Venite, adoremus

“O Come, Let us adore him – Christ the Lord!”

 
Midnight Mass with Papal Nuncio, Bethlehem University

 

What could possibly be better than going to Midnight Mass in Bethlehem with the Papal Nuncio, singing in the choir with university students, and having a quite wonderful evening?

 

How about going to the Church of the Nativity afterwards?

 

In fact, that’s what I and about seven of my classmates did.  We knew the line to get in would be quite long all day Christmas.  Since Mass would be happening every 30 minutes in the grotto, we decided to go to one.

We didn’t care what time it was, how long we had been on our feet (which was from 7 pm, by the way), or what language the Mass would be in.  We were standing in what seems now to be a small crowd, just trying to get in.

So, at 3:00 am, we were able to get into the grotto under the Greek Orthodox high altar, the cave where Jesus was born.

After securing my spot, I saw walk in from the other side the priest who would be celebrating the Mass.  To our surprise, it was the Latin Patriarch!

So, we attended the Patriarch’s grotto Mass at 3:00 am.  It truly will be a Christmas I will not forget.

 

And, I know I’ve been holding back on both blog readers and facebook users as regards some photos…

…so, Merry Christmas, from the place where 2010 years ago, Jesus was born, and still comes to us today!

Grotto of the Nativity

Place of the Birth

 

Place where the Manger was
(down the stairs to the right in the photo of the grotto)

Come to Bethlehem and see…

Today, we had the entrance of the Latin Patriarch (the local bishop) into the city of Bethlehem.  He entered on Star Street, which is the ancient road that travelers from Jerusalem (such as Mary and Joseph) would have used.

After arriving at the Church of the Nativity, we prayed Vespers together in Latin, then got a chance to meet him briefly in the receiving line.

Church of the Nativity (tower and star)

Bagpipes?!

The arch in the wall to the old city of Bethlehem

Patriarch Fouad Twal

Incensation at the Magnificat, First Vespers of Christmas

 

We have received the message, not from the angels but from the Apostles, handed down through the centuries.  Now we have come to Bethlehem to see, to wait in joyful hope, and to know the love of God for us.

Pilgrimage

Bethlehem

Today may have seemed to most people an uneventful day.  Our visit to the orphanage was rescheduled, so we had class and Mass in the morning, and were free the rest of the day.

However, a day on pilgrimage is never ordinary.  And a day in the final nine days before Christmas, as we pray the great ancient O antiphons (also the verses of “O come, O come Emmanuel”, can never be ordinary.

During these final days before Christmas, the Church remembers her history through the eyes of ancient Israel.  The O antiphons remember all the ways in which God revealed himself to Israel, and pray for the promised one to come.  The Church remembers and relives her pilgrimage through history until the coming of Christ.

We also remember another pilgrimage – that of Mary and Joseph, from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  Certainly as they were traveling, they too remembered how God had revealed himself to his people, in all the cities through which they passed – especially Jerusalem!

And they were coming here to Bethlehem, where the Davidic line began, and where it was about to see its most fitting end.

They were not only reliving the history of Israel, but they were becoming part of it themselves.  Indeed, every promise, every hope was about to be fulfilled in the child whom Mary carried in her womb.

Many of us took the opportunity to go to the Grotto of the Nativity to pray.  It was rather quiet and peaceful this afternoon, giving us a chance to stay a while.

We saw where our hopes have been fulfilled – the very reason why we hope today, because God has visited his people.  And we saw pilgrims continue to come, and families bringing their children to show them and teach them the faith, that they too would enter on pilgrimage, to join Christ from where he began his earthly pilgrimage, and one day enter into the house of the Father.

A Busy Wednesday

Masada

 
Looking from Masada over the Dead Sea

Wednesday was a quite busy day.  We visited a number of sites that aren’t the highest on biblical priority, but (as seen above) are quite high – and low – otherwise.

Masada is a fortress, built primarily by King Herod.  It is located on the west coast of the Dead Sea.  If you look at a map, there is a peninsula in the Dead Sea about 2/3 of the way down.  This is where Masada is.

It’s in the middle of the desert.

The most famous story of Masada is from the Jewish revolt immediately after the destruction of the Temple (AD 70).  Zealots took control of the fort from the Romans.  They remained there until the Romans, who had surrounded the mountain, built a ramp and stormed the wall.

The most interesting part of the story:  according to the historian Josephus, the Zealots decided that, rather than being captured by the Romans, they would commit mass suicide.

Today, Masada is a symbol for many Israelis to stand for their independence.  That, and the beauty of the valley makes Masada a popular place to visit.

 

Qumran

On their way to capture the fortress of Masada, the Zealots murdered a number of hermits who were living north of the fortress in the desert.  These hermits were known as the Essenes.

Although not certain, the most famous Essene was possibly John the Baptist.  The community was upset about abuses in the temple by the Sadducees and Pharisees, and devoted themselves to a life of prayer and repentance in the desert.

As part of their prayer, they studied the Scriptures, and in these caves in Qumran they copied many of the sacred texts.

In 1947, these scrolls were accidentally discovered by a young shepherd boy looking for his lost goat.

 
The cave where most of the scrolls were discovered

The discovery of what would be called the Dead Sea Scrolls would radically change scripture scholarship.  Before, the oldest manuscripts of the Old Testament dated to the 1000’s.  Now, they have been able to compare these scrolls, which date from the 1st century AD.

 

Dead Sea

Although I have no pictures, there is nothing like watching a man shaped like a twig still be over half above the surface of the sea.

 

Jericho

Jericho is famous for a number of things:

• Being the oldest city in the world – established 8000 BC
• Being sacked by Joshua (and the walls came ‘tumblin down)
• Mount of Temptation – where Jesus was tempted by Satan
• Zacchaeus climbed the tree to see Jesus

However, I think we will all remember it for the restaurant/store which we were taken to and encouraged to “spend time”.  We really didn’t get a chance to see the other sites.

Where true power lies

Herodion

Where is the powerful of this age?

On Monday, we made an afternoon trip to Herodion, a mountain fortress built by King Herod, the same who persecuted the infant Christ. As we were climbing this mountain, surrounded by Israeli military, entering into a city long vacant which had once been a center of government for Herod, I found myself thinking about where power lies.

As anyone who visits Herodion can see, the structure is more than an adequate fort. From the outside, it appears to simply be a volcano. From the inside, if an army were to attack, the city would be easy to defend. The Zealots during the Jewish revolt knew this, and used Herodion to fight the Romans.

Herod himself built it as a place of power, a personal fortress to which he could go in case of emergency. From the top, the hill of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives could be seen on the horizon, and the little town of Bethlehem in the valley below.

Although scripture says the magi went to Jerusalem where they found Herod, I couldn’t help but wonder if Herod had looked out from this fortress down at Bethlehem, wondering about the prophecy of the Messiah, and if he was coming from a humble village to overthrow him.

Today, Herod’s power is gone. The Zealots were crushed by the Romans. The Romans Empire itself has fallen. And yet remains the king born in Bethlehem that night, whom we have come to adore.

On this symbol of worldly power, we remembered the one who is truly power, who confounds the power of the powerful, whose power created the universe. Truly blessed are all those who trust in him!

Gaudete in Domino semper

St. Catherine’s parish
Church of the Nativity

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice...  The Lord is near. (Philippians 4:4-5)

Today, we celebrated the Sunday Mass in the parish of Saint Catherine, which is the Catholic side of the Church of the Nativity here in Bethlehem.

Yes, Mass was in Arabic.  No, I did not understand a word, nor do I read the Arabic language.

It was nice to have an easy Sunday.  After Mass, we met with the Franciscan pastor and some of the parishioners and talked about parish life for a while.

I arrived early for Mass and took a couple pictures of the Orthodox liturgy in progress on their side of the church.  It was quite something, since the Greeks were going in the main sanctuary and the Armenians (I assume) were in the grotto of the Nativity – both chanting away.  At one point, three masses were occurring simultaneously.  It was a beautiful thing just to be caught up in the sung prayer while I walked through.

Happy Gaudete Sunday to you all.  The Lord is very near indeed.  And so is Christmas!

I would like to acknowledge the weather we are all experiencing:

Des Moines


Bethlehem


I hope everyone is enjoying the onset of winter as much as we are!

