pray and apparently an arab had plotted to cause massive injuries. Thank goodness it was thwarted. But it another sign that things are not right ... that violence is building up and this summer might after all end up in a war that all the analysts have been warning.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/terror-attack-foiled-at-josephs-tomb-33712

The forceful repatriation of african illegal immigrants is dividing Israeli society. Hardline right-wingers want them all out. Religious and left-wingers say it's not Israeli nor in keeping with Judaism which has a tenet in protecting the unfortunate.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-jewish-groups-tell-pm-forcibly-deporting-africans-betrays-jewish-values/

The situation in Gaza is getting so bad a warning is out that a humanitarian crisis is about to happen if aid does not enter the Strip. No electricity or water ... not enough medicine or food .... but today Israel has permitted Gaza to have 3G internet service. Note that the rest of Israel is on 4G. Well good ... so it seems ... if 3G is more important than electricity, water, food and medicine.  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/palestinians-finally-to-get-3g-in-west-bank-after-israel-lifts-ban-1.5730677