Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Dec. 6, 2011
Dear Friends,
On December 6, we were awakened at 5:30 a.m.; we had enough time to wash and eat breakfast and at 7:30 a.m. we were on the bus on the way to the Wailing Wall, which forms part of the foundation of the Temple Mount. I went to the Wailing Wall where the Jews were praying and I prayed for their conversion and for peace in the Holy Land. Then we climbed up to the Temple Mount where we visited from the outside the Muslim Mosque and the Golden Dome. The Golden Dome was built over the rock where Abraham was told to sacrifice his son Isaac but when God saw that Abraham was obedient, He stopped him and he did not kill his son.
We walked a little way to a small church, which is called “Ecce Homo” (Look at the Man). After Jesus had been scourged, Pilate brought Him out to the people and he pronounced those words, “Ecce Homo.” From there we went a short distance to where Jesus was scourged and in this Church I celebrated Holy Mass for the group. It is a nice little Church for prayers. After Mass we went for lunch and afterward we made our way to the Shrine of St. Anne where I lived for three months in 1990. The Missionaries of Africa (popularly known as the White Fathers because of their white habit) are in charge of this shrine. They have thousands of visitors every day. We visited the main part of the shrine and then we went downstairs to the Grotto where the remains of the house of St. Anne and St. Joachim are found and where Our Blessed Mother was conceived and where She was born. Our group prayed together asking the help of Our Blessed Mother. I met one confrere who works at St. Anne who is from Canada. There are ten priests staying at St. Anne’s shrine.
We visited the Grotto of Gethsemane from outside as the door was locked. We also went to the Orthodox Church of the Assumption although the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother did not take place where the church is but at Ephesus where She lived Her last days. At the end of the day, we were at Emmaus where two followers of Jesus traveled on the road to this place and met Jesus who walked with them but they did not recognize Him until they entered a house in that town and they sat at table with Jesus. When He broke the bread, then they knew who He was and Jesus disappeared at once. From there we went back to our hotel.
Message of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:
“Blessings to you, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters on this pilgrimage and those living all over the world. Today you, who are on pilgrimage, have followed a good part of My way to Calvary. The day before you were at Gethsemane where I was arrested by the police of the High Priest after Judas kissed Me and betrayed Me. I was taken to the court of the High Priest where at the end I was condemned to death. Afterward I was taken to Pontius Pilate and questioned by him. Although he did not find that I had committed any crime, he had Me scourged and beaten severely. When Pilate gave a choice to the Jews to release Me or to release Barabbas, the murderer, they asked for the release of Barabbas and they asked Pilate to have Me crucified. Tomorrow you will go to Calvary where I died on the cross.
You all know that I suffered terribly at the hands of the Roman soldiers although I had not done anything wrong. However, I offered all My Passion to My Father as a sacrifice to cleanse you from your sins. No greater love does a man have than to give up his life for his friends. This is what I did for you.
When at times you suffer because of Me, do not be sad but be of good cheer that you can join Me in My suffering to atone for the sins of the people of the world. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin