Happy Feastday again!

Yes it's the memorial of St Leo the Great today - pope and theologian. He became pope in 440 and was one of the great figures of the early Church Councils regarding the debate on the divinity and humanity of Christ. He's also known to have stopped the barbarian incursion into Europe by Attila the Hun. He died in 461.

Yesterday I contacted Fr Vincenzo (in Cairo) on Skype and we chatted for a while. Osvalda, who's recovered from her eye operation, was in my room to return something to me, also chatted with him. He's coming back to Jerusalem for a short while on Nov 25th and we plan to go out for a pizza. Hope it's not going to cost me another US$100 otherwise I'll have to start begging in the streets. But it'll be nice to see him again. He's a good friend.

It finally rained yesterday evening at about 5pm. Everyone was very happy. We hope it'll continue to rain otherwise it'll be another drought year. Very bad for farmers and shepherds you can imagine. The temperature dipped to 11 degrees last night, and I kept thinking I have to get a small heater otherwise I'll freeze. But you know how things work here ....... sigh. Since the streets are wet, and therefore very slippery, I'm not going out; not even on the terrace because I'm afraid of slipping and twisting another ankle. Rain - good; walking in the rain - bad. Recite this 100 times and you'll stay in good health.

Mass this morning was nice and simple. Fr Niccacci said a prayer for me during the intercessions but I couldn't hear it clearly. Someone kept coming and taking photos because the flash kept distracting everyone, but I didn't see who it was. No doubt a pilgrim making the Way of the Cross. After Mass we went for breakfast. Everyone wished me a happy feastday and the superior said I should have presided at Mass and sang a chinese song for everyone. Next time - I said; yeah, like next year!!!! I didn't realise that it is now a tradition on our monastery for the person who's celebrating his feastday to preside at Mass.

I fed the birds after breakfast. They had fresh seeds and water, and Fr Bissoli gave me lettuce and Sr Geronima gave me eggs to feed them. I added a piece of cuttle-fish bone that my sis Catherine sent from Hong Kong. The canaries are enjoying the feastday today! Sr Geronima quipped that after lunch I must put in a piece of cake so the canaries can share in our joy. She really sounded serious! I'm getting worried - the cold is getting on her! Khalil the cook came early and wished me. He's a nice guy. He said he came early to cook something special for me. Hope it's "Upside down" - my favourite arab dish (besides Shawarma of course). Even Sr Veronica the superior of the sisters wished me a happy feastday (now that's a big deal!). So you can see I'm pretty fond of these penguins, even if I make fun of them sometimes (the stress is on "sometimes"). And I guess they're pretty fond of me - otherwise they wouldn't banter with me. But the proof is in the cake - literally. We'll see what cake they bake today for lunch! And Osvalda just knocked on my door to wish me as well.

Meantime I'm going to clean my room - it takes several hours because I have to move the 12 luggage and 2 piles of clothes from the floor. And there's no place I can sweep the dirt under, so it has to be a thorough job otherwise people who come to my room will say how untidy it is and why I get asthma every night. Well, if I had a room like theirs with tables, cupboards and shelves, my room won't be like it is, right? Aiya, sei bei nei tai!

Yes, it's Friday

Just got back from the Way of the Cross. It was tiring - walked the whole length with an incredible crowd; easily in the hundreds. All the seminarians came as well. You could tell it was Friday - even the young seminarians were unshaven. Don't know why - must be some unspoken group phenomenon or the result of a whole week's studies that tire us out so that we become unkempt by the end of the week. Even young William, a lebanese friar seminarian, had a shadow on his face; and he's usually very well kept. Well of course it goes to say that I didn't shave as well. People must be thinking what poor friars we are - unshaved and unshod. Good idea for Christmas presents - razors!

It was quite cool when I got out for the Way of the Cross - 18 degrees or something. Regretted not wearing some longs under the habit. It sure was penitence. And all done for you guys! Spent a few minutes in front of the Tomb of Christ to pray for all of you before coming home. Rushed home because I dislike walking in the crowded suk ("market"), brushed past the Dean who grapped my sleeve and said "Slow down, no need to rush: and with your swollen foot as well". So I slowed down; much against my natural instinct to get out of the crowd.

