Woke up as usual at 4am but hurried to get to the Holy Sepulchre - I wanted to concelebrate mass with Fr Vincenzo on Mt. Calvary. He was surprised to see me; and I reminded him the last time we concelebrated it was many many years ago down in the crypt of the Chapel of St. Helena. It was good to concelebrate with him. This time I had the chance to observe how focussed he was, and how sincere, especially when he celebrates Mass. I'm lucky to have a friend like him, though he always scolds me ( but in a fun way). Our community invited him over for lunch, then his (former) community (and mine too since I was there for a year), the Terra Santa College, invited me over for dinner. So tonight I'll go over and meet up with old classmates and students.
Last night's renewal of vows at the garden of Gethsemani was very impressive. Almost 100 friars, young and old, from around the Jerusalem area came for the mass and vespers. Everyone remarked how well the seminarians sang, and the Mass went without a hitch. I didn't concelbrate because I had already celebrated Mass earlier that day, so i sat with Fr Marcello Buscemi, our expert in Greek and St. Paul. We walked together to Gethsemani and back as well. It's always good to walk together in our part of town - you'll never know what'll happen especially when it's so dark. I went for communion and the Custos has distributing the sacrament: I saw his hands shaking and thought he must be really tired with all his work and travels around the world. After Mass he gave each one of us a copy of our Rule. When it came to my turn, he cracked a joke (which I thought was very embarassing, but he does that all the time with me) and the deacons and those around him heard and laughed - and it was all filmed by telepace camaramen! I hope they'll edit that part out! yeah... and I know all of you want to know what he said ..... that's for me to know and you to find out!!!!!
OK I'll be going to classes now - philology again.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
talk about the devil
Was writing the blog this morning when Shukri the computer guy came to redo my internet line. I had to turn off my computer hence I lost my text before I could publish it. Well actually I think it was saved automatically by the blog programme but I don't know how to search for it.
Anyway the "Tiger Medicated Plaster" that Cecilia Cavero left me has worked wonders. They're pretty big pieces but I cut them in quarters and use two to wrap my ankle. I had no pain last night nor today. Will wrap another two this evening.
After lunch i went to the Holy Sepulchre as promised to help clean the muck but I found the workers had thought of a temporary solution ; locked the toilet door, stuffed paper and towels around the edges so the muck wouldn't flow out. Well the sacristy floor was dry and they poured nard (like biblical nard? you know, Mary Magdalene and nard? it's real stuff you know!) to make the place smell a little better. My only question is: what will happen when they open the door a week from now to repair the tubes? Avalanche!!!!!!!! Tsunami!!!!!!!! Aiya, local logic ...
Well I had lots of time because no cleaning was needed, so I sat and prayed the Office. Someone came for confession; then Fr John came to take over listening to confessions. He's a young, huge american with a beard. Looks more like a bouncer. But he's very humorous and friendly. We had a good chat and he brought up the topic of his apostolate before he was sent to Jerusalem: he was an exorcist in Rome. WOW! Werewolf night, remember?
He was assistant exorcist in Rome for a while, and then became official exorcist. And he told some cases he had! Man, my hairs were standing on end! I asked how he could know if it wasn't merely a psychological problem. He said it takes time to find out, but when people start climbing walls with their bare hands and heads turning 180 degrees, there's no doubt! He also said that the possessed could spit out nails, chains, clips and other stuff from their tongues (remember what i told you guys about the documentary I saw?). Then he opened his prayer book, took out a folded piece of paper and there was a black nail an inch long. There was no rust, it was smooth but very very black. He said this was one of the nails that formed from the tongue of a woman he was exorcising. Anyway he spoke alot and I thought I'd better go home, it's 4pm and getting dark! (stop laughing you guys!) But one thing he said struck me, something that i also told you guys in my lessons: the demon is full of lies and half-truths. So all of you, go to confession, and avoid lies. It's one gateway for the devil to enter your lives. He also spoke of Hasmodeos, the devil from the Book of Tobit who destroys marriages; something that Fr Marcello, our former member of the Studium in Hong Kong, also said because he is the exorcist for Malta. So when you're having difficulties in marriage life, first pray that God cast away Hasmodeos from your houses. Apparently from Fr John's experience, the possessed person is innocent and is a victim of a curse, jealousy or that someone in his/her family has played with black magic. So people, keep your homes pure: no idols, superstitions, etc... it's another gateway. OK enough of creeping you out - but it's a timely warning now as Advent is beginning. We await the coming of the Messiah who will save us: God who became man. Our darkness will turn to light at Christmas.
