Amidst the heavy summer heat, the Franciscans celebrated Saint John the Baptist in Ain Karem, on June 24.
On June 23, first vespers took place at the monastery of St. John of the Desert, located on top of the hills surrounding Ain Karem. The small chapel adorned with icons welcomed the Franciscans and pilgrims in the afternoon. In his homily, the Custodial Vicar, Br. Dobromir Jazstal emphasized the rôle of the prophet, whose mission ended with the beginning of Jesus' ministry. “John could feel Jesus' presence from within his mother's womb, and he was able to see the beginning of his ministry, and introduce him as the Lamb of God. He was not able to help with all of the work of Salvation but for him this was not a deficiency or emptiness. His job was to prepare the way and especially prepare hearts, so that they may be ready to welcome Jesus' Word.” After the procession to the grotto where John the Baptist withdrew to pray in the desert, the guardian, Br. Franciszek Wiater invited the congregation to a dinner in monastery courtyard.
June 24 began with a mass in Arabic. Buses came from Jerusalem and Nazareth in order to allow the faithful to celebrate St. John the Baptist at the prophet's birthplace. Br. Feras Hejazin, the pastor priest of the Latin parish of Jerusalem, stated: “Before 1948, Palestinian Christians lived in Ain Karem, but they became refugees. Many of our parishioners are from here and were born at Ain Karem. We come here... so as to help the Arabic-speaking parish time also experience this feast.”
The mass was presided over by the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Patton. Also present were ambassador of Côte d'Ivoire to Israel and the Spanish ambassador to Israel; this monastery, which is often referred to as St. John “in Montana,” has a very strong historical relationship with the King of Spain. Religious and pilgrims also attended the solemn mass. In his homily, the Father Custos emphasized that this feast helps us to deepen the profound meaning of our lives and our vocation through the figure of John the Baptist. His miraculous birth—John means “gift from God”--reminds us that life is a gift and that the initiative of Salvation came from God. John's pioneer role should inspire us to always keep Jesus at the heart of our mission on Earth, whatever it might be. And the praise and blessing of God that accompany his birth must help us recognize God's action in our lives and be grateful for it.
After mass, Fr. Seweryn Lubecki, the shrine's guardian, invited the pilgrims to a meal at the refectory for pilgrims, which was inaugurated last year. The Custos blessed the new convent of the Sisters of the Catechism, who live in the sanctuary and help the friars every day. This project, as well as the layout of the garden, were thought out and implemented by the Technical Office of the Custody. Alice Sartori, who oversaw the project, said: “It had been a few years since the building was used. It includes Crusader-era unit and construction from the friars' first seventh-century monastery.”
While the faithful and pilgrims were eating indoors or in the shade in the garden, the Franciscans had lunch in the refectory. It was there that, much to their surprise, they heard the announcement about the appointment of their former Custos, Br. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, as Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, before celebrating the birthday of one of the seminarians.
On June 23, first vespers took place at the monastery of St. John of the Desert, located on top of the hills surrounding Ain Karem. The small chapel adorned with icons welcomed the Franciscans and pilgrims in the afternoon. In his homily, the Custodial Vicar, Br. Dobromir Jazstal emphasized the rôle of the prophet, whose mission ended with the beginning of Jesus' ministry. “John could feel Jesus' presence from within his mother's womb, and he was able to see the beginning of his ministry, and introduce him as the Lamb of God. He was not able to help with all of the work of Salvation but for him this was not a deficiency or emptiness. His job was to prepare the way and especially prepare hearts, so that they may be ready to welcome Jesus' Word.” After the procession to the grotto where John the Baptist withdrew to pray in the desert, the guardian, Br. Franciszek Wiater invited the congregation to a dinner in monastery courtyard.
June 24 began with a mass in Arabic. Buses came from Jerusalem and Nazareth in order to allow the faithful to celebrate St. John the Baptist at the prophet's birthplace. Br. Feras Hejazin, the pastor priest of the Latin parish of Jerusalem, stated: “Before 1948, Palestinian Christians lived in Ain Karem, but they became refugees. Many of our parishioners are from here and were born at Ain Karem. We come here... so as to help the Arabic-speaking parish time also experience this feast.”
The mass was presided over by the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Patton. Also present were ambassador of Côte d'Ivoire to Israel and the Spanish ambassador to Israel; this monastery, which is often referred to as St. John “in Montana,” has a very strong historical relationship with the King of Spain. Religious and pilgrims also attended the solemn mass. In his homily, the Father Custos emphasized that this feast helps us to deepen the profound meaning of our lives and our vocation through the figure of John the Baptist. His miraculous birth—John means “gift from God”--reminds us that life is a gift and that the initiative of Salvation came from God. John's pioneer role should inspire us to always keep Jesus at the heart of our mission on Earth, whatever it might be. And the praise and blessing of God that accompany his birth must help us recognize God's action in our lives and be grateful for it.
After mass, Fr. Seweryn Lubecki, the shrine's guardian, invited the pilgrims to a meal at the refectory for pilgrims, which was inaugurated last year. The Custos blessed the new convent of the Sisters of the Catechism, who live in the sanctuary and help the friars every day. This project, as well as the layout of the garden, were thought out and implemented by the Technical Office of the Custody. Alice Sartori, who oversaw the project, said: “It had been a few years since the building was used. It includes Crusader-era unit and construction from the friars' first seventh-century monastery.”
While the faithful and pilgrims were eating indoors or in the shade in the garden, the Franciscans had lunch in the refectory. It was there that, much to their surprise, they heard the announcement about the appointment of their former Custos, Br. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, as Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, before celebrating the birthday of one of the seminarians.