And......there was no cake today! The superior probably thought having cake 3 days in a row would be too much of a luxury so today's feastday was cakeless. Ha! It was meatless as well - today being Friday! What a feastday....... I hope Sr. Geronima will make it up by baking an extra large one tomorrow for my feastday!

Happy Feastday again!

Another feast today - the commemoration of the dedication of the Lateran basilica (St. John). Don't know what that is? It's the Pope's cathedral - him being the bishop of Rome, he has to have a cathedral for his diocese and that cathedral is St John's Basilica in the Lateran (a hill in Rome). Probably we'll have another cake today.

Yesterday evening after the blessing of dinner, the superior "reminded" everyone that there'll be an on-going formation talk at St. Saviour's monastery at 6.30pm. Everyone should go as we all need on-going formation. I was thinking "And I've got on-going deformation problems everyday...." And he "reminded" (euphemism again) everyone to participate in the Way of the Cross today (Friday) especially since it begins at our Chapel. Well I always thought it was strange that people spend so much time and money to come here and make a pilgrimage and visit the shrines and the Way of the Cross, while we who stay here don't bother to go to these places that are only 20 meters away! I guess we take it for granted that the shrines are always there so one day we will walk over and pray in it. Hmmmm actually I spoke about this to Jean Paul last week, and he agreed. Got to change our attitudes.

Today we had Philology classes again after last week's holiday. It was good to get back to the routine. I actually enjoy the lessons, just that Fr Buscemi speaks very quickly and I can't manage to catch everything he says. The class grew from one student (me) to 8 now.

The promised rain never came. It's hot again and very dry. The winds just blew the rain clouds way past us and into Jordan in the east. But the nights and mornings are chilly. It may sound nice to some of you - but it's making us sick with colds. I think at any given one time, one quarter of the community is sick. My cough is much better now but the aridity is causing nasal muscous to coagulate that blocks our breathing. Everyone is coughing or spitting it out. Not very hygenic right? That's why I asked Asli to get me some alcohol gel. Paranoia!!!!!

Did you notice the photo of Rex and Regis at the bottom of the page? I miss them.

I guess I'll study now because in the afternoon there's the Way of the Cross and the talk; which means no more time to study today.

Happy Feastday!

Happy Feastday! We remember John Duns Scotus today - our 14th century theologian who was known not only for his acute analysis of dogma, but above all his support for the Church and the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. He was persecuted for both and died in exile in Cologne, Germany at the age of 42. Duns Scotus is the patron of the Studiums Biblicum Jerusalem and Hong Kong, and also our Pontifical University of St. Anthony in Rome.

Mass was very nice today - we sang several hymns and the penguins didn't show up for Mass. They probably had a Polish Mass celebrated for them somewhere. Anyway after Mass we went up to the refectory for dinner (If you haven't yet realised: my room is on the 3rd floor, the refectory is on the 2nd and the Flagellation Chapel is on the 1st - and mind you each floor is high, the roof in my room is 19 feet high - so it makes climbing up and down the stairs a terrible chore for an old man like me. Sei bei nei tai!). Fr Manns congratulated me for the feastday also of our travel agency and our bible centre. The other friars then remembered and congratulated me too. It was nice that the friars so far away here in Israel still care and think of our institutes in Hong Kong. Other friars who do not know this asked questions and wanted to know more. It was a fruitful breakfast.

