Early this month I had the
experience of a lifetime. I was one of
forty people who made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. A “pilgrimage” differs from a “tour,” since
there is daily Mass and Scripture reflection.
For me it was an atmosphere surrounding us.
Here are some of
my impressions, special places, inspirations.
The first three nights we stayed at the Mount of
Beatitudes Retreat House where we overlooked the Sea of Galilee. From there we
traveled through the north of Israel through very barren area where all the
buildings were the same color as the sand and rocks. Caesarea, Herod the Great’s Palace, was right
on the Mediterranean—a beautiful sight. Mass was at Mount Carmel. Dinner and a good night’s rest were much
appreciated.
At
Nazareth we visited the birthplace of the Blessed Mother. Then, in the wedding chapel at Cana, the 18
married couples renewed their wedding vows. The simple ceremony of these couples
vows’ “in good times and bad,” inspired each of us.
Capernaum
had special meaning because we could look through the glass into the ruins of
Peter’s house where Jesus stayed when he cured Peter’s mother-in-law. Riding on the Sea of Galilee in a boat similar
to one like the one Jesus rode in when he rescued Peter from drowning was more
than just a boat ride. At one point the
captain cut the engines giving us a few moments of silence to absorb the holy
atmosphere. It was a perfect thing to
do!
The
beauty of the light coming through the stained glass windows in the chapel in
the Church of Transfiguration had an aura that spoke “Transfiguration.” Mass for me was special here.
On to
Bethlehem and the Grand Park Hotel for the
next two nights.
The
story of the Jewish peoples’ courage and endurance at Masada can’t be
measured. Then, to actually be within a
walking distance of the caves of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found
was like an archeological expedition. We stopped at a beach on the shore of the
Dead Sea where some of our group tested the “you can’t sink” in the Dead Sea
theory.
We stayed our last three nights at Notre Dame Center. Bethlehem is much
different than I pictured. It is no
“little town” any more. We waited in
line, in the Church of the Nativity to get to the grotto to kneel and kiss the large
silver star on the floor marking where Jesus was born.
The last couple of days focused on the Last Supper, the
Garden of Gethsemane,The Via Dolorosa and Mass at the Holy Sepulchre
Church. In groups of four, we walked the
Via Dolorosa carrying a cross. This was
one of the holiest moments for me.
Our last supper in the Holy Land was in Joppa along the
Mediterranean Sea. That evening we drove to Tel
Aviv to board the plane for home. The
pilgrimage is an experience I will never forget.
Sr. Kathleen Ryan, OSB
