Sukkot, St Francis and Other

Sukkot

In these last two weeks the Jews have been celebrating some of the greatest feasts in their religious calendar: Rosh Hashanah (the beginning of the year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and, now, the Sukkot. The Festival of Sukkot begins on the fifth day after Yom Kippur. While this latter feast is set aside to "afflict the soul," to atone for the sins of the past year, and is marked by a complete 25-hour fast, Sukkot has a celebratory mood to it. Sometimes Jews refer to Sukkot as “the Season of Rejoicing”. It commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Agriculturally, Sukkot is a harvest festival (similar to Thanksgiving in the USA – as a matter of fact Sukkot might have been at the origin of the American celebration).

Thousands of Jews at the Western Wall celebrating the Feast of Sukkot

A Jew with the Lulav and the etrog in his hand, together with his prayer book

Many Jews from all over the world come to Israel, and particularly to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. They build small tents, temporary shelters, normally made of cardboard in squares, on the pavement and in backyards to remember the way ancestors lived for forty years. These Jews then flock to the Western Wall for prayers. I went to visit the Western Wall yesterday: it was packed with thousands of people. Many of these held something like a palm branch and a lemon in their hand. I was wondering what all this meant. I did some research and here is what I found: they refer to these as the Four Species. Jews are commanded to take with them an etrog (a citrus fruit similar to a lemon native to Israel; in English it is called a citron), a palm branch (in Hebrew, lulav), two willow branches (aravot) and three myrtle branches (hadassim). These latter branches are tied together (they refer to the whole thing as a lulav, since the palm branch is by far the most evident of the leaves) while the etrog is held separately. Holding these in hand, the Jew is to wave them in the six directions (north, south, east, west, up and down) – symbolizing that God is everywhere – and recite a blessing, which invariably includes this phrase: “Blessed art thou Lord, our God, King of the Universe.” By reciting these berakhot (blessings), the human person recognizes that God is the Creator of all things.

It is an occasion of celebration wherein people come together to eat and drink, make music and dance. There is a celebratory atmosphere. It seems, however, that many, young and old, feel the need to do some kind of prayer. I have seen many carrying their lulavs in plastic carriers, while one had a big silver case for his lulav! I did also see someone selling silver holders for the lulav and the etrog.

Church of the Dormition and Cenacle

Following my visit to the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter (wearing also a Kippa, which I bought – expressing God’s protection on me!), I went to the Church of the Dormition of Mary, where a Jerusalem tradition says that was Our Blessed Virgin Mary’s house and where she entered her eternal sleep until she was taken up to heaven. This is the Catholic site, because the Orthodox have another place at the foot of the Mount of Olives to commemorate this event. For those of you who remember, I’ve been also to the house of Mary in Ephesus, where tradition has it that Mary lived with John, the Apostle, the last years of her life and from where she was taken to heaven, body and soul. By coincidence, Pope Benedict XVI today, Thursday, made a pilgrimage to Loreto which is also held to be the house where Mary received the message of the Angel and, thus, where the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ as a human being happened. Quite understandably, one could end up mixed up with all these different traditions. For me, the most important thing is not where exactly something happened, but the mystery itself. As the Pope so aptly put it today: Mary became the living dwelling place for the Word of God become man.

These are the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “This humble home is a physical, tangible witness to the greatest event in our history, the Incarnation; the Word became flesh and Mary, the handmaid of the Lord, is the privileged channel through which God came to dwell among us (see John 1,14). Mary offered her very body; she placed her entire being at the disposal of God’s will, becoming the ‘place’ of his presence, a ‘place’ of dwelling for the Son of God… The will of Mary coincides with the will of the Son in the Father’s unique project of love and, in her, heaven and earth are united, God the Creator is united to his creature. God becomes man, and Mary becomes a “living house” for the Lord, a temple where the Most High dwells.”

God the Thrice Holy One -- pavement at Dormition Church

Then I proceeded to the Cenacle, where tradition has it that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his apostles and where the apostles gathered again to await for the coming of the Holy Spirit. It was here that the Holy Spirit came down on these fearful men and made of them true fearless apostles, ready to face martyrdom in order to proclaim the Name of Jesus. Mary – the full of grace, because completely empowered by the Holy Spirit – was there in their midst, encouraging them to be fully open to the power of the Spirit of God. The Cenacle is today in the hands of the Jews and is nothing but a large room. However, it is interesting that there are some Christian symbols of the Eucharist which have survived even the time of the Turks when this room was used as a mosque: a lamb in the ceiling and a pelican on one of the columns of the structure which was used as a pulpit by Muslims.

Catholic Cemetery

I went also to visit the Tomb of David – there is absolutely nothing particular to see; today it is used as another prayer area for Jews. I went also to visit the tomb of Oskar Schindler, a Catholic who helped save some 1,200 Jews from the Holocaust. He is buried in the Catholic cemetery below Zion Gate. Stones on his grave are a sign of gratitude by the Jewish visitors. Here I have also seen many names of priests and religious, male and female, who gave their life and their energy to the spreading of the Word to this Holy Land. Some of them have also sacrificed their life so that we may still be able to come here and visit these holy places. Heartfelt gratitude to all!

Grave of Oskar Schindler

Feast of St Francis

The Feast of St Francis: a very special feast for me to be able to celebrate it here together with my brothers who have welcomed me into their home: the Franciscan Minors. Yesterday, the eve of the feast we celebrated the moment of the Transitus, meaning the passing from this world to Eternal Joy of Francis of Assisi. The reading of the text which speaks of the last moments of this saint was accompanied by some symbols: we held candles in our hands; at the moment of his passing, the lights of the Church were put off; and the celebrants came right in front of the relic of St Francis to venerate it.  For this celebration, seminarians from the Latin Patriarchate at Beit Jala, religious students of the Salesians and of the White Fathers were particularly invited. They also presented a light programme of songs, dances and games for those present. It was truly a beautiful occasion for all present.

Inside of Church of St Saviour, Jerusalem.
The Parish Church run by the Franciscans Minor

This morning’s High Mass was celebrated by the Prior of the Dominican Friars here in Jerusalem. It was good to know that the Franciscans and the Dominicans do this every year: the Dominicans come for the feast of St Francis and the Franciscans join the Dominicans for the feast of St Dominic. Let’s not forget that St Francis and St Dominic were contemporaneous to one another almost by the year! So they continue to support each other also in their festivities. This collaboration continued even after lunch wherein it is traditional that the Dominicans and the Franciscans sing a thanksgiving song together. The refrain of this song says: “Apostolic Father Dominic and Seraphic Father Francis, they themselves have taught us your law, Lord”.

This evening the festivities were concluded by Second Vespers (Evening Prayer). During the homily, the Guardian of this Convent, Padre Artemio spoke of Francis as one who wanted to imitate Jesus in everything as to become truly another Christ. He also spoke eloquently about Francis as the vir catholicus, meaning a man for everyone. St Francis is truly a man to look up to; a model for all of us to help us follow Christ, our Lord.

Reliquary of St Francis of Assisi -- Church of St Saviour, Jerusalem

A final note: on both days, at the end of evening prayer, the final blessing was given by the Relic of St Francis of Assisi. Up to now I thought that the blessing could to be given by an ordained minister making the sign of the Cross on the people, or by using the Blessed Sacrament, or by using the Relic of the Holy Cross. The use of Relics of Saints is new to me! I need to ask. Perhaps, the fact that the relic represents someone who identified himself/herself completely to Christ? After all, it is always God who is granting us His blessing.

Sorry for the length today!