The Courage to Hope

Mar Saba

View Larger Map


"Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God." (Romans 5:2)

Those of you who already know what Mar Saba is already appreciate the hope that is necessary for visiting this place.

Mar Saba, a monastery in the desert. Named for its founder, Saint Saba (feast day December 5). Mar Saba was a hermit living in the desert. One day, when he had no water, he prayed to God for water. He then saw a donkey hitting the ground in a spot in the valley. Saba began to dig and found some drinking water. This is where he founded his first monastery, which is probably the oldest operating monastery in the world today. He lived in this area in the desert until he died.

As other visitors to this remote site know, it is a difficult road to travel (even by van), and after making the trip, you are left at the mercy of the Orthodox monks to allow you in, which is not very common.

We were let in. And more....




After waiting for the liturgy to be over, the monks allowed us in. Shortly after we were led to the doors of the monastic church, a monk named Father Lazarus met us.

Father Lazarus was originally from San Francisco, born a Russian Orthodox. He was quite talkative with us, perhaps because he lived with 12 other monks, all from Greece, Bulgaria, and elsewhere in Eastern Europe and the middle east. I don't think he had the privilege of speaking in English for a while.

Father Lazarus told us about the history of the monastery, its founding by Mar Saba (the Aramaic form of Saint Sabas), how difficult life was for the monks who came here to give up the world so as to live entirely for Christ, and especially about the history of the monastery. Let's just say, I don't think I have a vocation to be a monk here.

The cell of Saint Saba



Mar Saba monastery was often a place which defended against heresies throughout the centuries, including defending the church of Rome against the Orthodox Patriarch when he fell into monotheletism and iconoclasm (the false belief that we cannot depict Christ or the Saints). Mar Saba was home for a time to Saint John Damascene (feast December 4), a saint and doctor for both Orthodox and Catholics.

Father Lazarus was also quite interested in us Catholic seminarians and in what we were learning and experiencing in the seminary. One of the things that has served to divide Orthodox and Catholics through the centuries are our theologies of the Holy Spirit. Orthodox have always had more of a experiential, emotional, and charismatic approach to theology, whereas Catholics have been more academic and systematic. Consequently, our Christology continued to develop while their theology of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology) developed. Even today, ask most Catholics about the Holy Spirit, and they can't really say they know much.


What did this conversation mean?

With hope and prayer, we went to the monastery, just hoping to get in even if our visit must be brief. We not only got in, learned about the monastery, but we were able to venerate the remains of Saint Saba, plus we possibly made a new friend in the Orthodox monastery.

We were in the monastery for over an hour, talking to Father Lazarus. It was our own schedule that forced us to leave - many of us could have stayed all day!

My first hope after this is for greater Christian unity, especially if we begin to understand one another. However, on a smaller scale, I hope that the relationship between Mundelein and Mar Saba can develop, and perhaps it will blossom into more chances for our men to visit, as well as continuing to build up one another in faith and love!

Et Verbum caro factum est

On Monday, we went to celebrate a group Mass in the cave of the Nativity, near the very place where the Lord Jesus Christ was born.

I'm sure everyone thinks "aww...that sounds so nice and quaint." Well, it was a little distracting to have a crowd of pilgrims coming and going all around us, trying to take pictures of everything (including our priest celebrating the Mass!).

However, it was a great moment for prayer. We celebrated a votive Mass of Christmas at dawn (readings can be found here). I was reflecting on what happened in that very spot 2000+ years ago, how

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.

Isn't this what Advent is about?

2000 years ago, some innkeeper was not prepared to see the unique gift which was in front of him - the long-awaited messiah was in his presence, asking for a place to stay. God was visiting him from on high, and he did not see him. Rather, he sent a woman who was about to give birth to a barn, no place fit for a newborn, much less the King of the Universe.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,

This is God's will for us - that we should be called the children of God. How much love must the Father have for us, that he sent his only Son to us, who would reject and crucify him, so that in him we too could become his children by grace! The coming of Jesus tells us - each of us - that God loves us from before our very birth, that he is looking down upon us with love, calling us to himself; that he will not leave us orphans, but will forever be our loving Father. And to demonstrate this, he sent the Son.

And the Word became flesh (Latin: et Verbum caro factum est)
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.