Well in an hour's time we'll all go down to the Garden of Gethsemani where all the friars will renew their vows (we do it once a year) and the Custos (finally I get to see him; probably for 2 seconds) will give each one of us the Rule of St. Francis - like, hey...he wants to remind us of something, so it's serious here. I'm not concelebrating the Mass with vespers as I already celebrated Mass at the Holy Sepulchre. Then its a walk up from the Kidron valley (check Gospel of John) back to the Flagellation monastery for dinner. But I think I'll skip that as I'm very tired. I want to sleep early. Tomorrow morning at 6am Fr Vincenzo will say Mass on Mt. Calvary and I want to surprise him by showing up as a concelebrant. I saw his name listed on the Mass schedule in the sacristy. Oh I forgot to ask the sacristans when they'll repair the sewage system: I want to make sure I'm not around for the tsunami!
Anyway the "Tiger Medicated Plaster" that Cecilia Cavero left me has worked wonders. They're pretty big pieces but I cut them in quarters and use two to wrap my ankle. I had no pain last night nor today. Will wrap another two this evening.
After lunch i went to the Holy Sepulchre as promised to help clean the muck but I found the workers had thought of a temporary solution ; locked the toilet door, stuffed paper and towels around the edges so the muck wouldn't flow out. Well the sacristy floor was dry and they poured nard (like biblical nard? you know, Mary Magdalene and nard? it's real stuff you know!) to make the place smell a little better. My only question is: what will happen when they open the door a week from now to repair the tubes? Avalanche!!!!!!!! Tsunami!!!!!!!! Aiya, local logic ...
Well I had lots of time because no cleaning was needed, so I sat and prayed the Office. Someone came for confession; then Fr John came to take over listening to confessions. He's a young, huge american with a beard. Looks more like a bouncer. But he's very humorous and friendly. We had a good chat and he brought up the topic of his apostolate before he was sent to Jerusalem: he was an exorcist in Rome. WOW! Werewolf night, remember?
He was assistant exorcist in Rome for a while, and then became official exorcist. And he told some cases he had! Man, my hairs were standing on end! I asked how he could know if it wasn't merely a psychological problem. He said it takes time to find out, but when people start climbing walls with their bare hands and heads turning 180 degrees, there's no doubt! He also said that the possessed could spit out nails, chains, clips and other stuff from their tongues (remember what i told you guys about the documentary I saw?). Then he opened his prayer book, took out a folded piece of paper and there was a black nail an inch long. There was no rust, it was smooth but very very black. He said this was one of the nails that formed from the tongue of a woman he was exorcising. Anyway he spoke alot and I thought I'd better go home, it's 4pm and getting dark! (stop laughing you guys!) But one thing he said struck me, something that i also told you guys in my lessons: the demon is full of lies and half-truths. So all of you, go to confession, and avoid lies. It's one gateway for the devil to enter your lives. He also spoke of Hasmodeos, the devil from the Book of Tobit who destroys marriages; something that Fr Marcello, our former member of the Studium in Hong Kong, also said because he is the exorcist for Malta. So when you're having difficulties in marriage life, first pray that God cast away Hasmodeos from your houses. Apparently from Fr John's experience, the possessed person is innocent and is a victim of a curse, jealousy or that someone in his/her family has played with black magic. So people, keep your homes pure: no idols, superstitions, etc... it's another gateway. OK enough of creeping you out - but it's a timely warning now as Advent is beginning. We await the coming of the Messiah who will save us: God who became man. Our darkness will turn to light at Christmas.
Well in an hour's time we'll all go down to the Garden of Gethsemani where all the friars will renew their vows (we do it once a year) and the Custos (finally I get to see him; probably for 2 seconds) will give each one of us the Rule of St. Francis - like, hey...he wants to remind us of something, so it's serious here. I'm not concelebrating the Mass with vespers as I already celebrated Mass at the Holy Sepulchre. Then its a walk up from the Kidron valley (check Gospel of John) back to the Flagellation monastery for dinner. But I think I'll skip that as I'm very tired. I want to sleep early. Tomorrow morning at 6am Fr Vincenzo will say Mass on Mt. Calvary and I want to surprise him by showing up as a concelebrant. I saw his name listed on the Mass schedule in the sacristy. Oh I forgot to ask the sacristans when they'll repair the sewage system: I want to make sure I'm not around for the tsunami!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
muck!
I was supposed to have a meeting with the Custos this morning at 10.30. Spent yesterday afternoon drafting several letters to be presented to him. This morning I slept in, because usually on Wednesdays I celebrate Mass in the evenings in German with several other students who want to keep up with that language - and I have the permisison of the superior for that. Walked up the hill to St. Saviour's monastery at 9.30am, went to the tailor's first to see how he corrected my capuche (the hood of my habit) and he did a good job - so I gave him two more capuche to redo. Then went to the Custos' office only to be told my appointment was canceled and I have to wait till Dec. 5th at 3pm when he'll see me. Hmmmm being good friends doesn't pull any strings here - he's a busy man. Well his secretary tried to console me by giving me candies. I made sure they were mint and not honey! And it WAS a long walk after all!
After that I went to see my former superior who's now the treasurer of the Custody - well actually he wanted to see me. This is Fr Dobromir, a Pole, who served as superior after Fr Vincenzo completed his term. We had coffee and chatted and he promised to get my internet line fixed so that the video-conferencing can go ahead. In fact he called Shukri the guy in charge immediately to his office and told him to get it fixed immediately. Hmmmm some strings can be pulled here and there. But you know the local logic - immediately can mean anything.
It was 11am by then, so i thought maybe I'd stop by the Holy Sepulchre and celebrate Mass there since I remembered this week some of the students who come for German Mass were hebdoms so they can't make it this evening. But what a terrible shock when I reached our sacristy in the Basilica. The sewage was overflowing into the sacristy ; waterlogged and stinking to high heaven. The friars were trying their best to keep the sewage at bay, but when you have hundreds of pilgrims walking in and out, OBLIVIOUS to the inch high muck, it is almost an impossible task. Got round to help them. Finally managed to celebrate Mass in the Crusader Chapel at 12pm and the friars invited me for lunch. It was very nice - 20 minutes in all, perfect timing for me. After lunch I came home immediately - but I promised the friars I'll be back tomorrow to help them keep the sewage back while they say their prayers - tomorrow is a big feastday of All Franciscans Saints. They'll be too busy with the liturgy to clean the unstoppable mess. You see, because of the rains, the sewage pipes are stuck with rubbish. The Holy Sepulchre is below street level so all the muck flows into our sewage system (not just us but the Greeks, Armenians, Copts all have this problem). Call the plumber you say? But everyone here knows too well the local logic - as one friar said during lunch "It could take a day, it could months" (The last time this happened in winter last year, it took 3 months for the plumbers to come and deal with the problem! No kidding! And sewage was pouring out for 3 whole months on our church floor; AND the tourists were equally oblivious to the muck.) We just have to learn to live with it. But what is it with tourists? They don't seem to be aware of their surroundings!
Oh I also had a call from the carpenter. He's too busy to make my table and bed. The earliest will be in 2008. Welcome to Jerusalem!
After that I went to see my former superior who's now the treasurer of the Custody - well actually he wanted to see me. This is Fr Dobromir, a Pole, who served as superior after Fr Vincenzo completed his term. We had coffee and chatted and he promised to get my internet line fixed so that the video-conferencing can go ahead. In fact he called Shukri the guy in charge immediately to his office and told him to get it fixed immediately. Hmmmm some strings can be pulled here and there. But you know the local logic - immediately can mean anything.
It was 11am by then, so i thought maybe I'd stop by the Holy Sepulchre and celebrate Mass there since I remembered this week some of the students who come for German Mass were hebdoms so they can't make it this evening. But what a terrible shock when I reached our sacristy in the Basilica. The sewage was overflowing into the sacristy ; waterlogged and stinking to high heaven. The friars were trying their best to keep the sewage at bay, but when you have hundreds of pilgrims walking in and out, OBLIVIOUS to the inch high muck, it is almost an impossible task. Got round to help them. Finally managed to celebrate Mass in the Crusader Chapel at 12pm and the friars invited me for lunch. It was very nice - 20 minutes in all, perfect timing for me. After lunch I came home immediately - but I promised the friars I'll be back tomorrow to help them keep the sewage back while they say their prayers - tomorrow is a big feastday of All Franciscans Saints. They'll be too busy with the liturgy to clean the unstoppable mess. You see, because of the rains, the sewage pipes are stuck with rubbish. The Holy Sepulchre is below street level so all the muck flows into our sewage system (not just us but the Greeks, Armenians, Copts all have this problem). Call the plumber you say? But everyone here knows too well the local logic - as one friar said during lunch "It could take a day, it could months" (The last time this happened in winter last year, it took 3 months for the plumbers to come and deal with the problem! No kidding! And sewage was pouring out for 3 whole months on our church floor; AND the tourists were equally oblivious to the muck.) We just have to learn to live with it. But what is it with tourists? They don't seem to be aware of their surroundings!
Oh I also had a call from the carpenter. He's too busy to make my table and bed. The earliest will be in 2008. Welcome to Jerusalem!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Full moon
There were two horrible traffic accidents along the highway to the airport yesterday. It caused a dreadful traffic jam that got us convinced the Caveros will miss the plane. Well actually the traffic congestion began right at the doorstep of King David hotel - there was a huge demonstration against Annapolis (don't know what that is? read the news!!!!!) and caused a traffic jam in the city. And to leave the hotel only 3 hours before departure in such a situation, is extremely unwise as we who live here know that anything can happen along the way to cause a delay, and airport security requires alot of time. So we slowly crawled out of Jerusalem (the driver refused to listen to my advice of taking a circuituous route round Emek Refaim to avoid the traffic, and chose to turn back towards the Old City and we were stuck in the 1st traffic jam of the night.) When we reached the highway not more than 4 kms outside Jerusalem, we came to the 2nd traffic jam. caused by a horrific traffic accident, the jam was literally well over a km long. Police, ambulances and fire-engines were trying to squeeze between the chain of cars to reach the accident but I think people would have died by then because they simply couldn't get to the site. Anyway this time the driver was a little smarter; he chose to take a detour across the Bet Shemesh forest. When we got out of the forest (long long journey in the dark), we reached Latroun and left the accident behind us. but surprise! a 2nd accident just took place - a public bus, a mini-van and a private car. Totalled. Flat, squashed, in fact one of the vehicles flew over the road barrier and crossed to the opposite traffic. Horrendous. Now if the ambulances couldn't reach the 1st accident, they certainly can't reach the 2nd unless they got help from Tel Aviv which is way off. So simply put, a 50 minute journey became a 2 and a half hour journey.
We were extremely late for security but after alot of persuading the security girls, we managed to get the Caveros to pass security without any delays. They checked-in and I had to leave immediately back for Jerusalem. The horrible driver refused to drive me back to Jerusalem because he didn't want to get caught in the traffic again. So I had to find my own way home. And I forgot to wear my coat, thinking if the driver was going to drive me back to Jerusalem, I'd be warm inside the car. Now I had to walk up and down the road looking for a taxi, freezing in a shirt. After 20 minutes, managed to find a sharut for Jerusalem. It seats 10 people and will not leave until it's full, so you can wait in the sharut sometimes up to an hour before it's full and starts moving. I just wanted to stay inside and keep warm. There were 2 more empty seats to fill and the driver refused to leave. An old french lady became irate and started screaming and shouting at the driver to start moving, and the driver was yelling back that he's not going to lose 2 passengers' fares because of her impatience. The whole sharut got into a shouting match (I kept quiet though: there was enough "hot air" to keep me warm then) and finally one more passenger was found. Everyone agreed to pay extra for the empty seat so that the sharut could start moving - and I warned the driver about the traffic jam. At least this one was smart, and took a longer route across Modiin (remember the Maccabbees?) free from the traffic jam to reach Jerusalem. Lucky me I was the 3rd person to get off, usually I'm the last as the jewish drivers avoid entering the palestinian area where I live. Well this driver did leave me half a km. away from Damascus gate (that was as close as he wanted to go near the arab area!) and I walked back cold, cold, cold! But the moon was stupendous - as I was walking down the stairs of Damascus Gate, I saw alot of young arabs staring at the sky and no one was talking. I thought this was very weird, so I looked up, and saw this magnificent sight. A full moon surrounded by fragments of cloud, very regularly patterned like a computer generated screensaver. From the full moon irradiated a circle of white light, then yellow, then orange, then red, then blue, then gray. It was incredible. My whole walk back to my monastery was filled with people just looking at this unique sight. It was lovely, until I entered the monastery compound and locked the gate behind me. The moon was still shining directly above the Flagellation Chapel, and as I was musing the few seconds there, I thought "werewolf night". That scared me silly - well you have to know that the compound was in absolute darkness, and the courtyard is filled with sarcophagi (stone coffins), tombstones and funerary statues from the Roman period. And behind the door of the museum on my right is a mummy still in its coffin. Scared myself silly, rushed to the door and couldn't fit the key into the keyhole - panicked! Finally got it through, shut the door and ran up to my room - 4 floors and with a swollen ankle!
We were extremely late for security but after alot of persuading the security girls, we managed to get the Caveros to pass security without any delays. They checked-in and I had to leave immediately back for Jerusalem. The horrible driver refused to drive me back to Jerusalem because he didn't want to get caught in the traffic again. So I had to find my own way home. And I forgot to wear my coat, thinking if the driver was going to drive me back to Jerusalem, I'd be warm inside the car. Now I had to walk up and down the road looking for a taxi, freezing in a shirt. After 20 minutes, managed to find a sharut for Jerusalem. It seats 10 people and will not leave until it's full, so you can wait in the sharut sometimes up to an hour before it's full and starts moving. I just wanted to stay inside and keep warm. There were 2 more empty seats to fill and the driver refused to leave. An old french lady became irate and started screaming and shouting at the driver to start moving, and the driver was yelling back that he's not going to lose 2 passengers' fares because of her impatience. The whole sharut got into a shouting match (I kept quiet though: there was enough "hot air" to keep me warm then) and finally one more passenger was found. Everyone agreed to pay extra for the empty seat so that the sharut could start moving - and I warned the driver about the traffic jam. At least this one was smart, and took a longer route across Modiin (remember the Maccabbees?) free from the traffic jam to reach Jerusalem. Lucky me I was the 3rd person to get off, usually I'm the last as the jewish drivers avoid entering the palestinian area where I live. Well this driver did leave me half a km. away from Damascus gate (that was as close as he wanted to go near the arab area!) and I walked back cold, cold, cold! But the moon was stupendous - as I was walking down the stairs of Damascus Gate, I saw alot of young arabs staring at the sky and no one was talking. I thought this was very weird, so I looked up, and saw this magnificent sight. A full moon surrounded by fragments of cloud, very regularly patterned like a computer generated screensaver. From the full moon irradiated a circle of white light, then yellow, then orange, then red, then blue, then gray. It was incredible. My whole walk back to my monastery was filled with people just looking at this unique sight. It was lovely, until I entered the monastery compound and locked the gate behind me. The moon was still shining directly above the Flagellation Chapel, and as I was musing the few seconds there, I thought "werewolf night". That scared me silly - well you have to know that the compound was in absolute darkness, and the courtyard is filled with sarcophagi (stone coffins), tombstones and funerary statues from the Roman period. And behind the door of the museum on my right is a mummy still in its coffin. Scared myself silly, rushed to the door and couldn't fit the key into the keyhole - panicked! Finally got it through, shut the door and ran up to my room - 4 floors and with a swollen ankle!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Monday today
Yesterday was quite a marathon; shuttling between several churches because several groups are now in Jerusalem. The Caveros attended evening Mass at Notre Dame Centre. The chapel is very nice - I've been there only once before way back in the 1990s. The stone architecture typical of Jerusalem fits very well with the wooden furniture - somehow it matched, unlike some churches here in Jerusalem. Fr Kelly presided at the Mass; he's a Legionary of Christ. His congregation is now incharge of the Centre, which doubles as a hotel as well as a cultural centre.
