Feast of St. Elisabeth

Chapel of the Elisabettine sisters

And it continued to rain all night .... which is wonderful. Everyone is happy despite the cold. It's winter at last. Thick woolen jackets and hoodies are out. No one wears sandals anymore. And lots of scarves.

Today is the feast day of St. Elisabeth of Hungary, the patron saint of the Secular Franciscans. She was a queen who lived simply as a franciscan and was renown for her charity work. Our Franciscan Sisters of St. Elisabeth who care for our volunteer hostel organized a Mass with the Custos presiding this evening. I was invited but I did not concelebrate as I have 2 other appointments half hour after the Mass starts. And it was just as well because the chapel was too small and there were very many friars, sisters and laity who came. Like several others I decided to leave early and gave my seat to the elderly. Well so much for doctor's orders to rest for 3 days. I've been teaching in the morning as well as working in the library. My post-op wound still hurts and today I forgot to take my painkillers so the pain is quite bad.

Courtyard of
St. Francis

Anyway the walk back to my office from the chapel fo the Elisabettine sisters was cold and quiet. I see the streets have been prepared for Christmas .... round basket lights are hung all along across the Christian Quarter. Looks exciting ... a little life and hope is coming back to the Quarter. Anyway I had to pass through our Courtyard of St. Francis ... with a huge statue of St. Francis in the middle. It was very beautifully lit in the night. I liked it very much.

There was a stabbing attack the day before ... a rather daring one with an arab stabbing several policemen before he was neutralized. Well that's one exception to a rather quiet winter. Let's hope it's also the last.