Bethlehem and free time

Yesterday was another great day, we had Mass in the cave of St. Jerome which is just feet from the grotto of the Nativity, the very spot where Jesus was born. This was another HIC spot, meaning, at this spot it says in latin "HIC puer natus est nobis", meaning HERE a boy is born to us. when every there is a HIC it means that that very spot is where that thing happened. We were able to venerate that spot, even if only quickly because of the rush of other groups and because we had to get to Mass. We had most of the afternoon off. some took naps, others explored the Old City of Jerusalem. I did a little shopping and then decided to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. As I got there the Franciscans were just starting a procession, complete with candles and chants in Latin (I immediately joined them!). This was their daily procession to the holy places with in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. It ended with benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. I then bumped into a Franciscan and starting talking to him with Denis. Fr. Fergus is a former diocesan priest who after visiting the Holy Land decided to join the Franciscans here. (Don't worry, I have no such intentions!) He was able to shed some light on the tensions with in the building - the building is shared between 6 of the major groups of Christianity, mainly between the Catholics, The Greek Orthodox and the Armenian Orthodox. This often times can even come to blows, as it did last week - they fought over who has to wash the floor where (of all the things to fight over!) This is a very serious issue here - everything that takes place must be in accord with the earlier established status quo. I was able to get to confession with Fr. Fergus, which was very beautiful and powerful!

We got word here of the terrible earthquake - especially of the deaths of the Archbishop, many priests and many seminarians. They and all the people of Haiti are remembered by us here today.

God Bless.