We then had dinner at one of the Centre's restaurants. Simple menu, not much variety but wholesome and in good portions. I had vegetarian lasagna (was thinking of Garfield) and so did Daniel. It was a nice change from all the meat dishes.
And yesterday's procession in the Holy Sepulchre was miserable - none of the friars from St. Saviour's came; only the community of the Holy Sepulchre was there (7 friars in all) ... and it was a solemnity! I had earlier decided not to join in the procession because I had to wait for the Singapore group to arrive, but seeing the poor show, I decided to join in. And the tourists were absolutely appalling - they were oblivious to the procession; talking at the top of their voices, taking photos and barging right in the middle of the procession. Well most of the blame goes to the guides, who not being christians, don't know or don't want to know the religious aspects and practices of christian communities inside the Holy Sepulchre. I think we should ban these people from entering the basilica in future if they continue to disregard our liturgies.
Today I have classes to attend. So will be busy till 4.30pm when I accompany the Caveros to the airport. I think the other 2 groups are also leaving today. But just when you think life is getting back to the normal routine, Fr Vincenzo, my former superior who's transferred to Cairo, arrived yesterday and called me during dinner last night to say he's coming over to see me. I owe him a pizza dinner so probably tomorrow evening we'll go to an italian restaurant for that. Got to grab a couple of other guys to come along so we can split the bill. Anyway I've been out this entire week from the community dinner - which is aweful. It's good to be with the rest of the guys at home, so we can chat and laugh and build community. Hopefully we'll get back to this again soon. I noticed Matthew is also out - he's got 50 parishioners from the US visiting him. Good luck to him! The rest of the guys are sick, many have stayed in bed because its pretty cold in the nights and the central heating is not yet on. One professor mentioned that its about time it was turned on, but till now no one has dared say anything. You know the local logic ...... we'll wait for something to happen.
We then had dinner at one of the Centre's restaurants. Simple menu, not much variety but wholesome and in good portions. I had vegetarian lasagna (was thinking of Garfield) and so did Daniel. It was a nice change from all the meat dishes.
And yesterday's procession in the Holy Sepulchre was miserable - none of the friars from St. Saviour's came; only the community of the Holy Sepulchre was there (7 friars in all) ... and it was a solemnity! I had earlier decided not to join in the procession because I had to wait for the Singapore group to arrive, but seeing the poor show, I decided to join in. And the tourists were absolutely appalling - they were oblivious to the procession; talking at the top of their voices, taking photos and barging right in the middle of the procession. Well most of the blame goes to the guides, who not being christians, don't know or don't want to know the religious aspects and practices of christian communities inside the Holy Sepulchre. I think we should ban these people from entering the basilica in future if they continue to disregard our liturgies.
Today I have classes to attend. So will be busy till 4.30pm when I accompany the Caveros to the airport. I think the other 2 groups are also leaving today. But just when you think life is getting back to the normal routine, Fr Vincenzo, my former superior who's transferred to Cairo, arrived yesterday and called me during dinner last night to say he's coming over to see me. I owe him a pizza dinner so probably tomorrow evening we'll go to an italian restaurant for that. Got to grab a couple of other guys to come along so we can split the bill. Anyway I've been out this entire week from the community dinner - which is aweful. It's good to be with the rest of the guys at home, so we can chat and laugh and build community. Hopefully we'll get back to this again soon. I noticed Matthew is also out - he's got 50 parishioners from the US visiting him. Good luck to him! The rest of the guys are sick, many have stayed in bed because its pretty cold in the nights and the central heating is not yet on. One professor mentioned that its about time it was turned on, but till now no one has dared say anything. You know the local logic ...... we'll wait for something to happen.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Christ the King
Mass was very solemn today - Solemnity of Christ the King; the last Sunday before Advent. In an age where we fight for democracy, this feastday sounds a little odd. But it's precisely that - the Kingdom of God is a kingdom with no democracy. God is king - full stop. He rules absolutely. I think there must be some education about kingship in our schools or at least in catechism classes where we focus on the absolute sovereignty of God; not the negative experiences of kingship in our human political world. I think that may be a reason why young people are turning away from the Church - because they extend their political ideas of democracy into the religious sphere that teaches about an absolute creator. And mind you that extends into the family as well, so kids can defy their parents because they have their rights - only to abuse them. Parental authority loses ground when God's authority is belittled. Well let's see how far your democractic views of God will go when you're breathing your last breath at your deathbed, and you are no longer in charge of your life.... just simply losing control.....into the hands of Christ the King.