There I was, in the very place where 2000 years ago God pitched his tent and made his dwelling among us. It was in that cave where all of creation was able to, for the first time ever, look upon the very face of God. It was there that we first saw his glory - that of a humble child, the only Son of God.

And, Christ continues to come to us today - in fact, each and every day. As I was looking at the spot of the birth, I had but to turn to my right to see God the Son descending from on high again to be with us - there on the altar!

What a great blessing to be here during Advent! Pray for me, that I may continue to prepare my heart to receive the Lord when and where he comes.

Just another day in the seminary....

Probably an odd way to begin a pilgrimage post, but today it has some meaning.

Early this morning (5:00 am), my half of the class met the other half of the class as they arrived at the center. Needless to say, we were much more awake than they. But we remember yesterday!

It has been nice having the entire class together. In some ways, it brings back some familiarity to our experience here. Those of us who went to the Church of the Nativity yesterday were able to lead our brothers there today (by a much shorter path!).

While in the Blessed Sacrament chapel, we began the 33 day Total Consecration to Mary according to St. Louis de Montfort, which will finish the day of our visitation to the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

When Eddie, Michael, and I returned from the Church of the Nativity and from doing a little shopping for essentials, we walked over to the edge of our property where we can see the foothills of the Judean desert. Eddie, commenting on how much we move from place to place in the seminary, said that it almost seems like it's just another day in the Seminary.



Of course, we know this is truly more than just another day.

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On another note, I've been learning how to be a photographer. As promised, some photos below. As I improve, so will the quality of my shots (especially in dark churches).

Inside the Church of the Nativity (Orthodox side)


Altar inside St. Jerome's cave where he translated the Bible into Latin


Blessed Sacrament chapel (Catholic Side)



Stained glass window in back of Church (Catholic side)

My Portion and Cup

Day 1
Bethlehem

"I say to the Lord, you are my Lord, you are my only good." (Psalm 16:2)

I know many people would expect the first post about Bethlehem to be about the Church of the Nativity and the birth of Christ - but this is not what first came to me.

This morning, around 9:00am, I was praying night prayer in the Catholic side of the Church of the Nativity. (Yes, last night's night prayer. It was 1:00am back home.)

The first thing I prayed in Bethlehem was Psalm 16 - a Psalm of King David.

Keep me safe, O God; in you I take refuge
I say to the Lord, you are my Lord, you are my only good.
Worthless are all the false gods of the land. Accursed are all who delight in them.
They multiply their sorrows who court other gods. Blood libations to them I will not pour out, nor will I take their names upon my lips.
LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you have made my destiny secure.
Pleasant places were measured out for me; fair to me indeed is my inheritance.
I bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my heart exhorts me.
I keep the LORD always before me; with the Lord at my right, I shall never be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure,
For you will not abandon me to Sheol, nor let your faithful servant see the pit.
You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.

I thought about David, how he could have sung this very psalm while tending the sheep in the hills. Around him were the pagan nations courting favor with their false gods. And here was simple little David in his simple little town with his sheep - completely trusting in God and in the will of God for David.

Perhaps this was written after Samuel had come to anoint young David as King.

David was a simple farm boy, standing on the verge of a great task at the call of the one God whom he served. He had a choice: to stick with the familiar - his family, his flock, his village - or to follow the call of the God whom he served. As the Psalm conveys, he chose to trust.

David trusted God, knowing that he needed nothing more than what the Lord would provide. And it was from this man - this faith - that Christ, the savior of the world, would come.

How fitting it was that Christ should come to this place! City of David, to whom the Messiah was promised. Born in humility, in a stable, and adored by shepherds. Could the coming of Christ have echoed more strongly the faith of David?

Preparing for Pilgrimage

Day -1

Beginning tomorrow, I will be making the trip of a lifetime. At 3:15 pm, I will board a bus going to O'Hare airport to begin a 13 week Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Within 48 hours of that time, I will be in Bethlehem.

I admit, I'm getting a little nervous. There is part of me that doesn't really believe that I will be going, especially so soon. I hope I will be ready tomorrow!

I will try to update this post periodically to let people know where I am and what I am doing. Perhaps I'll even be able to upload some pictures!

Please pray for me while I am away. Know also of my prayers for you while I am at the holy sites.