At 8.15am I began my long walk up to St. Saviour's Monastery, the custodial monastery of the Holyland. The inauguration of the academic year officially begins on the feast of Duns Scotus, and everyone (teachers and students) had to come to this meeting. The Dean gave a report of the last academic year, then Fr Loffreda (our emeritus professor in archaeology) spoke of the excavation in Capharnaum. He revealed some very surprising finds that were never reported - like he found 2 pieces of Ming Dynasty pottery in Capharnaum! Now how did it get there? During lunch (he sits 2 seats away from me) he chuckled "You chinese are everywhere - even way back 500 years ago!". Another visiting professor presented his findings on the coins of Capharnaum and the new book which he wrote. Then the Custos ("custodian" or "provincial") of the Holyland gave a thank you speech. The inauguration lasted from 9am to 12pm. It was crowded with students of course, but also many visitors, like the head of the Pontifical Biblical institute in Jerusalem Fr Gilbert and heads of other theological colleges. I met an old friend there - quite a surprise - Prof. Leah di Segni, an epigraphist from the Hebrew University. She couldn't believe it was me - we last saw each other like 15 years ago. I think she could be retired now, but it wasn't the right place to talk about such things. Anyway she might invite me to join in a Jewish Passover again next year, as she used to back then. Then of course there were those young whipper-snappers (lay, religious or anything in between) who love to seen in crowds like this. I can't imagine why. They strut around in order to be noticed or they cling on the famous personages, hoping some glory can rub off onto themselves. I kept in a corner, even during the interval. The Custos came over and gruffly said "Be normal! Get up and show yourself!" You can never win, can you? What is the academic world coming to????

The walk back home was cool - like 17 degrees. I think I really have to wear my longs. Everyone else is beginning to thicken up with winter clothes. It's just that I hate to have to go through the 12 luggage to find my stuff. Maybe I'll just burn them, and warm myself in the fire.

Duns Scotus got his cake! It was great - biscuit layer with date filling. Everyone had seconds - except me. I decided to bring all the remaining cake back to my room! Unfortunately everyone else stopped me - they want the remainder for tea. Guess I'll have to come down earlier than them if I want my piece of cake! You can't imagine how the little pleasures in life that you take for granted, can be a big deal here in Israel. That's why I've been thinking - like yesterday - that you guys in Hong Kong should complain less and count your blessings. Never take things for granted. You'll never know how important things are till you don't have them anymore. That goes for people too, ok?

bake a cake!

Thanks for all the suggestions about curing my cold. They are all very practical - in Hong Kong. Here in the Old City, it's difficult to get the stuff you guys suggested. And the closest supermarket is 1km away uphill. I guess it's times like this that I miss Hong Kong - you get anything and everything at your doorstep; it's so convenient. Here things are not only few and far between, but you can't get chinese medicine anywhere! Obvious isn't it? So don't take things for granted, you guys living in Hong Kong!

Judy sent 2 pics of Rex and Regis - that made my day! I'll post it when I remember how to do it - Jackie & Gus?????

Did some studies yesterday. My moderator for the thesis - Fr Niccacci (who lives in the room next to mine: he complains I make too much noise with my music. Then for the next few days I kept it quiet and he got worried. Kept asking where I was the last few days, why so quiet. Hmmmm you just can't win, can you?) asked how was my research doing. I said that it's tough because there are limited books on the subject in our library and 3 of us (me, him and another doctoral candidate Stefano) are writing on the same biblical book, which means we 3 need to refer to these books and share them. Fr Niccacci exclaimed (he's very loud) that it's a miracle - it's a thousand to one chance that 3 people in the same institute are researching on the same stuff. But like it's a great help for me to know that - we still have to share books and knock on doors asking "Can I use that book you borrowed?".

Sr. Geronima asked me what type of cake I like. I said the kind that is edible of course (score 2:1). You see, Nov. 10th is my feastday "St. Leo" and it's our tradition to celebrate feastdays instead of birthdays. The sisters usually bake a cake and lunch is alot more festive (meaning one extra dish - no big deal). Anyway she asked again what type specifically - I said to put in the canaries (stick their heads in and burn their tails as candles) and that dreadful cat in between and the cake will be really special. Sr Pieta laughed - guiness book of records..take a note! aahh nothing like a joke to break the ice.