Cecilia attended the Mass at the Tomb of Christ which was all sung in latin. Then she went up to Mt Calvary to pray. This was all at 5.30am. I celebrated mass in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. A Malaysian group and a Singaporean group have also arrived and they want to see me, so today I'm taking time off from the Caveros to be with the 2 groups - lots of juggling with time here.
There'll be solemn procession around the Tomb of Christ at 4pm and I guess the groups will be there for that. Fr John Liu, a franciscan from my province is leading the Singaporean group and he has Mass at 5pm so I can catch up with him at the Holy Sepulchre. But not for too long because I have to bring the Caveros for Sunday Mass at Notre Dame center at 6pm.
Anyway I remembered everyone at Mass this morning (5.30am! was trying to stay alert!). Now Cecilia knows how far and uphill it is for me to walk to the Holy Sepulchre - she'll tell you about it when she gets home. I have to walk the whole Way of the Cross in order to get there, my monastery being the 1st and 2nd Stations of the Cross. I guess its strange when you guys "make" the Way of the Cross in Church, in devotion, while for us here its an actual road that we have to traverse everyday to get anywhere, sometimes not thinking twice about the chapels along the way - except maybe the 8th where I buy bread like this morning. The road is filthy with rubbish, spit and anything you can imagine from the 1st to the 7th stations; then it gets better from there. Anyway better not spoil your appetite; but you can imagine what it's like having to live here.
I'll have to leave now to see the other groups. The ankle is really playing up and I've got it bandaged - hope it doesn't give up on me today.
Cecilia attended the Mass at the Tomb of Christ which was all sung in latin. Then she went up to Mt Calvary to pray. This was all at 5.30am. I celebrated mass in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. A Malaysian group and a Singaporean group have also arrived and they want to see me, so today I'm taking time off from the Caveros to be with the 2 groups - lots of juggling with time here.
There'll be solemn procession around the Tomb of Christ at 4pm and I guess the groups will be there for that. Fr John Liu, a franciscan from my province is leading the Singaporean group and he has Mass at 5pm so I can catch up with him at the Holy Sepulchre. But not for too long because I have to bring the Caveros for Sunday Mass at Notre Dame center at 6pm.
Anyway I remembered everyone at Mass this morning (5.30am! was trying to stay alert!). Now Cecilia knows how far and uphill it is for me to walk to the Holy Sepulchre - she'll tell you about it when she gets home. I have to walk the whole Way of the Cross in order to get there, my monastery being the 1st and 2nd Stations of the Cross. I guess its strange when you guys "make" the Way of the Cross in Church, in devotion, while for us here its an actual road that we have to traverse everyday to get anywhere, sometimes not thinking twice about the chapels along the way - except maybe the 8th where I buy bread like this morning. The road is filthy with rubbish, spit and anything you can imagine from the 1st to the 7th stations; then it gets better from there. Anyway better not spoil your appetite; but you can imagine what it's like having to live here.
I'll have to leave now to see the other groups. The ankle is really playing up and I've got it bandaged - hope it doesn't give up on me today.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Moon over Judea
I think it was about 6am when I was totally knocked out - fell asleep and woke up at 7.30am. Missed Mass, missed breakfast, missed just about everything. Went to the library to check a couple of bibliographies and before I knew it, the bell rang for lunch. I couldn't eat much - no appetite after this morning's marathon work.
