Very early in the morning...

The tomb of Jesus

Being wide awake at 4 AM I concluded that this must be the morning I should go to the Holy Sepulcher.  The church is unlocked every morning at 4. The crowds are not there and it has been reported that this is an excellent time to visit the Tomb. 

Trusting myself to find the way, I struck out. It was a little eerie walking the deserted streets of Jerusalem usually teeming with traffic. Once in the Old City I passed the street leading to the church once, but backtracking found it. The church had only a few people praying and waiting.

Calvary
 

It was evidently the Franciscans’ turn to use the Sepulcher. They were celebrating one Mass after another. I didn’t realize what was going on until I entered the Sepulcher with a few others. The doors closed behind us and I got to be present while Mass was celebrated in Spanish. That was a treat to be in that place during that time. The priest and about four to five others are all that will fit in the enclosure. 

Following the Mass, I quickly made my reverence before the next group moved in. Sitting outside the Tomb I read Morning Prayer which was another spiritual experience. I visited Calvary again and some of the other chapels.  Just as I was leaving a group of 20 or so were coming in the door. The peace and quiet of this early hour were a pleasant contrast to the previous visits which were more like mob scenes. 

As I walked back to the College, traffic on foot and vehicular-wise was beginning to pick up. The street crew installing new pipe down the center of Nablus Road was working when I went to the Old City. Perhaps, as in other urban areas, they work 24 hours each day. I can’t imagine what a task it was to install the infrastructure necessary in a city this ancient, nor can I envision what a job it is to maintain same. I’m told that nearly every time there is a repair to be made some antiquities are found which delays the repair project but delights the archeologists.

Following breakfast and farewells to our Canadian friends Rodney met with us to summarize what we would do today. We would 

The choir in the crypt at
Abu Gosh

celebrate the resurrection by going to one of sites that might be Emmaus (Luke 24).  There is a Crusader church there from the 12th century that has some validity as being the place called Emmaus. There are at least four places with that name so there is some uncertainty. He asked us to reflect on using all five senses throughout the morning. 

The church at Abu Gosh

The Church at Abu Gosh is a French Benedictine foundation and is serene and lovely. There is a garden there and a church beautiful in its simplicity. The crypt beneath is also a place of prayer and serenity. It is easy to imagine Jesus sharing the table with his hosts.

We then drove up the hill to Kyriat Ye’arim to the Church of Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant. The view is spectacular looking over the hills towards Jerusalem. At this place may be a resting place for the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant hence the dedication. There is a beautiful icon of this mystery in the church. 

Statue of Our Lady atop
the church at Kyriat Ye'arim

The outdoor altar at
Kyriat Ye'arim

The sisters graciously allowed us the use of their outdoor altar which is at the edge of the mountain. They also provided the vessels, bread and wine. We celebrated our final Mass as a community there and completed our remembrance of Easter in the same fashion as those in the story from Luke. 

The journey back to Jerusalem was mostly in silence as we all contemplated what had taken place. 

Following lunch our afternoon was free. The Hawaiians and Fr. Andy from Madison, WI, and I 

walked to Zion’s Gate and then to the Catholic Cemetery to visit Schindler’s grave. As with most cemeteries here it is on a hillside with a lovely view. His grave has stones which have been laid upon it.

The grave of Oskar Schindler

 The Jews have a custom of remembering the departed by placing a stone on the grave. One can pick his out easily from above by looking for the stones. He is also commemorated at the Holocaust memorial as a righteous gentile for his kindness in saving several hundred Jews from the death camps.

Just up the hill from the cemetery and right next to the “Upper Room” is the Abbey of 

The apsidal mosaic
in the Abbey of the Dormition

the Dormition. It is a monumental structure and has an exceedingly beautiful interior. It is a German Benedictine foundation run by the same order as the guest house in which we stayed at the Sea of Galilee. The church contains beautiful mosaics both in the main church and in the crypt. There is a statue of Mary in repose in the crypt and several altars remembering some of the national celebrations of the Blessed Mother. This Abbey is built on the site where, by tradition, Mary died.

View from the roof of the Austrian Hospice

On our way back to the College we stopped at the Austrian Hospice for coffee and a 

little strudel along with some cake. From the roof of the Hospice there is a spectacular view of the roof tops of Jerusalem.

Upon returning to the Cathedral Close I had to make a detour to take a picture of a car rental agency which has a most telling name.

Our class is completed. I have a free day tomorrow until the car comes to collect me at 6 PM and we head for the airport and home.

I am grateful beyond words to the lovely people of St. Michael and All Angels parish in Denver for providing this opportunity for me. It is something I’ve longed to do and will never forget this experience. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope you have enjoyed the blog. Pray for St. George’s College. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Icon of Our Lady
Ark of the Covenant