By the way I meant to inform you guys earlier to check out the website and web TV "smile of a child". It's pretty fun, and good christian formation for little kids. Though it's protestant, there's none of that polemic because the kiddie viewers are too young to understand all that. So it's simple christian upbringing with wholesome cartoons and song and dance and moral lessons like "don't tell lies" etc.... The webcast is free and runs 24 hrs. There's another Catholic channel called Familyland TV but it's only available on cable or satellite, I think. It's more family oriented.

The repair of our roof is finally finished - but moving the rubbish and equipment down 4 floors is driving us crazy! Tonnes of extra stone (like 20kg) are simply thrown around. The library roof is now cracked. Imagine repairing one roof and destroying another - I guess that keeps the guys busy with work security. And I think the rains are due today - saw the clouds this morning at 5am, really rainy type (something prophet Elijah would have seen. Remember that story? No? So check it out already!!!!!).

Tomorrow is the feast of Duns Scotus, the patron of the Studiums here in Jerusalem as well as Hong Kong. That means no classes - there'll be the annual report of the Dean to the faculty and students, as well as a couple of academic talks. Aahh but for us, it's another feast (just one extra dish, no big deal. Oh and also a cake! You can be sure Scotus will get a better cake than I). Next year will be Scotus' 700th anniversary of his death. The Dean unofficially suggested that I bring a group to visit the place of his birth (Duns in Scotland), his teaching posts (Oxford and Paris) and his death (Cologne). Any takers?

From the Allegra family

Here's the email from the Allegra family. It's not translated though, but I'm sure you can make out its meaning.

Rev. Padre Lionel, pace e bene! sono trascorsi poco piu di dieci giorni dallo scorso 20 ottobre e abbiamo ancora nel cuore e negli occhi emozioni e immagini che non scorderemo facilmente. Per noi visitare i luoghi in cui nostro zio ha vissuto per tanto tempo, in cui ha lavorato, sofferto, amato. E’ stata un'emozione indimenticabile e importante. Noi cosi piccoli di fronte a tanta grandezza! In quelle stanze, nella cappella, tra i libri dello studio, nell'ospedale si respira ancora la sua presenza forte e costante. Il merito di tutto questo e’ di chi come lei lavora con passione perche la sua memoria non venga cancellata, perche la sua vita, abitata con pienezza per la gloria del Signore, possa essere trasmessa alle nuove generazioni. Grazie, veramente grazie di cuore per la vostra straordinaria accoglienza e disponibilita. Grazie per averci fatto sentire a casa. Grazie per averci accolto come fossimo re della vostra casa. Dio vi ricompensi e vi benedica per il vostro infaticabile lavoro nel Suo nome. Pace e bene, padre Lionel. Speriamo di rivederci presto. Non le nascondiamo che sogniamo di ritornare ad Hong Kong un giorno ma soprattutto ci preme rinnovarvi il nostro invito. Vi aspettiamo sempre a braccia aperte in Sicilia

Gabriella Allegra e famiglia

Wasn't feeling too well yesterday - think I caught a cold. Running nose. The superior told me to eat dinner early and go to sleep, so I didn't go for Vespers. Sr Geronima was in the kitchen, and prepared the usual stuff - bread and cheese. But she added 3 cloves of garlic - good to strengthen immune system she says - and I was thinking, sure...immune to her! I also asked for some mashed potatoes (leftovers from lunch) and she was delighted - because it gave her the opportunity to say "Stuff it up your nose to stop the running nose". Score "1-1".

I cleaned the canary cage earlier at 4pm. The superior thinks I caught the cold then because my feet were wet from all the splashing of water.

There was alot of movement in the corridor yesterday afternoon. Students were exchanging tables and cupboards to suit their needs. There was a table that went to 4 different rooms before it found a permanent dwelling. Think of my envy. But I'll get mine soon - soon.....soon.....soon......

I'll catch up with my studies today (couldn't do much yesterday) so I'm ending off here. By the way there's an english-speaking pilgrimage to Israel during the Chinese New Year holidays 2008 and one to Greece in early August. Book early with Katie. I'm leading the grps.