Went off to King David's hotel at 1.30pm and brought the Caveros to Bethlehem. The sky was beautiful and bright and the air was chilly - which is nice when you have to walk. When we reached Manger Square,we were surprised to find so many friar seminarians. William wasn't there so I think he left for Lebanon. I asked one what's happening and he said tomorrow is the feast of St. Catherine the patron of the Basilica. So they're having solemn vespers and Office of Readings. The two kawas were there. So Daniel had a nice surprise because we stayed to hear the solemn chanting of the psalms. Its good to hear solid gregorian chanting again - and I must say Fr Armando has done a good job training these young friars. They have good voices and they did it very well today - only the organist hitched once.
And to top it off, it's Debbie's birthday (one of the 4 Cavero daughters who have never seen a turkey - yes, you've not heard the last of this yet; and neither have I forgotten "hairdryer", or "overpriced", or "black widow"). We went off to Shepherds' Field, where you guys have never visited; and we celebrated Mass in one of the grottos - in spanish! I was pretty brave to do it as no one else was around to laugh at my spanish (I'm sure Daniel did!). On the way home, the view over the Judean desert was stupendous: there was a full moon over the desert (guess who took photos? haven't heard the end of this one yet too!). If you guys haven't seen it, you must come and see it - makes sense?
Our driver was Khalid, very professional and went all out to help. Mr Afifi sent his own private car to drive us to Bethlehem today - very kind of him. Khalid was once sent to drive me from Nazareth to Jerusalem, and he surprised me by bringing me to see old Ali, my former driver, who was then quite sick. Ali has since died. Khalid hasn't forgotten that and reminded me of it - that was 3 years ago! Anyway he's a nice guy so I promised I'll send him a couple of groups.
Now I want to sleep because tomorrow morning at 4.30am I have to go out and pick Cecilia from New Gate to go to the Holy Sepulchre for Mass. Later in the evening, we'll bring Daniel for Sunday Mass at Notre Dame Centre. In between I'm going to rest my legs because my ankle is as swollen as before. So good night! Buona notte!
Went off to King David's hotel at 1.30pm and brought the Caveros to Bethlehem. The sky was beautiful and bright and the air was chilly - which is nice when you have to walk. When we reached Manger Square,we were surprised to find so many friar seminarians. William wasn't there so I think he left for Lebanon. I asked one what's happening and he said tomorrow is the feast of St. Catherine the patron of the Basilica. So they're having solemn vespers and Office of Readings. The two kawas were there. So Daniel had a nice surprise because we stayed to hear the solemn chanting of the psalms. Its good to hear solid gregorian chanting again - and I must say Fr Armando has done a good job training these young friars. They have good voices and they did it very well today - only the organist hitched once.
And to top it off, it's Debbie's birthday (one of the 4 Cavero daughters who have never seen a turkey - yes, you've not heard the last of this yet; and neither have I forgotten "hairdryer", or "overpriced", or "black widow"). We went off to Shepherds' Field, where you guys have never visited; and we celebrated Mass in one of the grottos - in spanish! I was pretty brave to do it as no one else was around to laugh at my spanish (I'm sure Daniel did!). On the way home, the view over the Judean desert was stupendous: there was a full moon over the desert (guess who took photos? haven't heard the end of this one yet too!). If you guys haven't seen it, you must come and see it - makes sense?
Our driver was Khalid, very professional and went all out to help. Mr Afifi sent his own private car to drive us to Bethlehem today - very kind of him. Khalid was once sent to drive me from Nazareth to Jerusalem, and he surprised me by bringing me to see old Ali, my former driver, who was then quite sick. Ali has since died. Khalid hasn't forgotten that and reminded me of it - that was 3 years ago! Anyway he's a nice guy so I promised I'll send him a couple of groups.
Now I want to sleep because tomorrow morning at 4.30am I have to go out and pick Cecilia from New Gate to go to the Holy Sepulchre for Mass. Later in the evening, we'll bring Daniel for Sunday Mass at Notre Dame Centre. In between I'm going to rest my legs because my ankle is as swollen as before. So good night! Buona notte!
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